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
“We are headed down a very dangerous path....”
When Liberals refer to Conservatives as dumb asses and knuckle-draggers, we are headed down a very dangerous path.
When Liberals occupy the halls of congress and act out their hatred, contempt and disdain for the opposition, we are headed down a very dangerous path.
When Liberals embrace self-admitted communists, domestic terrorists and bring them near the levers of power, we are headed down a very dangerous path.
When Liberals behave like thugs, both in the streets and in the halls of government, we are headed down a very dangerous path.
When Liberal congressmen seeth with contempt for their constituents, we are headed down a very dangerous path.
When Liberal Democrats behave as if an election win is a coup d’etat, we are headed down a very dangerous path.
When Liberal DEmocrats refer to American Soldiers, who risk life and limb, as murdering terrorists, we are headed down a very dangerous path.
When Liberal Democrats seek to criminalize prior administrations, we are headed down a very dangerous path.
When Liberal Democrats hate the Second Amendment, we are headed down a very dangerous path....
IMHO
Hey, Celeste, ask yourself why Republican Presidents can give a speech at exactly two major universities, Kansas State and Texas A&M, while abortion extremist Obama goes into Notre Dame like he owns the place?
The Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet off Cape Horn in South America. The waters can become violent and unpridictable as the two ocean try to find a common ground.
For well over 80 years (since the time of FDR) the polictical elite have been moving us towards the left while conservatives have been trying to slow that movement.
I believe what we are seeing today is the pendalum slowing just prior to it’s swing back towards the right.
The left had almost won, but there is now a build up of resistance. There is going to be conflict since the left never gives back what they have “won”.
They are demanding “civility” in public discourse as that will help them remain in power which is ironic since they have used civil disobediance to win many of their objectives in the past.
They will learn that change, like time, stops for no one.
The nation I grew up in no longer exist. Will we ever get back to where we were, no, as Thomas Wolfe said, “You can not go home again”, but perhaps we can blunt some of the worse changes that have occured over the past 80 years.
How condescending.
Don’t show any passion or anger. /sarcasm
Bingo! When this crap trailed after Bush everywhere he went, and from Dingy Harry when he called him a liar in front of press microphones, there was nothing wrong. Now it’s against the law or something to object.
YOU LIE!
Where has Ted Celeste been for the last 30 years?
I noticed the paper printed the rep’s opinion in an editor w/o any opportunity to respond, is this typical for this paper?
To my knowledge, yes. The online version of the paper just duplicates what is in the print version.
Perhaps it’s time town hall meetings were set up so that both sides get equal opportunities to state their case.
Sitting for half an hour listening to Democrats sell their tripe, and having questioners lined up with soft ball questions is not what is called fair.
Well Ted, as a fellow Buckeye, I too am extremely frustrated.
I have watched in outrage as your political party engaged in systematic destruction of the values that made our country great.
While there should always be room for healthy discussion of differences of opinion and open debate over the best course to take in seeking solutions to Americas problems, there is no open, honest debate when DemonRATs are involved.
Your party has evolved into a disgusting collaboration of Marxists, thieves and thugs that are dedicated only to seeking and maintaining power through whatever means available. You, and your associates have no moral compass, and as such your direction, and your actions are always geared toward solidifying your power and wealth.
I could begin listing the specific examples of your parties behavior to back up these statements, but I have no desire to write a novel. Suffice it to say that I believe in the freedoms our founding fathers envisioned when they helped form this nation. Their vision was a nation of great personal freedoms, governed by citizen representatives, not elite royalty.
The DemonRAT party has been behaving like conquering thieves, raiding our wealth and dictating ever broadening control over our lives. We are outraged, and we will not allow you to get away with it. Too bad that you don't like the “tone” of discussion. Change your agenda, or prepare for the consequences, but we will not be silenced.
"If you want the next four years lookin' like the last eight, then I'm not your candidate. But if you want real change...then I need you. I need you to go out and talk to your friends, talk to your neighbors...I want you to argue with them, get in their faces...you guys are the ones who can make the change."*
Who said that, Mr Celeste? Do you think it's civil? Get in their faces? Is that the politics you favor?
*Candidate Barack Obama to supporters September, 2008
Democrats behave like bullies on the playground.
Why, we’re just following Dear Leader’s wisdom and advice...
“Get in their face”
“If they bring a knife, we bring a gun”
“Just sit down and shut up”
Where to start? Notice all of the incivility is on the conservative’s side.
And that is exactly how Democrats view the American people. As children. In school. In a school they run.
Bad as that is, they are headed toward another and worse view: citizens as inmates and they as the wardens.
Funny how the call for civility comes after they get control..
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