Posted on 09/12/2009 4:59:51 AM PDT by Loyal Buckeye
Perhaps we need to institute a timeout.
Back in elementary school, when things got a little out of hand, the teacher would say we needed to take a timeout. Usually this followed a fight on the playground, an argument in homeroom or an unusually nasty prank. Kids need to learn the boundaries.
It feels a lot like elementary school right now in our political arena. The players have expanded the boundaries way past what had been defined as acceptable. In just over a month we have seen the following:
• Town-hall meetings being disrupted by yelling and shouting.
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• Attendees at a meeting with President Barack Obama carrying loaded guns and rifles.
• Television-program hosts encouraging the downfall of the administration.
• School districts refusing to carry the president's message to students about the importance of getting an education and staying in school.
After each of these happened, I threw up my hands and asked, "What next?" Have we become so polarized and driven by hatred and fear that a message that other presidents have delivered before has become unacceptable to some? And, if many of those folks who are complaining would listen to the words of the president about the importance of discipline and staying in school, wouldn't they agree with the message? What brought on all this hate?
I have to say that as an elected official, I am extremely frustrated that we have reached this point, and I want others to join me in saying that enough is enough. Let's take a timeout.
We politicians are as much to blame as anyone. Our discourse has become partisan and angry, thoughtless and hurtful and totally lacking in civility. We are headed down a very dangerous path, and this is not the type of leadership that our constituents expect of us.
I invite the folks who sincerely have a problem with the president delivering a message to students that it is important to stay in school to join me at my next district dialogue, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Upper Arlington High School. Our topic this month is education. And this is about education. Help me understand your concerns. And let's have a civil discussion about education.
To my colleagues in the state legislature and other elected offices, I suggest we all take a close look in the mirror and see what messages we are sharing with our young people about how to resolve conflict, how to disagree, how to learn and how to get along with one another. Sure, power is won and lost in political battles, and the conventional way to victory is to throw fear and misdirection at your foes. And often the throwing gets really messy. We can do this differently.
I remember my elementary-school gym teacher, Miss Ruth Ann McMillan, often called on us to "grow up" during our schoolyard antics. With today's antics, perhaps she might say to all of us, politicians and citizens alike, "Let's take a timeout!"
STATE REP. TED CELESTE Grandview Heights
This is as good as any example of the Dems and politicians being out of touch.
Have at it.
” It feels a lot like elementary school right now in our political arena. “
Yep - and that’s what we’re determined to correct..
Idiot...
There can be no civil discourse when half the country is being ignored. I think the divide is too far gone to be repaired at this point. The sides are too polarized and on topics where there is no common ground; abortion, gun control,winning the war or tucking tail and running, free speech, entitlements, taxes, freedom in general. Its the nanny staters vs the limited govt and handle it yourself crowd and neither will ever become the other.......
what a load of crap you dumbass!!
Anger an incivility are the vehicles for destroying the disgusting change. Marxist progression will be halted by anger an incivility.
Or, would you prefer to see you blood seeping out onto the concrete?
“Anger and incivility threaten to hijack this nation’s public discourse”
The problem is there was NEVER any public discourse (and they STILL won’t listen!). We were told to take it or leave it and then they rammed or tried to ram everything down our throats in record time without discussion. That’s why we had to yell “STOP”!
It get's kind of rough when you mess with armed peoples' freedom.
Oh please, where have these people been for the last 8 1/2 years? This didn’t start yesterday.
I invite the folks who sincerely have a problem with the president delivering a message to students that it is important to stay in school to join me at my next district dialogue, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Upper Arlington High School. Our topic this month is education. And this is about education. Help me understand your concerns. And let’s have a civil discussion about education.
________________________
Someone be sure to bring the video of Rahm Emanuel talking about ‘The Plan’ on YouTube. Thanks for posting!
when was the last time Obeyme invited the Republicans to the WH to discuss health care?
Incivility?
The dems created the atmosphere of absolute hatred after the 2000 election.
This isn’t blowback from the citizens. It isn’t a right vs left vs independent “incivility.”
This is rebellion because of the sheer disaster both sides have created.
This is the citizens telling those whom they have elected that the citizenry is taking the governance and the power back into their hands.
Ted Celeste: "this is unfair!, fight fair you dastardly ne'er do wells!. Marquis of queensbury rules!!"
CC
I was able to attend a seminar given by the Ayn Rand Center & CEI yesterday here in DC.
The ONE THING we came away from the seminar was that most of the TEA PARTIES (and town halls) talk about what we are AGAINST. We MUST narrow the talk down to what we are FOR. Most of everything in the discussion everywhere can be boiled down to FREEDOM and INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS! Obamacare is about making SLAVES of doctors. It is DOCTORs’ rights that are majorly infringed upon.
Another thing was that we need to develop the “virtue of selfishness”: we should be proud of the work we do and be the determiner of how we spend our money. An example given was: your neighbor is sick and can’t afford necessary care. He comes to you to ask for help. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT to help or refuse. Your neighbor has NO CLAIM on your income. What is happening is that with Obamacare, your neighbor, instead of coming back with a gun, goes to the government and gets the government to take your money.
Keep the discussion to RIGHTS and walk away from anyone who just can’t be convinced UNLESS you have an audience who might be convinced.
Our rights are being taken away in increments. We must fight to preserve what is left and take back what has been taken.
Pray for all of us here in DC.
This “Congressman” is the typical Class Bully!
Well the tables have turned, we have grown up and aren’t going to tolerate your idea of how We The People should react to your demands.
It is time for you, sir, to report to the Principal’s office to understand what is expected of a public servant.
Drink this poison and don’t complain that it tastes funny.
We are in a CIVIL WAR......it will soon turn to an UNCIVIL WAR if the Democrats don’t slow down.
Saul Alinsky and his followers are not pleased that his tactics are laid bare and republicans are on to the “rules.” We are just leveling the ground rules, Saul.
(And I'm not even religious.)
I can't find ONE report along this same vein by this bunch of sorry prix when liberals were SCREAMING and protesting Bush!
Not only are they vehemently out of touch, but they are woefully unintelligent!
I think this kind of piece just causes people to get angrier because of the downright hypocrisy!
NOW, NOW , CHILDREN!
IT’S NOT NICE TO BE A REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOT.
Just shut up and take what ever we force on you AND YOU BETTER LIKE IT!
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