It was fun for a while to poke fun at some of the crazier things that have been said and done before, and since, the election, but its not funny anymore. Those who speak for the far-right wing in this country have gone too far. With the insane rantings of Michelle Bachmann, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity with Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, and various writers and politicians, those who watch them, listen to them and read them are being fed a steady diet of hate and fear-mongering.
"Socialism," "Fascism," "Marxist," "Enemy," "Dictatorship," "Manchurian Candidate," these are but a few of the words these right-wing pundits and politicians are using to describe fellow Americans. None of these labels are anywhere near close to what the President is, or is trying to accomplish. They call for their listeners and constituents to be "Armed and Dangerous" against the "liberal agenda." They start "We Surround You" movements. Their minions at Free Republic and RedState (I will not link to either of those places, for your benefit) are taking them all too seriously. The rhetoric is growing more violent, and divisive every day. When will it end? Where will it end? Most importantly, how will it end?
We have spent the better part of 8 years, and in some way, the better part of 15 years (starting with Newt Gingrich) as divided as a country can be, without an actual civil war. Certainly the country has always had its separate political parties, and splits within even those, but for years the separate parties managed to work together towards the singular goal of bettering America. Never in my 42 years of life, except perhaps in the latter 60s, and that seems tame by comparison, has the divide been as pronounced as it is now, had this level of animosity, been littered with this level of vitriol. Were the McCarthyite years this bad? Is that where this is going?
All I know is what I can read and see today, the violent, hate-filled rhetoric of right-wing politicians and media personalities. One of the sadder aspects of it all, is I don't think they really believe all the shit that comes out of their mouth. Its all a game to them. They incite fear and anger for the sole purpose of regaining power. That said rhetoric may lead to actual violence and result in actual harm to actual Americans is but collateral damage to them. They simply cannot stand being the minority.
I won't accuse them of treason or sedition, that would only serve to exacerbate the divide. I will say that they are causing damage to the collective psyche of the citizenry. They are fostering paranoia and distrust among fellow citizens, in a time when we should be pulling together as a country. They are hampering, in an extreme way, the the ability of the country to pull ourselves out of the morass we find ourselves in. They are doing the exact opposite of what we need them to do at this time. We need ideas, we need common ground, we need "can do" not "No!," we need the same support now that was given to the former president (nearly all former presidents) in a time of crisis.
If I could speak to the fomenters of these anti-American sentiments en masse, I would ask them to please, for the good of the country, for the good of its citizens, stop. I would tell them that pitting neighbor against neighbor does no good. I would tell them that, despite their rhetoric of "revolution", the majority of Americans already staged one on November 4th, and President Obama, and a host of Democrats won. I would tell them that their words spit in the face of some of their own constituents and listeners and viewers who voted for Mr. Obama and those democrats. I would tell them to step back, rethink the tack they are taking, to find a coherent, strong party leader and come up with ideas instead of new ways to demonize the president and his agenda.
Of course, the hope that saying these things to them would lead to any change of heart, or mind, would only work if they actually believed what they were saying.