,
22 tweets,
4 min read
Read on Twitter
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
How does the lack of civility end? Do you foresee Americans adopting restraint?
We're living in, perhaps the most polarizing time in the history of our nation.
Can it be fixed?
By what change will the hostilities lessen, if they lessen at all?
Thread 1/22
How does the lack of civility end? Do you foresee Americans adopting restraint?
We're living in, perhaps the most polarizing time in the history of our nation.
Can it be fixed?
By what change will the hostilities lessen, if they lessen at all?
Thread 1/22
2/22
Good people are being screamed at in person, and bullied online.
Protests occur daily, doxing is less rare, intimidation now commonplace, and violence now frequent.
If America is to heal her lines of division, can 'we the people' entrust that task to anyone but ourselves?
Good people are being screamed at in person, and bullied online.
Protests occur daily, doxing is less rare, intimidation now commonplace, and violence now frequent.
If America is to heal her lines of division, can 'we the people' entrust that task to anyone but ourselves?
3/22
The answer is no, we can not.
Expecting leadership of either party to change course now & chart back towards center would be an irreversible error of naivety.
Isn't it our respective party leaders who have marched their armies to the very battlefield on which we now stand?
The answer is no, we can not.
Expecting leadership of either party to change course now & chart back towards center would be an irreversible error of naivety.
Isn't it our respective party leaders who have marched their armies to the very battlefield on which we now stand?
4/22
It's up to you & I.
Only we the people, can wield the machete to cut a trail out of this uncomfortable, unforgiving jungle, that can only be adequately named, the hate state.
But at what point in time did the collective acceptance of this vitriolic statehood take place?
It's up to you & I.
Only we the people, can wield the machete to cut a trail out of this uncomfortable, unforgiving jungle, that can only be adequately named, the hate state.
But at what point in time did the collective acceptance of this vitriolic statehood take place?
5/22
What was the date?
When did it become OK for you to hate me?
Why is it OK for me to hate you?
When did it become Ok to reduce our opinions of other human beings all the way down to the singular question, "Which lever did you pull?"
Our grandmothers would be ashamed of us.
What was the date?
When did it become OK for you to hate me?
Why is it OK for me to hate you?
When did it become Ok to reduce our opinions of other human beings all the way down to the singular question, "Which lever did you pull?"
Our grandmothers would be ashamed of us.
6/22
Our grandmothers would be right. It's not okay. Behavior like this should never be okay.
What's worse is, the blame is entirely ours to own.
Yours.
Mine.
It was frequently me.
Years ago, my Facebook page morphed from a source of joy, and connection into my own bully pulpit.
Our grandmothers would be right. It's not okay. Behavior like this should never be okay.
What's worse is, the blame is entirely ours to own.
Yours.
Mine.
It was frequently me.
Years ago, my Facebook page morphed from a source of joy, and connection into my own bully pulpit.
7/22
The process was gradual, and the outcome unintended, but it happened nonetheless.
I told myself, "It's important for people to stay informed; be involved in the political process; defend their beliefs."
My intentions were pure, my reasoning sound, and I had my stage.
The process was gradual, and the outcome unintended, but it happened nonetheless.
I told myself, "It's important for people to stay informed; be involved in the political process; defend their beliefs."
My intentions were pure, my reasoning sound, and I had my stage.
8/22
You did it also.
We.
You and I.
We did it for all the right reasons too, didn't we?
Some for love of country, some for love of planet.
Some for love of equality, some for love of liberties.
Some out of respect for the fallen, some out of respect for the persecuted.
You did it also.
We.
You and I.
We did it for all the right reasons too, didn't we?
Some for love of country, some for love of planet.
Some for love of equality, some for love of liberties.
Some out of respect for the fallen, some out of respect for the persecuted.
9/22
All of us did it.
How could we not?
It was done out of love of country, and love of mankind, born from concern for our families, our society, our world, and ourselves.
Birth of the hate state happened when we stupidly believed that pure motivations justify impure actions.
All of us did it.
How could we not?
It was done out of love of country, and love of mankind, born from concern for our families, our society, our world, and ourselves.
Birth of the hate state happened when we stupidly believed that pure motivations justify impure actions.
10/22
We felt justified when any of us threw the next bail of hatred on top of the already raging fire, as if to pretend that passion excuses abhorrence, and conviction erases ugly.
As it turns out, passion is a feeling not an excuse, and conviction is a trait, not an eraser.
We felt justified when any of us threw the next bail of hatred on top of the already raging fire, as if to pretend that passion excuses abhorrence, and conviction erases ugly.
As it turns out, passion is a feeling not an excuse, and conviction is a trait, not an eraser.
11/22
Even when it wasn't me spewing hatred at those who dared to disagree with me, I watched others do it in my stead, and I stood silent, as did you.
Our silence elected the hate state.
We are the marching armies. We allowed the ugly in, and we bought it a glass of scotch.
Even when it wasn't me spewing hatred at those who dared to disagree with me, I watched others do it in my stead, and I stood silent, as did you.
Our silence elected the hate state.
We are the marching armies. We allowed the ugly in, and we bought it a glass of scotch.
12/22
Worse still, if we're being honest,
is that we've always known the ugly wasn't okay.
That's exactly what our grandmothers taught us.
Mind your manners.
-Yes ma'am.
Be respectful.
-Yes ma'am.
Help stick up for other people.
-Yes ma'am.
Do the right thing.
-Yes ma'am.
Worse still, if we're being honest,
is that we've always known the ugly wasn't okay.
That's exactly what our grandmothers taught us.
Mind your manners.
-Yes ma'am.
Be respectful.
-Yes ma'am.
Help stick up for other people.
-Yes ma'am.
Do the right thing.
-Yes ma'am.
13/22
When did we decide to throw those lessons on to the already raging fire along with the next bail of hatred?
We brought this on. We willfully joined the marching armies, and followed our pied pipers straight up to the edge of the cliff.
Now we have a decision to make.
When did we decide to throw those lessons on to the already raging fire along with the next bail of hatred?
We brought this on. We willfully joined the marching armies, and followed our pied pipers straight up to the edge of the cliff.
Now we have a decision to make.
14/22
Now, we see the establishment leadership of our respective parties racing towards the fringe dwellers of society, abandoning the common sense majority, comprised of members of both parties, that reside in the center.
And we're too busy sipping scotch with ugly to stop it?
Now, we see the establishment leadership of our respective parties racing towards the fringe dwellers of society, abandoning the common sense majority, comprised of members of both parties, that reside in the center.
And we're too busy sipping scotch with ugly to stop it?
15/22
Hogwash.
I remember a time when a politician's scorecard was based on their ability to solve problems, not their ability to yell the loudest.
I remember a time when people could debate issues passionately, but still respect each other's viewpoint, and right to disagree.
Hogwash.
I remember a time when a politician's scorecard was based on their ability to solve problems, not their ability to yell the loudest.
I remember a time when people could debate issues passionately, but still respect each other's viewpoint, and right to disagree.
16/22
I remember when finding middle ground, & coming to agreement was respected more than tweeting the best insult. Long term goals took precedence over a feigning chuckle back then.
I'm 44 years old. I remember those things because it wasn't very long ago when they happened.
I remember when finding middle ground, & coming to agreement was respected more than tweeting the best insult. Long term goals took precedence over a feigning chuckle back then.
I'm 44 years old. I remember those things because it wasn't very long ago when they happened.
17/22
It certainly wasn't so far in the past that all hope is now lost. I believe that, even now as we stand at the edge of the cliff.
What do you decide?
Is getting the last laugh more important than raising our children in a society that adheres to it's own rules of decorum?
It certainly wasn't so far in the past that all hope is now lost. I believe that, even now as we stand at the edge of the cliff.
What do you decide?
Is getting the last laugh more important than raising our children in a society that adheres to it's own rules of decorum?
18/22
Is the satisfaction we get from being the wittiest person in the thread more important than tackling the very real issues threatening our nation?
Leadership will never walk back the rhetoric & unpack the hatred. That burden has been placed solely at our feet. You. Me.
Is the satisfaction we get from being the wittiest person in the thread more important than tackling the very real issues threatening our nation?
Leadership will never walk back the rhetoric & unpack the hatred. That burden has been placed solely at our feet. You. Me.
19/22
In this instance, it is we the people, who need to wage the war.
You and I are obligated to demand from each other, debate free from insult, respectful discourse, and discussion free from hatred.
Minding our manners doesn't require dismissal of conviction.
In this instance, it is we the people, who need to wage the war.
You and I are obligated to demand from each other, debate free from insult, respectful discourse, and discussion free from hatred.
Minding our manners doesn't require dismissal of conviction.
20/22
Being respectful doesn't require abandonment of political passion.
Sticking up for others under attack by the hate state doesn't diminish love of country, or of planet, or of equality, or of liberties, but rather displays fortitude of character in the face of adversity.
Being respectful doesn't require abandonment of political passion.
Sticking up for others under attack by the hate state doesn't diminish love of country, or of planet, or of equality, or of liberties, but rather displays fortitude of character in the face of adversity.
21/22
Doing the right thing doesn't require that we turn our backs on the fallen, or on the persecuted, but rather walks our society back from the edge of the cliff thereby strengthening our nation.
The enemy is strong, his position fortified, reserves in route, & troops dug in.
Doing the right thing doesn't require that we turn our backs on the fallen, or on the persecuted, but rather walks our society back from the edge of the cliff thereby strengthening our nation.
The enemy is strong, his position fortified, reserves in route, & troops dug in.
22/22
It's not enough to quietly refrain from the vitriol. Aggressive defense of our right to civility is required, even when defending those we disagree with.
I'm up to task. I owe that to my children as well as to my grandmother.
What do you decide?
It's not enough to quietly refrain from the vitriol. Aggressive defense of our right to civility is required, even when defending those we disagree with.
I'm up to task. I owe that to my children as well as to my grandmother.
What do you decide?
