I'm not one for human politics, but there's been a new fad circulating that I really must crush swiftly.
"Scared."
That's got to go, people.
Almost every partisan I've heard has, at least once, resorted to the "I'm really scared of what may happen to this country if So-and-So gets the nomination."
I've heard people express "fear" of what would become of their nation under a Reagan Administration, a Clinton Administration, a Bush Administration. I recall Republicans absolutely gasping for breath after being "drowned" in Clinton for eight years, and I hear the same gasping this year, now coming from downtrodden Democrats.
But...
Really?
"Scared?"
As in, "My life, liberty and choices will fundamentally change for the worse if some politician gets a job and that makes me scared?"
People.
Calm down. If you've never led a rearguard action against the roving Stone Imps of the Mystery Leviathan, you may want to re-apply your use of the word "scared." That, my (imaginary) friends, was scary. Voting for a civil servant, even if he's sort of corrupt, or stupid, vain or mean-spirited, isn't going to thawart the restoration of your nation's mythical glory.
Because you live in a free nation, I'm afraid the duty for participating in the country's glory falls on someone else's shoulders.
Yours.
Keep in mind that, my simple public expression (whether you agree with it or not) by its very existence proves unequivocably that Orwell's nightmare scenario has in no way descended upon this nation (and, if you needed this blog to prove that to you, well...you're welcome.) And Clinton didn't turn this country into an orgy of selfish cultural cannibalism either.
Your cute little nation, with its ideals of debate and independence, representation and minority voices, still stands. Trust me, when the trolls take over, you'll know. The good news is, you won't have to worry about voting for the one who loses the contest. The bad news is, you won't have a vote at all.*
*[And the really good news is that Trollkind is pretty disorganized and generally underachieves. Once we tried to organize a raiding party, but ended up just wandering around at the mall.]
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Scared? Really?
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2 comments:
That fear is indicative of the inordinate amount of importance we place on politics in general. It's why I was so happy to see the recently drafted Evangelical Manifesto distance "evangelical believers" from the political machine. Probably the reason why Dobson didn't sign it, too.
Look, I'm not opposed to human politics. Far from it. The bloodier the better. Vigorous debate is the best way to solve tough problems, defeat bad ideas, and promote sensible government.
I just think people can slip into a sort of lazy defense of one's own position (something, if I'm reading it properly, the Evangelical Manifesto addresses as well) without much difficulty. That is where a person becomes less persuasive and less open to persuasion.
After all, if political choice is always a determination between good and evil, why would one ever make himself vulnerable to an argument in favor of evil?
I don't begrudge anyone, whether James Dobson or Larry Flynt, their rightful exercise of position to make political in roads. If they get lazy and talk about how fearful they are of what will happen to America if proposition A passes, or whatever, I become incredulous.
Fear produces no decent political motive, but for some faiths, it may be the only one. Among Christians, it certainly isn't an option.
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