As a progressive, I pride myself in advocating and defending an ideology that is generous, compassionate, inclusive, tolerant and fair-minded. I believe that our discourse on this and other progressive blogs, although often rancorous and argumentative, is mostly civil and respectful of a vast diversity of commentary, opinions and conjecture.
On the other hand, it has been painfully obvious that the posts on right-wing sites like Freerepublic contain some of the most hateful, bitter, uncivil and vitriolic commentary I've ever read in the blogosphere... until yesterday.
You would think that in certain circumstances, like the death of a former U.S. president, we could engage in a courteous discourse on the man's life, with some semblance of respect to the passing of a fellow human being, and civility to his family, friends and loved ones. You would think that we could discuss his strengths and weaknesses, his accomplishments and failings, without demostrating the worst traits we aften associate with our ideological counterparts. You would think...
Here are some of the choice statements posted by our fellow progressives on learning the news of the passing of former President Gerald R. Ford, (gathered from several progressive blogs like Huffington Post, AMERICAblog, and here at dKos):
Jerry, you may die, but I still won't pardon you for your crimes. Enjoy eternity in hell, you bastard.
He pardoned the devil, now he can dance with him.
Now we'll have to have the laying in state, the big ceremonial funeral etc. until everyone is bored to death. Nice of him to give bush some cover while he finds his comfort zone on Iraq. Tragedy? An old republican bastard dies at 93 after a useless dotage playing golf. Where's the tragedy in that?
good riddance! he did not die soon enough!
GOOD FUCKING RIDDANCE !
Screw former President Ford. I hope he's in hell right now frying up the bacon for Satan's breakfast.
THE ONLY GOOD REPUBLICAN IS A DEAD REPUBLICAN
Fuck him. He's just another dead president.
Does the first amendment permit pissing on a President's grave as free speech?
Prick shoulda been dead 30 years ago. A true loyal cocksucking GOP'er. He was indirectly responsible for murdering JFK, RFK and MLK. Had his fingers in Watergate. Was lock step in perpetuating Vietnam and fucking over every honest hard working Constitution loving American.
Today is a great day, too bad this didn't happen sooner and the world could have been spared his miserable existence. Die fuckers die.
Then there was this comment in response to my call for a little respect for Ford and his family:
fuck ford. his death affects my life not one whit. his was only one of thousands of other human deaths today. in my priorities of the day, respecting it ranks far below restocking the tp and telling you to fuck off, you sanctimonious 'celebrity death' nazi.
Now that's class.
Now I just want to compare the above comments to recent posts on the typically bile-filled Freerepublic concerning the recent news of democratic Senator Tim Johnson's brain hemorrhage:
Prayers for a speedy recovery.
Prayers for his recovery.
Remember people, lets behave ourselves. He's a fellow human being and a generally unoffensive guy.
It would show a great deal of bipartisanship if he would appoint a democrat and not tip the balance of power as a result of a horrible tragedy.
May God bless him and help him to recover.
MY prayers go out to Sen Johnson for a full and speedy recovery, and to his family and friends for the strength to help Tim make it through this through time.
Absolutely. Having different views on politics does not trump concern for the well-being of a fellow citizen and human being.
Gerald Ford's death might mean nothing to you, but his long career as a public servant and the leader of this country almost certainly affected your life, for better or worse, whether you're aware of it or not. And it shames me that a large number of my fellow progressives are incapable of leaving the resentment and divisiveness for another time, and understanding the common decency of offering respect and civility in another human being's passing.