Posted on 08/19/2010 6:38:53 AM PDT by HushTX
I have recently experienced an epiphany that is frustrating only in its delay. I go to great lengths to be gentle and treat the topics discussed in my blog with kid gloves. I try to be “fair” and “considerate” in expressing my opinions and attempt to maintain a moral standard marked by courtesy and understanding, even when I address topics about which I am set in my position and often reach the grounds of intolerance. I do this out of respect for some of my friends, whose views and opinions are markedly more liberal than my own. It is an attempt to be considerate of their positions and to show that I am willing to address topics in a way that is not offensive to these people. I do this even if it means sacrificing some of the fervor and zeal, some of the emotion and passion of which I am possessed. Even if it means sugar coating my approach and losing something in the process.
I have realized, however, that I am doing this for people who don’t even read my damn blog.
The people for whom I am refraining from expressing my views to the full extent of my capacity are the very people who refuse to read this because they know I am conservative. Far better to avoid what I have to say than to be faced with the possibility of coming across something that offends their delicate sensibilities, or threatens the bubble of their left leaning world view. I was once told that one of these friends will not read my blog because she “believes in human rights,” as though I do not. This same person later explained that she doesn’t want to read what I write because she is “afraid of what is in it.” That is the exact mentality that has gotten our society into such a horrible state, because she is not alone.
Other people in my life have said nothing, but I am well aware that they avoid my blog. They avoid it because I address topics they would prefer be left unaddressed. I bring facts to the table that they cannot refute because they will not do the work to research and develop opposing arguments. In some cases that I might be shown the error of my ways I am left unchallenged because those who disagree would rather avoid the matter entirely. Whatever the reason, the very people to whom I am trying to be respectful- often to a fault- are not reading, and so I am being overly cautious.
I have to wonder why I even bothered. I have no qualms about being blunt when I am talking to someone. In face to face conversations I don't beat around the bush, I don’t walk on eggshells, I don’t tip-toe around. It stands to reason that I would be similarly open in my blog, a medium which is essentially a written expression of my views that I make available to the public at large. If I am willing to be so straight forward in person, why would I be so careful with my writing?
I think it is because I wanted people to read what I wrote. I had a naïve belief that if I tried to be considerate and exercise some level of gentility it might lead those who disagree with me to read my blog despite our differences. I hoped that if I attempted to treat both sides of an issue with respect and showed that I was sensitive to liberal views that these people would give what I had to say a chance.
What a stupid notion.
This is the exact approach exhibited by the left that pisses me off. Instead of calling a terrorist a terrorist, the left wants to say “radical.” Unless you’re gay, you can’t call someone gay. You can’t call someone black, they are “African-American.” It’s not acceptable to want secure borders because they’ll call you racist. There are so many things you can’t talk about because it might hurt someone’s feelings. You can’t stand up for your convictions because you’re being insensitive to someone.
Well, how is this for insensitive? Shut the hell up.
I have had it up to my eyeballs with this sensitivity crap. What once was a focus on being civil has become a weakness in our society. I see many people who are so open minded that their brains have fallen out. Tolerance is all well and good until it begins to include tolerating behavior that threatens our safety, security and liberty.
I recently made the mistake of watching a video clip of Keith Olberman spewing lies about the Ground Zero Mosque. He opened by quoting the famous words of Pastor Martin Niemoller, drawing a parallel between the atrocities of the Nazi holocaust and the refusal of many Americans to accept the blight of an Islamic symbol on the site of the worst attack in American history. He was not implying that the Muslims were set on bringing the west under the control of Islam. Instead, he was insinuating that Americans who opposed the mosque would visit similar violations upon Muslims. He went on to outright deny the importance of the original name and the message that was being sent to the world. He cherry picked facts and applied them in an illogical manner in an attempt to invalidate the concerns of those who oppose the mosque. He went beyond tolerance for Muslims and became compliant in the audacious display of those who celebrate the jihad brought to our doorstep.
But this is not about the mosque, or even about Keith Olberman’s rampant idiocy. I mention this disgusting display of stupidity because it was this very display that made me understand that I am doing myself, my readers and my peers a great disservice. Olberman was bowing to the will of those who want to bring Sharia Law to the United States. He was complying to, and serving the agenda of those who are against our way of life and want to see it replaced with a Muslim society. In much the same way I was complying with those who want conservative thought silenced, who would be glad to see right wing talk off the radio, who would cheer if Fox News was shut down, and who want freedom of speech so long as that speech is what they want to hear.
Enough is enough. I won’t do it anymore. I reached a point of anger I have not felt before when I heard Olberman dishonor the innocents who were murdered on September 11th. I actually felt rage when he lied to serve the purposes of those who would continue the assault on American values and liberty. That anger still lingers, and as I type this I feel my muscles tensing and my stomach turning at the thought. I realized that there are people who truly think like that, and that some of my friends are guilty of such misguided naiveté. Worse than that, the people who think Olberman is on to something are the very people who refuse to read my blog because it might threaten their comfortable bubble. This is nothing short of willful ignorance.
To best express what I am getting at here, in case it is not plain enough, I have given up on trying to play nice. The realization of how these people really think has made my desire to meet in the middle wither and die. They don’t care about the feelings of those who lost loved ones on 9/11, they don’t care about the pain they are causing with their liberal bullshit, they don’t care about the damage done to a reputation when they lie and call someone a racist. They simply don’t care. If they don’t care, why should we? From now on I will write exactly what I think. I will be more critical of those I wish to criticize.
I used to focus much of my attention on criticizing conservatives for our failings. Yes, I was critical of the left, but I was equally critical of the right. I felt it was unacceptable to attack liberals for their failures without giving equal attention to the problems within our own ranks.
I used to say that before we could criticize our neighbor, we needed to get our own house in order. But who worries about cleaning their house when barbarians are beating down the door?
Leftists should be treated with utmost cruelty. They need to meet the same fate as their victims.
Conservatives live their lives in fear, wondering what the morons on the Left are going to do to them. They’d be much better off asserting their views with conviction. The Left is going to do whatever. If you believe you’re smarter than them, why worry?
Let’s ask: how many lives and careers have been ruined by the American Left? They complain about McCarthyism, but they practice a pernicious form of it. They are their own little commissars, attacking anyone who disagrees with them.
I don’t care for cruelty. But the utmost disdain would be appropriate.
Cruelty, and big, heaping portions of ridicule. The one thing they can’t stand is being made fun of, and people laughing at them. I try to get in several ridicule digs every day.
An excellent question.
The only answer I can give will be: “not my life.”
I’ve been a staunch conservative for some time now, but have had a difficult time reconciling my conservative views with my desire to be considerate of those around me. But if these people are going to be so inconsiderate of others, why should I extend such courtesy to them? This is not a question of a moral high ground, or of “being the bigger man.” You can be polite while decimating the idiocy of the left. What is unacceptable, however, is allowing their evil to breed.
So, again I say “not my life.”
What an eye opener. You are right on. No longer should we sit back and take it on the cheek. It’s time to stand up for our country and those that fought so bravely for our freedom. The great USA is the last bastion of freedom left on this earth. God help us all if the USA goes down in a ball of fire.
1. Don't take Keith Olberman seriously. Even his loyal viewers(both of them) don't make that mistake. This is a guy who failed to make it as a serious sportscaster and turned to left politics so the MSM, elites, and Hollywood Miscreants would think he is cool. It isn't working for him even there hence the ugly snarling, misplaced anger, mendacity and lousy makeup.
2. Your friend who does not want to discuss things with you because she believes in human rights and is afraid to listen to you is perhaps a nice person. She may even be kind to cats and goldfish. But she is a coward and a fool to think that perhaps by inference, you do not believe in human rights and are a frightful monster for disagreeing with her vision of the world. 3. I have an acquaintance who watches baseball games with me when we are up at our summer campsite. He is a liberal who is uncomfortable talking politics. So we just talk baseball and how nice it is to be at the campsite with a fire going and the TV or radio blasting away with a good game. He is not the type to want to defend his positions so I let him off the hook. After all it is baseball season. After the season is over, the campsite is closed for the winter and we don't see each other until April of the following year. Point being that if you have a friend like that let it go. you don;t have to win everyone over in your blog.
From my experiences, folks on the left do one of two things when confronted with ideas which challenge their world view. Ridicule you or try to change the subject.
The first action is right out of the book by Saul Alinsky who only wrote "Rules for Radicals" after observing this behavior and seeing the effect it had on others, rather than coming up with it himself.
The second action (or inaction), is right out of the Book of Cowardice. It's a long book with many stories like the friend of yours.
Listen to Andrew Klavan or David Horowitz. When they changed their world view they lost many 'friends' but made many more who are not cowards.
You are on the right(no pun intended) track. Folks will listen and take notice just as I did.
Shelve the sensitivity...this is war!
Welcome to the club. War is a dirty business.
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