Don't freak out!!!! I don't actually hate YOU!!! That's just the title of the article I am posting as my very first Daily Kos diary.
I've been posting articles on Newsvine for about 6 years. Sadly, the nature of the Vine has changed in a most unfortunate way... So I am looking for a new place to post my articles. Soooooo... Here I am... Allow me to introduce myself... My blog handle is "MalamuteMan"... but even if your name isn't "Betty", I can be your long lost pal, and You can call me Mal.
I'm a philosopher... of sorts... a photographer... of sorts... an unadulterated Luddite... an unapologetic "Flaming Liberal"... and a Malamute... of sorts. Actually, I'm a human being, but in spirit and temperament I am a Malamute through and through!
To get things started, I'd like to post an article I posted on the Vine 5 years ago... It's commentary on the nature of the very broken dialog we have in America these days... It's every bit as relevant today as it was 5 years ago, probably even more so... The article starts below the fold...
Angry Guy: I hate you... because you're not like me... because I want what I want and I don't care what you want... I'm just not going to compromise.
Thoughtful Guy: I don't understand you... but I'd like to understand you... I try to talk to you... but you will only tell me how stupid I am.
Angry Guy: You are stupid! Your ideas are crazy!
Thoughtful Guy: Are you afraid of my ideas? Just knowing about them doesn't mean you have to believe them. I'm not trying to make you believe what I believe.
Angry Guy: I don't even want to listen to you... just hearing about your ideas upsets me... Why can't you think the way I think?
Thoughtful Guy: You don't know me. You tell other people things about me that aren't true. Are you trying to make them afraid of me?
Angry Guy: People should be afraid of you! You are ruining everything!
Thoughtful Guy: I am like you... We may have some differences, but there are many things we all want.
Angry Guy: I am not like you. I don't want anything you want... you are weak... I hate you!
Thoughtful Guy: I want to know how the world is... I try to pay attention to what is going on around me... I try to figure things out.
Angry Guy: I know how the world is... You are blind!
Thoughtful Guy: I know I make mistakes sometimes... but that's okay... when I discover my mistakes I learn things.
Angry Guy: I don't make mistakes... but even if I did, I would never admit it to you... that would be weak.
Thoughtful Guy: I know we are different in some ways, but I believe the best way for us to get along is for me to treat you the way I hope you will treat me.
Angry Guy: That is weak. The best way for us to get along is for you to be like me.
Come on, Gogo, return the ball, can't you, once in a while?
- Samuel Beckett