Polarization

 June 13, 2024

Polarization does not mean we have to be adversaries

It keeps coming up in our national debates on almost all issues how polarized we are as a nation. I really don't understand when politicians, media personalities, and others complain how much we are polarized because we see issues differently. We are a nation of individuals with individual liberties that are protected by the Constitution. At the forefront of these liberties is the right to freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. Implicit in the right to free speech and press is the right of each person to have their own opinions. I'm troubled by politicians and people of influence that intentionally sows seeds of discord between groups of citizens with divisive rhetoric for political reasons.  

Despite the efforts of those that try to deliberately keep Americans divided with inflammatory rhetoric, I am not influenced by their efforts. I make my own decisions on what side of the issues I will take. And I try to make my decisions based on facts and evidence in all cases. My position on an issue will never be based on the divisive rhetoric of someone else because of their status as a public figure, and whether I love them or hate them. I'm totally committed to being as honest as I can and thinking rationally. Of course, you have the right to base your views on the different issues we face as a society on any reason you choose. I totally respect your right to do so. And I will not feel polarized from you or have any ill will towards you or others that think like you that is different from the way I think. We have and will continue to be polarized as nation when it comes to issues and policies. Being polarized, that is having differing views and opinions, is not necessarily a bad thing if we respect each other views and opinions and try to learn from each other. We do not have to see individuals or groups with views and opinions different from our own as being adversaries. Obviously, respect for other people opinions has it limits. Violent and defamatory rhetoric are some of the exceptions.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MAGA vs MAAG

By Fred Bates - October 2024   MAGA (Make America Great Again) is a fool's errand - MAAG (Make America America Again) is a more realistic goal Don't get me wrong. I am in support of the goal of the MAGA movement of Donald Trump. Who could possibly be against making America a great nation again? However, to make America great again is a fool's errand. A more realistic goal would be to make America America again by getting back to basic norms such as border security, sound foreign policy focused on national security backed by a strong military, eliminating waste and corruption in government, protecting voting rights and election integrity, respecting the rights of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution, supporting law enforcement to ensure safe communities, and having respect for our economic system that is based on capitalism. Getting back to these norms will make America America again, but this alone will not make America great again. For America to be great again will req...
Read more

Process Is Everything In A Democracy

 By Fred Bates - August 2024 Democrats' hypocrisy has no bounds when it comes to their defense of democracy Donald Trump was accused by Democrats of election interference for making a phone call to President Zelensky in July 2019, during which, Trump was accused of pressuring Zelensky to dig up dirt on his political rival, Democrat Joe Biden. At that time, Biden hadn't declared himself a candidate for president. Trump was impeached by the Democrat led House of Representatives in December 2019, even though, the constitutional requirement for impeachment of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors was not met. Undeterred by the failure of the first impeachment, Trump was impeached a second time for his actions following the 2020 presidential election. Trump made claims that the election was stolen from him because of fraud. On January 6, 2021, the day of the certification of the election of Joe Biden as President, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in protest. De...
Read more

The 2020 Presidential Election - Who Is The Better Candidate? Trump or Biden

  Post #10 - Saturday November 1, 2020 Trump or Biden?  The presidential election is two days away and I feel compelled to give my opinion about who I think is the better candidate based on their policies and character. When choosing a candidate in an election, I think most people look at what the candidates have done in the past and at what they say they are going to do after they get elected. Ideally, you would then make a decision based on who you think is better. When I started this blog on January 15th of this year (2020), I stated that I would address current hot button issues that have left this nation deeply polarized. I stated in my introductory post that I would address issues in an honest and objective way. The issue as to whether Trump or Biden would be better for this country is a controversial issue. This post is not meant to be a political statement or an endorsement. I respect the right of every citizen to vote for the candidate of their choice. I will not cond...
Read more