Just to end tonight on a slightly positive note: I get the sense that today, indeed this week, has been a tough one for political partisans of all sorts. This has been a hard fought, passionate primary, particularly for those who believe most strongly in the two Democratic candidates. It was always bound to be the case that things would get heated, intemperate words might be said, emotional outbursts would follow.
Today, of course, has seen the implosion of a fairly senior member of the Obama team, not to mention, what I would say, are some serious missteps by others in his campaign. I won't pretend, meanwhile, that some things from the Clinton folks have not been hard edged, even nasty.
I know it's hard, but from my lonely little perch I'd like to urge patience, and some civility.
One reason I blog is because I come from a family of passionate arguers; I've been discussing politics since probably before I understood the word. When I got to college and started engaging in those late night bull sessions and campus movements, I was amazed, surprised, and even hurt sometimes to discover that people can take arguments over issues personally. Even as I believed the feminist mantra that "the political is personal", I saw political discussions as anything but; I just like to argue. Still do. I know (now) it's not for everyone. And I try, especially in the free-for-all world of the blogosphere, not to resort to personal attacks or name calling.
So on a day when things have become somewhat more unhinged, as RedStar bemoans the people who complain about negative attacks while making them, I'd like to say, I'm with her. Let's have a debate. Let's argue. But don't take it too personally. I've discussed politics with people on all sides of the fence, supporting a multiplicity of candidates and views. There are very few idiots, and a lot of people who feel, strongly, about the views they hold. That's great. I'd rather have people who believe passionately in things and argue for them than people who can't be bothered to care. We can do this without destroying civility, even if the campaigns play rough.
The title to this post, by the way, is not me - it's EM Forster, from A Room With A View. I used it as my epigram in my college yearbook. I've believed in niceness for a very long time. :)
Comments