I see the error of my ways. Clearly, Kyrsten Sinema deserved getting chased into the bathroom and being filmed. Based on her actions, she was asking for it.
But it’s not just her. That’s true for everybody. Now I understand. *We* are the good guys. *We* are the heroes. And the ends justifies the means.
Anyone, male or female, has the right to chase someone into a public restroom and film someone with their phone while they use a toilet. If they choose to make themselves public with their views or engage in actions we deem immoral, unethical or inhumane? They forfeit all their rights to privacy, dignity or simple human decency.
We all know that the Republican Party and conservatives in general have been breaking the unspoken rules for civility, respect and fighting fair for years, if not decades. Screw 2 wrongs don’t make a right. The hell with that. Our government is at stake. Our planet is at stake. Ipso facto, we are justified to break the same rules and indulge in the exact same behavior, no matter how reprehensible it is.
I mean, we can justify breaking any rule if our cause is noble enough. Who needs to pay attention to nonsense like this?
Daily Kos: Rules of the Road
You and me, we are the heroes here. That is obvious. Anyone who disagrees with us is the villain. Okay, well, maybe not the villain, per se. But if they disagree with us? It is undeniable that they are bad, unintelligent, wrong, immoral, unethical people—and they deserve to be attacked on a personal level or just have their privacy disregarded because they are the bad guys. They are bad people. And they deserve it.
- Fight hard but fight fair. Write an argument, not an attack. Remember, other people are just as passionate, committed, and ornery as you are. That’s supposed to be an advantage for us, right? Democrats boast about having a big tent. Learn from those who oppose you; let their challenges help you formulate your positions more clearly and draw upon better evidence.
- Accept that reasonable people may in the end still disagree.
That’s ridiculous. We’re waging a moral battle here to save America. Or the world. Which means we are permitted to say or do anything we have to do in service of our obviously reasonable, fair and righteous goals. We are on the side of justice and that means we’d be naïve and foolish to not sink to whatever level our opponents do. Ya gotta fight fire with fire. The gloves are off! If they go low? We go lower! Yeah, that’s the ticket!
I am allowed to behave badly and mistreat others if they behave badly and mistreat me. I’m entitled to revenge and humiliation if someone says or does things I disagree with that make me angry. After all, that is what villains deserve.
And forget misunderstandings, arguments, losing your temper and apologizing later. Ya gotta get even. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Being the bigger person? Oh, the hell with that! I occupy the moral ground and so do you. Which means we have carte blanche to say or do anything we want. Because you and me, we are the good guys. The rules don’t apply to us; only them.
DO NOT
- Endorse or call for violence against anyone, public figure or private blogger, not even in jest. Claiming hyperbole, humor, or poetic license/justice is no excuse.
- Use bigoted language in stories or comments. This includes but is not limited to slurs and stereotypes regarding race, gender, gender identity, sexuality, religion, age, class, locality, country or culture of origin, and physical or mental ability. Discriminatory speech of any kind is subject to administrative action, including banning. We respect everyone.
- Make personal attacks or threats. This includes, but is not limited to: name calling, harassment or bullying toward any other site user. Also don’t follow users you don’t like from story to story to harass them (See: Stalking)
“Stalking?” Pshaw. A public space is just that: public. So, if I want to use my cellphone to record you when you pull down your underwear and urinate and interrogate you while you do so? I have every right to. Let’s be blunt: your actions were unethical and immoral, maybe even to my mind criminal. So really, you were asking for it and you totally deserved it.
- Insult the character, intelligence, or background of people with whom you are arguing. You want to win an argument? Then don’t engage in ad-hominem attacks.
Sure, okay, maybe we should or ought to do that here. But that certainly doesn’t apply in real life. Heck, there are definitely situations on social media and even right here on Daily Kos where we can ignore that. Like if someone disagrees with me? It’s probably because they’re homophobic. Now, don’t expect me to actually prove that. I’m the hero here and the other person is the villain so that gives me license to use whatever means necessary to win the argument.
Politics, legislation, popular culture—it’s all fair game. You never have to apologize or make amends to anyone. And if someone behaves badly, you’ve got every right to get even and subject them to the punishment they deserve. Right? After all, we’re all intelligent people (well...most of us. We know who, right?) And it’s not like intelligent people ever say dumb things or make mistakes.
They’re the ones in the wrong. And by their actions, they had it coming…
So many comments I’ve seen on Daily Kos today and over many years seemed to make it clear that this is the way we should or ought to act. It’s one thing to joke, laugh or kid or mock. But I think there is a line. And yes, each person sees the line in a different place.
But the fact my idea of where line is or your idea of where it is differs does not mean we throw out the whole damn rule book.
I’m angry and fed-up with Sinema and Manchin, too. But that’s a far cry from hatred or wishing harm on them. And it never justifies me resorting to personal attacks. Not on them—or anyone here either. 2 years ago, I wrote a diary about why I thought Kamala Harris was the only one who could beat Trump. It blew up in my face and I ended spending all day apologizing and making peace with dozens of fellow DK members.
Never did I ever take someone’s nasty remarks as an excuse for me to lash out at them and try to hurt them back. I would like to think I’m better than that. That I can be wrong, admit mistakes and make peace with others...without being demonized, ostracized or otherwise abused.
We can and should be better than those we argue, fight and disagree with. Not just Sinema, Manchin, McConnell, McCarthy or even Trump. But here on this site and hopefully offline in real life, too.
In the post-pandemic, post-Trump White House era, we have to build back better both literally and figuratively.