The Demise of Polite Political Discourse (or, “Mean People Suck”)
It became acceptable, at some point, to invoke invective and hurl insults at those on the other side of the political fence rather than engage and discuss issues. I’m not sure when the line was crossed and the adults decided to start acting like middle school bullies. Perhaps it started when it became acceptable for grown men to wear their baseball caps backwards, or pregnant women to wear shortie tops.
Guilt by association is the order of the day, along with cartoonish stereotypes about the “religious right”, “liberals”, “nutburgers”, etc. Being lumped in with a group you don’t agree with is frustrating enough, but when you call the new “commentators” on it, they deny they did such a thing. But, but, but … look here, its in plain english …
Truth, it seems, takes a back seat to political expediency, with neither side willing to admit their political foes are even human, much less worthy of consideration.
And while there are those with views so outside of the mainstream that it gives you pause, their physical appearance, weight, ethnicity, religion or parentage should not be the issue. In the marketplace of ideas, we are dealing with … well, ideas.
I heard some tapes of the debate between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy the other day. These were literate, well spoken men, who engaged in debate with dignity and respect for each other. They were also the two most polarizing men of their era. It is a funny thing that men so loved and hated could discuss issues rationally.
In the current political season, we have commentators like Keith Olbermann reading a description of the word “terrorist” and then stating that it describes the Republican party, a bid to make himself the Democrat Party’s equivalent of Ann Coulter. But the left sees Olbermann not as over the top, but “courageous”. And the right says about Coulter, “well, you know, she is right about some things.”
But impolite discussion is not courageous, even if it is on point. It is simply rude.
Prior to the Internet, there were moderated forums where discussion was allowed to flourish, but insults were discouraged. I moderated several of those forums for the RelayNet Network (RIME). It was hard work, because there are always those that want to push the limits, but for the most part, the participants learned to speak to one another and hear each other out. There were good discussions.
Is there any place left where polite political discourse happens? I haven’t been able to find a place. The culture is so poisoned now that we retreat to reading the forums and blogs where we know we won’t be called names, and we don’t hear differing viewpoints. It truly is a shame, but I don’t think you can put the toothpaste back into the tube.
