This screed is not about anything particular here or Daily Kos in general, but all interactions among those that disagree politically either online or in person. And I know it has been said, written about, opined by me and others many times over, but I feel that I need to say it again. Just because I refuse to call the people I so vehemently disagree with four letter words, attack them with colorful phrases, show my disdain with naked obviousness by use of a turn of a phrase, ad hominem or plain old nastiness, it does not mean that I agree with them, want them to win nor in anyway support their views.
My refusal to embrace the language of hatefulness for anyone (Except for a few choice people) does not mean that I condone their crazy choices, their insane policies and their ridiculous plans. It comes down to knowing how to separate the person from the behavior, calling the evil action for what it is, evil. Such as refusing affordable health care for all Americans, denying unemployment benefits for those in need who can't find jobs and of course, there are so many other things I can use as an example. But calling people names, those who support them and their policies will in no way win the ideological battles, not one bit. And when I refuse to take part in this and when I call others out for this same behavior, it does not mean that I care more about the use of language than I do about what the Republicans are doing to our Country.
When long winded, contempt filled comments about "progressives", Obama supporters, etc come my way my heart sinks because it does nothing to actually address the issues we face as a Country.
Nothing. I am so tired of the anger being directed at all the wrong places. Because I get that you are angry. I meet a lot of people who are angry. I'm angry, I'm really fucking angry. And I find myself trying to explain the anger to my eight year old, who wants to understand the political process. She wanted to learn about the primaries, she asked about the Republican candidates and why they are so angry. She asked what their problem is. Tonight, while watching Rachel Maddow, she heard about Rick Santorum and his stance on abortion and how he was against it under any circumstance and she asked me, "Even if the Mother was going to die?" This is a smart girl. She has grown up a lot in the last two months, from seeing her mother survive a car accident to losing her first pet (Our rescue Kona died a few days before Christmas and I just haven't been able to write much. Needless to say, a natural death is not always a pleasant one, she witnessed this too. I have cried a great deal about this and we have spoken about what happened a lot.) All I know is that she deserves better.
My daughter deserves a better world, a better conversation and a better process and in fighting for this I can do it with civility and with respect for others, even if they may not respect me for trying. Why? Because I know that what I do matters to that young girl and I want her to know better, that we can do better than what we have now. That every time we call someone a name, we dehumanize them, no matter how much you despise what they believe, you have already given away your power by bringing the conversation down to that level. You have already lost. I know this will be greeted with name calling and insults, naive, you name it. So be it. But the fight I want to fight has more to do with words that matter, our values and our very existence. That to me is far more important.