In the last few days the I/P world on Dkos has taken an extreme turn towards "Teh Ugly"
Both sides have had their most extreme posters tossing up big fat softballs for each other to hit out of the park. Accusations of bigotry, blood libel, defense of torture, and Racism amongst others have reared their ugly heads. What makes it worse is that commenters (myself included) have all lost our heads over this insanity.
Now as a regular diarist about I/P and a regular participant in these threads I am not unaware of the "screaming" that takes place. But, lately it has reached fever pitch level spurred on by the worst in all of us (also myself included).
Join me over the fold for this discussion and how we can improve things.
I am not going to any outside sources but I am going to start the discussion here.
I first came on DKos earlier this year due to the fact that as I get older I find myself becoming more progressive (kind of like the portrait of Dorian Gray). I voted for President Obama in the CA primary and was ecstatic to see someone I respected win. Further, I think he is doing a great job all things considered to this point. My special area of interest has always been the Middle East. I lived and studied in Israel and was active in Zionist projects throughout my life.
I came to this site though with a perspective that as you can imagine immediately got challenged. At first, I snapped at people and repeated meme's that I had learned as a defensive reaction. As that happened, I found that I was getting nowhere with people here. The more I read the more I started to question my past beliefs.
Then I made "friends" (as much as you can on a blog site) with a Palestinian poster who changed my perspective completely. His reasoned arguments and sense of responsibility made me realize that a lot of what I had been taught was wrong. Just as I think a lot of what opponents of Israel are taught is wrong.
Last night in the heat of a very distressing argument I posted this:
You know it one thing about this diary is incredibly appropriate.
AB put out a diary where he straight out lied and made many of us Pro-I people look like fools because we believed him. Not only did we but honestly we wanted too. Hamas to many of us is horrible organization that we were ready to believe anything.
Now there are people on DKos who actually believe the story of this blood libel is true. Further some think the only reason the Israeli government is pissed is because they want to distract from oppression. How fucking stupid is that. There has been oppression for years. FIVE DAYS IS GOING TO MEAN ANYTHING???????
No, people want to believe the worst about each other. It makes them feel good. It makes them feel right.
This is the horrible reality of this conflict. Unless we do something to change peoples minds that there are people on both sides not monsters we will be doomed to repeat our mistakes. THIS MUST END!!!
I want to stress this about all things. We make charges and counter charges because we know in hearts that our opponents are wrong. We know they represent evil. We know they defend child torture, we know they call for vengeful Jihad, we know that they only want to oppress people, we know that they think Jews kill people for their organs. We know all of these facts and no one will tell us we are wrong.
Well guess what - WE ARE ALL MOSTLY WRONG. But WE HAVE TO PUT OURSELVES IN OTHER PEOPLE'S SHOES. We have to see what others see and how we would react. I am Jewish but, one thing that resonates with me is this:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
Visualize Whirled Peas - Baby..... (just a rip at that jackass Michael Steele)