I am emotionally exhausted. And my faith in humanity is dwindling. And that is a huge thing for me, as a humanitarian, to say.
I started the debate spot on Fanpop years ago because I believed that people from all sides of a controversial issue had something intelligent to say about it. I believe that dissent is what makes progress. And I have written articles upon articles on this belief of mine. Including an article about link (and no, I was not being snide). Now, I'll argue my perspective until Judgment Day, because I just want someone to hear me. But conversely, I will listen to a rational, well-thought out rebuttal to that perspective and I will strive to understand and eventually respect it. That is my purpose of debate-- to encourage a deeper understanding of alternative perspectives.
So it shouldn't surprise you that I welcome criticism of Barack Obama, even though I support him. I lauded conservative politicians who held up their counter-health care proposal in silent protest during a speech on the topic. Why? Because I thought it was a mature way to show your disagreement. They were dignified. Unlike Joe Wilson's dastardly outburst.
But this article isn't about the dignified conservatives at all. It's not addressed to them-- It's addressed to the Joe Wilsons out there, terrorizing the Obama spot. A young fan asked if she should join because she was afraid that what she called "sneaky republicans" might engage her in combat. On Obama's own spot? How is that fair?
Christians get angry when Atheists and others waltz onto their spot and start insulting their belief in God. And they have a right to be angry because it is their spot! However, if an Atheist or other joined their spot and asked questions... INNOCENT questions, with no intent to offend, but to provoke thought or discussion... then from what I've seen, the Christians are not only open to the idea, they encourage it.
We're the same here. If you don't like Obama, and all you want to do is bash him and say that he's a Muslim Communist Hitler Hateword, then get the fuck out of this spot. However, if you don't like Obama, and you want to engage in discussion about his policies and explain (respectfully) your dislike of the president, then by all means STAY! But I am tired of the juvenile name-calling and I will not tolerate it on a spot dedicated to fans of Obama.
Listen-- You don't like Obama. You didn't vote for him. He got elected, and now you think he's doing everything all wrong. I get that this makes you angry. Believe me, I had my fair share of frustrations under the Bush administration, I know. And I also had my fun making fun of him, and yes, I may have made jokes about his intelligence. But I never said he was a traitor, or that he had bad intentions, or that he was evil (I saved those remarks for Cheyney-- JOKE! OK, not really). And I would never purposely insult him to the face of one of his supporters. I wouldn't troll the Internet looking for Bush-supporting Republicans to take my anger out on. So what did I do? I used that anger constructively.
I went out and gathered every piece of information I knew about Bush's policies so that, when asked, I could explain exactly what it was about them that I found egregiously wrong. And, to be honest, in discussing it rationally I learned a lot more about him-- some of them even good things.
So rather than regurgitate things that your family tells you about politics you don't really understand, why don't you go out and do your own research. If, after that, you decide you want to come back and say "Aha, Cinders! I have done as you commanded and now I know exactly how I hate Obama, and here, let me count the ways!" then go for it. I will sit and I will listen to (or read) what you have to say, and then I will respond. I may not agree with you (and please, don't expect me to), but I will understand where you're coming from a whole lot better.
Thank you, and good night.
link
I started the debate spot on Fanpop years ago because I believed that people from all sides of a controversial issue had something intelligent to say about it. I believe that dissent is what makes progress. And I have written articles upon articles on this belief of mine. Including an article about link (and no, I was not being snide). Now, I'll argue my perspective until Judgment Day, because I just want someone to hear me. But conversely, I will listen to a rational, well-thought out rebuttal to that perspective and I will strive to understand and eventually respect it. That is my purpose of debate-- to encourage a deeper understanding of alternative perspectives.
So it shouldn't surprise you that I welcome criticism of Barack Obama, even though I support him. I lauded conservative politicians who held up their counter-health care proposal in silent protest during a speech on the topic. Why? Because I thought it was a mature way to show your disagreement. They were dignified. Unlike Joe Wilson's dastardly outburst.
But this article isn't about the dignified conservatives at all. It's not addressed to them-- It's addressed to the Joe Wilsons out there, terrorizing the Obama spot. A young fan asked if she should join because she was afraid that what she called "sneaky republicans" might engage her in combat. On Obama's own spot? How is that fair?
Christians get angry when Atheists and others waltz onto their spot and start insulting their belief in God. And they have a right to be angry because it is their spot! However, if an Atheist or other joined their spot and asked questions... INNOCENT questions, with no intent to offend, but to provoke thought or discussion... then from what I've seen, the Christians are not only open to the idea, they encourage it.
We're the same here. If you don't like Obama, and all you want to do is bash him and say that he's a Muslim Communist Hitler Hateword, then get the fuck out of this spot. However, if you don't like Obama, and you want to engage in discussion about his policies and explain (respectfully) your dislike of the president, then by all means STAY! But I am tired of the juvenile name-calling and I will not tolerate it on a spot dedicated to fans of Obama.
Listen-- You don't like Obama. You didn't vote for him. He got elected, and now you think he's doing everything all wrong. I get that this makes you angry. Believe me, I had my fair share of frustrations under the Bush administration, I know. And I also had my fun making fun of him, and yes, I may have made jokes about his intelligence. But I never said he was a traitor, or that he had bad intentions, or that he was evil (I saved those remarks for Cheyney-- JOKE! OK, not really). And I would never purposely insult him to the face of one of his supporters. I wouldn't troll the Internet looking for Bush-supporting Republicans to take my anger out on. So what did I do? I used that anger constructively.
I went out and gathered every piece of information I knew about Bush's policies so that, when asked, I could explain exactly what it was about them that I found egregiously wrong. And, to be honest, in discussing it rationally I learned a lot more about him-- some of them even good things.
So rather than regurgitate things that your family tells you about politics you don't really understand, why don't you go out and do your own research. If, after that, you decide you want to come back and say "Aha, Cinders! I have done as you commanded and now I know exactly how I hate Obama, and here, let me count the ways!" then go for it. I will sit and I will listen to (or read) what you have to say, and then I will respond. I may not agree with you (and please, don't expect me to), but I will understand where you're coming from a whole lot better.
Thank you, and good night.
link