outcaster
Well-known member
On Sat Arizona Democrat Congresswoman Gabreille Giffords was shot in the head as she held a "town hall" style meeting to discuss issues and update citizens. Six are dead, including a Federal Judge (appointed by George HW Bush), and a 9 yr old little girl who had just been elected to student council and was eager to learn more about politics and our political system. Seconds before the little girl was slaughtered, she learned the sad tragedy that the direction of our political system has now taken. During the last election cycle the right wing political rhetoric was the worst I've seen in my lifetime. Right wingers were calling for a "Second Amendment" solution, while claiming that THEY were the REAL patriots, and were defending the Nation from those Liberals, you know.... the ones who are evil, and seek to destroy our Nation, and take away our freedoms. Just last year the local offices of Rep Giffords were vandalized just after her "yes" vote on Health Care Reform. And in the last election she was "targeted" by the tea party (Sarah Palin) with "cross hairs" on her District. Even Mrs. Giffords' tea party backed opponent held "Get on Target for Victory" rallies where his supporters could shoot an M-16 rifle at the event.
This "Lock and Load", "God and Guns" political rhetoric being spewed buy the right wing is not just a metaphor. Some are now acting on it. Comparing the President to Satan, Hitler and Stalin, depicting ones with a liberal view, as evil, and actively seeking to destroy this Nation, calling opposing views on ones religious beliefs "straight from the gates of Hell" are all part of the plan. Now we have seen the results of this rhetoric. Those with a megaphone, whether provided by public office or a media outlet, and social media posters have responsibilities. They cannot avoid the consequences of their blatant efforts to inflame, anger, and outrage. We all know that there are unstable and potentially dangerous people among us. To repeatedly appeal to their basic instincts is to invite, promote and welcome their predictable violence. So long as we all tolerate this kind of irresponsible and dangerous rhetoric or, in the case of some, treat it with delight, reward it, and consider it funny, those with a "D" will remain in the "crosshairs" of danger.
The notion that this is carried out, and often rewarded, in the name of the Constitution, the Bible, democratic rights and liberties, and patriotism is a mockery of all this nation claims to believe and almost all of us continue to struggle to preserve. I fear that this is only the beginning. The only way to derail this coming trouble would be for the reich-wing to return to civilization and get past their hatefulness toward those who disagree with them.
This "Lock and Load", "God and Guns" political rhetoric being spewed buy the right wing is not just a metaphor. Some are now acting on it. Comparing the President to Satan, Hitler and Stalin, depicting ones with a liberal view, as evil, and actively seeking to destroy this Nation, calling opposing views on ones religious beliefs "straight from the gates of Hell" are all part of the plan. Now we have seen the results of this rhetoric. Those with a megaphone, whether provided by public office or a media outlet, and social media posters have responsibilities. They cannot avoid the consequences of their blatant efforts to inflame, anger, and outrage. We all know that there are unstable and potentially dangerous people among us. To repeatedly appeal to their basic instincts is to invite, promote and welcome their predictable violence. So long as we all tolerate this kind of irresponsible and dangerous rhetoric or, in the case of some, treat it with delight, reward it, and consider it funny, those with a "D" will remain in the "crosshairs" of danger.
The notion that this is carried out, and often rewarded, in the name of the Constitution, the Bible, democratic rights and liberties, and patriotism is a mockery of all this nation claims to believe and almost all of us continue to struggle to preserve. I fear that this is only the beginning. The only way to derail this coming trouble would be for the reich-wing to return to civilization and get past their hatefulness toward those who disagree with them.