I don't care how much you may love your favorite talking political talking head on TV or radio or on a blog. I don't care how much of what they say you agree with. If that person is constantly talking about how terrible the opposite group is, constantly using hyperbole to fearmonger and increase ratings, in short if they are only trying to divide us as a country you should TURN IT OFF, don't read it, don't watch it.
Followed up by this: (because they limit you to 420 characters on FB)
That is simply not what is going to get anything done in the USA or any country for that matter. Vote with your attention, if you don't pay attention those people will either have to change or lose their shows/blogs/columns (or much of the incentive to do those things). We need to start talking about solutions, commonalities, and how we can work together not how the other group is bad.
That is simply not what is going to get anything done in the USA or any country for that matter. Vote with your attention, if you don't pay attention those people will either have to change or lose their shows/blogs/columns (or much of the incentive to do those things). We need to start talking about solutions, commonalities, and how we can work together not how the other group is bad.
I then went to bed. What ensued was that 7 people liked it and a few commented that they agreed. One person mentioned whatever happened to praying for our leaders. (Thank you for the reminder Ann-Michelle!) The other comments turned into what I think I could rightly call a flame war. What started out as fairly reasonable discourse devolved quickly. I understand that some people are upset by the recent passage of the so-called health care reform bill. Others are joyous. I, personally am taking a wait and see attitude. What I want in this issue is not the point of this post so I will not state it here.
So I followed up with the my words below. I write this in sincerity and earnestness, and I know I'm human and am flawed. Please take this for the best, give me (and others) the benefit of the doubt.
Will anger get us anywhere? Will stoking people's rage get anything done except inciting mobs to violence, or if not violence then mobs of people who are eagerly willing to follow blindly and do whatever kind of mischief and mayhem (physical, or emotional) they are directed to do without thought to consequences?
Talk of majorities or minorities seems irrelevant, we need to reach out and understand the other's point of view, and that will thereby clarify our own thinking on our position. (It's like when you talk to someone else tells you about their belief in God and then you see where you are the same and how you may be different) When you start to see the substantial differences in our points of view you can then start seeing the possible pros and cons of each position. THEN you can see where changes can possibly be made, whether in your own position or theirs or both.
This is not an irreconcilable problem. We all want to protect our families. We all want to be kept safe. We all want to pass on a legacy that will not burden future generations. We want the place we live in to be beautiful and protected. We all have more or less the same goals. We may disagree on how to get there, and then finding out how we disagree, not the fact that we do is the important part.
Calling someone a communist, a fascist, a right-wing nut job, a power hoarder etc will not help anyone.
There is talk of patriots standing up for what they believe. That is fantastic, please do, but before you do that know what you believe and more importantly why. Why do you think your way of doing things is better? Majorities and minorities of people don't matter. How party platforms are built doesn’t matter. Why do you believe it? If you can answer those questions then stand up and make your voice heard, and please don't just complain about the problem, find points to discuss and propose solutions.
People talk about some group wanting to control another. That may be, I cannot say, I cannot judge their intentions (hearts). Judgment is not for man, but for God except in some very rare situations. Politics is NOT one of those situations where you can sit and judge someone or some group. I can only judge their actions. Please don't pull out the "well I can judge righteously" argument. It doesn't apply. The scriptures have very little to say about what is righteous and what is not in politics.
What I ask of everyone, what I pray for is that people will sit and reflect on how they feel when they do what we have seen here. How do you feel inside? This is where you can have judgment. Does it make you feel good?
Will anger get us anywhere? Will stoking people's rage get anything done except inciting mobs to violence, or if not violence then mobs of people who are eagerly willing to follow blindly and do whatever kind of mischief and mayhem (physical, or emotional) they are directed to do without thought to consequences?
Talk of majorities or minorities seems irrelevant, we need to reach out and understand the other's point of view, and that will thereby clarify our own thinking on our position. (It's like when you talk to someone else tells you about their belief in God and then you see where you are the same and how you may be different) When you start to see the substantial differences in our points of view you can then start seeing the possible pros and cons of each position. THEN you can see where changes can possibly be made, whether in your own position or theirs or both.
This is not an irreconcilable problem. We all want to protect our families. We all want to be kept safe. We all want to pass on a legacy that will not burden future generations. We want the place we live in to be beautiful and protected. We all have more or less the same goals. We may disagree on how to get there, and then finding out how we disagree, not the fact that we do is the important part.
Calling someone a communist, a fascist, a right-wing nut job, a power hoarder etc will not help anyone.
There is talk of patriots standing up for what they believe. That is fantastic, please do, but before you do that know what you believe and more importantly why. Why do you think your way of doing things is better? Majorities and minorities of people don't matter. How party platforms are built doesn’t matter. Why do you believe it? If you can answer those questions then stand up and make your voice heard, and please don't just complain about the problem, find points to discuss and propose solutions.
People talk about some group wanting to control another. That may be, I cannot say, I cannot judge their intentions (hearts). Judgment is not for man, but for God except in some very rare situations. Politics is NOT one of those situations where you can sit and judge someone or some group. I can only judge their actions. Please don't pull out the "well I can judge righteously" argument. It doesn't apply. The scriptures have very little to say about what is righteous and what is not in politics.
What I ask of everyone, what I pray for is that people will sit and reflect on how they feel when they do what we have seen here. How do you feel inside? This is where you can have judgment. Does it make you feel good?
