I was listening to Bill O'Reilly today, mostly because I am entranced by the rhetoric of someone who passionately believes that he is unbiased when it is patently obvious to the casual listener that he leans far right. It's entertaining to listen to him keep up the "fair and balanced" charade, mostly to convince his own psyche of its veracity. I guess it's the radical right wing radio talk show host equivalent of "method acting", and its good sport when you have the patience for it.
He dedicated one hour to the topic of the "media smear fest", and specifically how the "liberal media" as an entity, and the New York Times specifically, targets him and his employer Fox News for the purpose of getting them off the air because they can't compete in the ratings war, so they need to win the smear war.
I called Bill up and told him that as a liberal I feel smeared and demonized by the far right media on a daily basis, almost to the point where you don't want to make your political feelings known in a group of strangers because of the incomprehensible rage it might engender in some folks.
His response? In a nutshell: conservatives attack on specific issues, and liberals attack people.
Now I don't agree with that. Coulter, Ingraham, Hannity, Limbaugh and a practically infinite list of conservative commentators come to mind when I think of name-calling from the radical right. Indeed, if one listened to them exclusively one would think that all liberals either work in Hollywood, in the national print or news media (aside from Fox, of course) or ensconce themselves in some private academic world because they aren't tough enough to deal with reality.
They don't deal with people like me, a stay-at-home mom, or my in-laws, traditional Catholics who raised five kids and had the glamorous professions of homemaker and customs agent.
But then to be fair: if one listened exclusively to some liberal commentators, or even mainstream media, one would think that a conservative is either a wealthy, cold businessman who would rather see young children starve in the streets than pay one extra dollar in taxes, or a semi-moronic simpleton who flies the stars-and-bars in his pickup truck and holds a superstitious belief that Bush is the next best thing to the Second Coming.
None of these stereotypes are correct, of course. And all of them not only dehumanize people, but also serve to separate our families, our communities and our country.
I can't change the nonsensical hate Michael Savage spews on a daily basis. But what I can change, is my own rhetoric and my own way of viewing those who hold opinions that aren't my own. As hard as it is, I think it's important for all of us on the left who are seeking the higher moral ground to do the same, and speak the language of unity and not division.
I'll try to start today. I hope you will as well.