A political blog on a partisan website? Yeah, believe me, I’m more surprised than you are that I’m writing here. (Of course the reason you’re probably less surprised than I am is because you don’t even know who I am, and why it would be surprising that I’m writing on a partisan website. Speaking of knowing me, as soon as you are done reading this would be a great time to send me an email about what you think of my post. rabbach@wisc.edu All comments welcome, happy comments encouraged.) WEBMASTER'S NOTE: You may use the comment function below to leave comments.
Anyway, back to the surprising revelation that I am writing on a partisan website. You see, I consider myself to be an opinioned moderate. I guess this stems from the fact that I can’t really identify completely with either political party. I have always been interested in politics, but have been continually discouraged by the massive waves of media attention given to the seemingly never ending "just-for-the-sake-of" arguments inherent in polarized politics. It seems that everyone thinks there is something wrong with the current state of politics, but it is always 100% the fault of someone else. If only they would do something different... They are the ones keeping us from a solution...
The problem that I have is that it seems everyone is accused of being "they" by someone else. If everyone is "they," then shouldn’t it be "we"? If only we would do something different... We are the ones keeping us from a solution...
While this point of view would be encouraging to see, don’t hold your breath. It appears that since no one caused the problem, it is no ones job to help fix either. Damn, that’s depressing. Whatever happened to the government we (or is it they?) learned about in grade school. Where is the government that could identify a problem and introduce a bill that a few steps later emerged as a law ready to help the American people. Those steps from problem to solution seemed so easy in 4th grade. They (everyone else is doing it) never prepared us for the real government, the one where life is not always cheery and not everyone agrees. Or did they?
If you were like me when you were younger, there was only one reliable source to turn to when you needed to learn about something in 3 minutes or less. (Or if you only could learn things in the form of cartoon accompanied by a somewhat catchy tune.) I’m talking of course about School House Rock. This is the first memory that I have gaining an understanding of the political process. It taught me to put faith in the system. "It works" was the message that I continually seemed to receive when learning about our government, quite a contrast to only message that I can seem to get today of "it’s broken."
As I thought back on these wonderful days of complete trust in the system I decided that I needed to watch that School House Rock clip again. I needed to be re-inspired. I needed to know why I read the paper each day, why I watch CSPAN instead of the Simpson’s (well, I guess why I watch CSPAN during commercial breaks in the Simpson’s would be more accurate).
A quick youtube search revealed what appeared to be a clip show of my childhood. (Turns out I get the same feeling if I search Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Go figure.) I scrolled down and clicked on "How A Bill Becomes A Law." I watched happily as the rolled up scroll of paper, with an eerily soothing baritone voice, began to explain the law making process to a young boy. After the Bill explained that he was currently stuck in committee, the young boy approaches the door to listen to the Congressmen "discuss and debate." The boy is in awe of what he hears and, not surprisingly considering the intent of the video, is inspired by the government process at work. The comment that the boy makes about what he hears however caught me by surprise. He says, "Wow, listen to those congressmen arguing." Wait, did he say arguing? Why in a video meant to teach and inspire children would the word arguing be used? Wouldn’t the words debate, compromise or discuss have worked just as well?
Perhaps School House Rock was more accurate than I thought. Perhaps arguing is the perfect way to sum up what’s going on in politics, even if debate, compromise or discussion would work much better.
The thing about politics is that everyone who takes the time to get involved is very passionate about one thing or another or, more accurately in my opinion, one view point or another. Among all these passionate people there doesn’t seem to be a lot of middle ground even if the majority of people fall somewhere in that middle ground. Many of the people in this middle ground don’t speak up because they don’t want to argue and they don’t think their point of view will be heard.
In America we have this great thing called the First Amendment which guarantees us the right to free speech. While some interpret this as the right to stand on a street corner and scream obscenities, I have a little bit different view of what it means. To me it guarantees everyone’s right to be in the conversation. Not an argument, a conversation, and there is a difference. You can sustain an argument by just yelling back and forth without taking into consideration a single thing the other person has said. A conversation requires that you take into account what the other person is saying. You must consider before you respond. This requirement is also shared in the debate, the compromise and the discussion, all close relatives to the conversation. Our responsibility does not end when we "allow" the other person to speak, we must also listen and respond with more than a simple "you’re wrong."
While there may not be an easy solution to every problem, there is an easier way to find that solution. The hard part is allowing yourself to be a little wrong, your opponent to be a little right and for both of you to land together somewhere in the middle. This may be a hard step, but one that needs to be taken. Some very good people along with their very good solutions are being scared away because they know they won’t be heard.
While it may not be a revelation on this website to say that at times Republicans can be wrong, it may be blasphemy to say that Democrats are wrong sometimes too. So, at personal risk to myself, I’ll flat out say that Democrats can be, and are wrong sometimes. I’m sorry I had to say that, but it was necessary in order to clarify my point. When I call for debate, compromise and discussion I am calling to everyone, not just those on the right or the left. It can’t be called progress if only one side changes. "They" don’t have to change "we" do.
FINAL THOUGHT: I recommend you watch the School House Rock video and take a trip back to the days when the word "government" could make you smile. If that doesn’t work you could always try Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles…
Anyway, back to the surprising revelation that I am writing on a partisan website. You see, I consider myself to be an opinioned moderate. I guess this stems from the fact that I can’t really identify completely with either political party. I have always been interested in politics, but have been continually discouraged by the massive waves of media attention given to the seemingly never ending "just-for-the-sake-of" arguments inherent in polarized politics. It seems that everyone thinks there is something wrong with the current state of politics, but it is always 100% the fault of someone else. If only they would do something different... They are the ones keeping us from a solution...
The problem that I have is that it seems everyone is accused of being "they" by someone else. If everyone is "they," then shouldn’t it be "we"? If only we would do something different... We are the ones keeping us from a solution...
While this point of view would be encouraging to see, don’t hold your breath. It appears that since no one caused the problem, it is no ones job to help fix either. Damn, that’s depressing. Whatever happened to the government we (or is it they?) learned about in grade school. Where is the government that could identify a problem and introduce a bill that a few steps later emerged as a law ready to help the American people. Those steps from problem to solution seemed so easy in 4th grade. They (everyone else is doing it) never prepared us for the real government, the one where life is not always cheery and not everyone agrees. Or did they?
If you were like me when you were younger, there was only one reliable source to turn to when you needed to learn about something in 3 minutes or less. (Or if you only could learn things in the form of cartoon accompanied by a somewhat catchy tune.) I’m talking of course about School House Rock. This is the first memory that I have gaining an understanding of the political process. It taught me to put faith in the system. "It works" was the message that I continually seemed to receive when learning about our government, quite a contrast to only message that I can seem to get today of "it’s broken."
As I thought back on these wonderful days of complete trust in the system I decided that I needed to watch that School House Rock clip again. I needed to be re-inspired. I needed to know why I read the paper each day, why I watch CSPAN instead of the Simpson’s (well, I guess why I watch CSPAN during commercial breaks in the Simpson’s would be more accurate).
A quick youtube search revealed what appeared to be a clip show of my childhood. (Turns out I get the same feeling if I search Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Go figure.) I scrolled down and clicked on "How A Bill Becomes A Law." I watched happily as the rolled up scroll of paper, with an eerily soothing baritone voice, began to explain the law making process to a young boy. After the Bill explained that he was currently stuck in committee, the young boy approaches the door to listen to the Congressmen "discuss and debate." The boy is in awe of what he hears and, not surprisingly considering the intent of the video, is inspired by the government process at work. The comment that the boy makes about what he hears however caught me by surprise. He says, "Wow, listen to those congressmen arguing." Wait, did he say arguing? Why in a video meant to teach and inspire children would the word arguing be used? Wouldn’t the words debate, compromise or discuss have worked just as well?
Perhaps School House Rock was more accurate than I thought. Perhaps arguing is the perfect way to sum up what’s going on in politics, even if debate, compromise or discussion would work much better.
The thing about politics is that everyone who takes the time to get involved is very passionate about one thing or another or, more accurately in my opinion, one view point or another. Among all these passionate people there doesn’t seem to be a lot of middle ground even if the majority of people fall somewhere in that middle ground. Many of the people in this middle ground don’t speak up because they don’t want to argue and they don’t think their point of view will be heard.
In America we have this great thing called the First Amendment which guarantees us the right to free speech. While some interpret this as the right to stand on a street corner and scream obscenities, I have a little bit different view of what it means. To me it guarantees everyone’s right to be in the conversation. Not an argument, a conversation, and there is a difference. You can sustain an argument by just yelling back and forth without taking into consideration a single thing the other person has said. A conversation requires that you take into account what the other person is saying. You must consider before you respond. This requirement is also shared in the debate, the compromise and the discussion, all close relatives to the conversation. Our responsibility does not end when we "allow" the other person to speak, we must also listen and respond with more than a simple "you’re wrong."
While there may not be an easy solution to every problem, there is an easier way to find that solution. The hard part is allowing yourself to be a little wrong, your opponent to be a little right and for both of you to land together somewhere in the middle. This may be a hard step, but one that needs to be taken. Some very good people along with their very good solutions are being scared away because they know they won’t be heard.
While it may not be a revelation on this website to say that at times Republicans can be wrong, it may be blasphemy to say that Democrats are wrong sometimes too. So, at personal risk to myself, I’ll flat out say that Democrats can be, and are wrong sometimes. I’m sorry I had to say that, but it was necessary in order to clarify my point. When I call for debate, compromise and discussion I am calling to everyone, not just those on the right or the left. It can’t be called progress if only one side changes. "They" don’t have to change "we" do.
FINAL THOUGHT: I recommend you watch the School House Rock video and take a trip back to the days when the word "government" could make you smile. If that doesn’t work you could always try Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles…
1 Comments:
"Some very good people along with their very good solutions are being scared away because they know they won’t be heard."
Well put, I can only hope that "we" are really willing to change.
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