OT: Health Care Bill - New Thoughts

[Guest guest]

I agree with you on this point. This discussion is happening in many forums,

and too often in other forums I see it devolve from a rational, civil discussion

of the issues to everything from thinly veiled sarcasm targeted at the person

with a different opinion, to outright attack on the intelligence or values of

the other person. There is a lot of generalization and stereotyping which adds

to the fire. Not everyone on welfare is a bloodsucking parasite who doesn't

want to work. Instead of expressing their own opinion and owning up to it

without putting someone down, or listening with empathy to try to understand the

other point of view, many simply watch for perceived weakness in the other

person's argument and jump on that. In some forums, I've seen someone detract

from the issue by making a federal case out of someone unintentionally

misquoting the U.S. constitution by one word, even though it didn't change the

point that was originally being made. Anything to avoid saying, " You make a

good point. " Once it starts it can be easy for others to be unintentionally

sucked into it. There are underlying differences in philosophy among Americans,

and while we celebrate our diversity and freedom of speech, I hope we can learn

to do so civilly.

 

Susan

 

> The political discourse, both here and in the USA, suffers

> from several ailments.

> thanks to the moderators for allowing this discussion. There are

> few places where people of opposing views have a chance to exchange

> ideas in a spirit of mutual respect.

> Ien in the Kootenays

> http://kootenaygarden.blogspot.com

> http://backyardbusiness.info