Actually, it's not going to be different. It's meta. And it springs from, but is not exclusively related to, Keith Olbermann's diary on the reclist.
Yet again, I've had a forced dKos hiatus (work has been intense lately) and I've returned to find the Meta Warriors in full battle gear, flinging armament hither and yon. It's always painful to return to dKos in the middle of one of them and to have to go back and see WTF happened, WhoTF started it, WhyTF it's such a big issue, and HowTF it can be resolved.
So I'm diving in. Hand me some flippers and a snorkel and I'll see you under the fold.
So I kind of sort of understand the basic chain of events that led to Keith Olbermann's GBFN (Good Bye For Now) diary.
What struck me with that diary is not that it's from Keith Olbermann or any of the particulars he referenced in the actual writing. I'm unconcerned with whether he's right or thin skinned, or whether some encourage him not to let the door hit him in the ass while others cyber-begged for his return. Rather, what struck me is the reiteration - in the comments - of the "US v. THEM" mentality.
"US v. THEM" was so remarkably clear from 2000-2008, don't you think? "US" was, well, us. People who read here and write here and comment here. "THEM" was any and all extensions of GWB and his Administration. So clear. So clean. So simple. So... easy.
Yet at the same time, so very, very bad. Awful, really - with far-reaching, long-term consequences.
So I don't think there's a single one of us who feel nostalgic for the GWB years except, maybe, just a little, a longing for the feeling of unity that we all felt when fighting against the Republicans and trying to scrape our way back to being in a position to make a positive difference. Even that warm, fuzzy, comfy unity doesn't compel any of us to wish for the return of GWB (at least I don't think so!).
Today, "US v. THEM" seems to be as follows. It's either:
"US" = people who are critical of the President, his actions, policies and initiatives.
"THEM" = people who mindlessly, stupidly rah rah along blindly and support the President.
Or, it's:
"US" = people who continue to support the President.
"THEM" = people who viciously, baselessly attack and carp on the President for the tiniest infraction, real or imagined.
I hope it's clear that these two alternatives are written by me to represent the POV of either of the two extremes.
I'd like to share a quote:
"You're either with us or against us in the fight against terror." George W. Bush, November 6, 2001
I wasn't writing here yet when this original statement was made, but it's been referenced numerous times on the blog over the past 8+ years, and rightfully so. Because the fact is, I can be with you and still disagree on how you're handling the fight against terrorism, Mr. Bush. I can believe that we ARE fighting terrorism by infusing semi- or unstable countries with humanitarian aid and educational assistance rather than pummeling them with bombs. I can have deep reservations about a rush to war, one that will kill human beings of varying nationalities without discrimination, and still be proud to be an American. That statement was a classic false dichotomy - one that ignored the endless permutations of options and positions between the two extremes.
"US v. THEM" is no different in the way that it appears to be asserting itself here at dKos. There are vast territories of opinion in between "I love him" and "I hate him". I'll give you a few of mine.
I love that our President is intelligent - I think he's one of the smartest people ever to hold office. But I'm dismayed that he can't seem to parlay that intelligence around the subject of the oil spill and be more "teacher-in-chief" on this subject at this time.
I feel it's the right thing, at this time, to publicly and carefully (as a Government) structure our comments about BP. At this time, I believe it's more important to keep them paying for things and giving the government access than having to take them to court years down the road because we were too verbally and publicly hard on BP. [NOTE: I believe that BP is so dirty in all of this, and placed profits before safety and are the sole cause, through negligence and greed, of this horrendous disaster. I believe they should be held accountable, but that other needs are more pressing right now and demand that we try to keep them cooperating.]
I'm of a mixed opinion on the subject of healthcare reform. I'm glad that we did something - I'm disturbed that it didn't go far enough in my view, and moreover that had it been handled better from a public relations perspective, it might have been a better Bill.
I'm highly disappointed with what I saw as permissive offshore drilling plans prior to the BP disaster.
Those are a few of my random thoughts. I can say uncategorically that I am grateful Barack Obama is President despite the complaints I might air or the concerns I might have or where I am stakly different then he on matters of policy. That's not cheerleading, and it's not eviscerating. It's an opinion and attitude that lies in the vast middle between "He Sucks" and "He's infallible".
I believe most of us fall there.
So now to my meta-concern. The extremes are dominating the debate. I don't know why that is - it could be because extreme views are, typically, sensational and controversial and therefore garner more attention and comment. It could be that "US" feels like they need to defend and entrench their opinion and bury "THEM" and squelch "THEIR" opinion. Or, it could be that the rest of us - those not firmly on either extreme - just feel like fighting with either extreme is so futile that we could spend our time better elsewhere.
I'm willing to accept and move over the two former reasons. It's the latter that concerns me, though, because - and this is strictly anecdotal - it's my opinion that those in the middle (in the context of what I'm writing about here today) on the left or in the progressive camp or in the Democratic party or some combination - are self-censoring. We're tuning out - dropping out and leaving the pie fights in the extremes of our own party dominate a rare and valuable commodity - activists. It's deflating, and depressing, and it makes us feel like we can't call dKos home any longer. I don't know that there's anything that can be done for that, frankly.
So let me give you another quote, and it's the real reason I wrote this diary:
"A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand". - Abraham Lincoln, June 1858
Some things are just true because they are. Abraham Lincoln's sage words, to me, are no different. Will Durant echoed and expanded on the same theme when he said "A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within". That it referenced "civilization", to me, in no way diminished its truth or applicability to what seems to be taking root here today.
So let me attempt a redefinition, from earlier in the diary:
"US" = Us.
"THEM" = Those who espouse right-wing policies, a return to theocracy, an unfettered, unregulated embrace of capitalism, a disdain for government, and a penchant for falsehoods (and that's just naming a scant few of the many descriptors that could and should apply to "them").
We can wrap ourselves around the axle here and articficially divide ourselves into our own US and THEM camps - but anything we do both as a community and within our community has consequences. Valid criticism has its place and should never be squelched. But an endless drumbeat of carping gives power and leverage to the real THEM, those who are waiting to regain control of power. I haven't forgotten what it was like to live under GWB. I haven't lost sight of the very real costs and consequences that arose from those eight years, and neither should you. THEY are hopeful - hopeful that we tear each other apart and do their job for them.
All I can ask is that each of you - in your diaries and comments, in your arguments and your agreements, remember that THEY are the real enemy - not anyone here. Not really. Always keep the bigger picture close at hand in your minds - elections matter - they always do. And while there have been both mild and great disappointments within our own party, what the Republicans have to offer - THEY - is a nightmare of exponential proportions.
Fight on and help us get "more" and "better". But don't tell me we have to hit rock bottom to achieve it.