I read a lot in the liberal blogs about "Big Tent" thinking. The Dems should be a big tent, and let's let everyone into the big tent, because, well, it's big, and there's room for all of us.
Or is there?
More Below the fold, but first, some words from Dave:
Everybody's happy
Everybody's free
We'll keep the big door open
And everyone'll come around
Why are you different
Why are you that way
If you don't step in line
We'll lock you away
(excerpted from "Typical Situation" by Dave Matthews Band)
In the last few weeks I've seen a number of fairly vitriolic diaries (and comments) that make blanket condemnations of and sweeping generalizations about all kinds of things from music to culture to the kinds of cars people drive. When I, and others, have called the posters out, or attempted to illustrate the many contradictions to these statements, we've been told to relax, it was just a rant, they weren't really serious, they were being ironic. The problem is that their follow up comments to those who have lauded their efforts usually illustrate that it was not a joke, a rant, or anything else. They were quite serious. It reminds me very much of someone who tells a racist joke and, when she realizes she's offended someone, says "Oh, I'm just kidding. Some of my best friends are (you fill in the blank). Now, as a liberal, I find this patently offensive.
How you claim to be a liberal and dismiss, out-of-hand, something you've never even tried to understand? How can you claim to be a liberal when you judge an entire culture based on a few main stream media reports, which are only highlighting the worst representations of that sample? How can you claim to be a liberal when you so willingly stand in judgment of those around you?
To be honest, I find very little difference between this kind of closed-minded thinking and the kinds of closed-mindedness that we chastise Republicans for. We stand here and congratulate ourselves and feel smugly superior because WE are the liberal, open-minded crowd. WE love everyone. Well...except people who listen to that kind of music. Or who drive that kind of car. Or who, gods forbid, believe in that. But, come on, those people aren't really liberals anyway. Everyone knows that.
I have little doubt that some of you reading this will believe me to be a PC-thinking humorless bitch. If that's your take, you're welcome to it. After all, it's not my place to judge.