Whew…I just signed off of a heated political debate via Facebook and I am thoroughly exhausted. It wasn’t so much a debate as it was a unrelenting attack on my liberal positions. I should have known better than to step into conservative territory, but since Paige doesn’t need to be picked up from Kindergarten for a few more hours I had some time to kill. Laundry and freelance writing be damned, I was fully engaged in this.
It all started with a discussion about whether the concept of “middle ground” on political topics exist. This is, of course, in light of President Obama’s recent speech at Notre Dame wherein he encouraged the recent graduates to seek middle ground as it relates to heated political topics.
I am of the mindset that middle ground does exist. My dear debating opponents, it seems, did not. In fact, one threw out the comment, “Middle ground? What is that, like half an abortion?”. Naturally, visions of those propaganda images featuring bloodied partially aborted fetuses flashed through the minds eye of all debate participants and future debate was sullied. Seemed like a fairly low blow, as well as off topic, but I let that one slide. My concept of middle ground as it pertains to abortion was more along the lines of an agreed ban on late term abortions or increasing sex education funding as a way to lessen the current abortion rate. Did anyone hear me? I think not.
The debate got nastier from there and I respectfully bowed out. My opponents may very well have seen that as a sign of weakness or a “Ha! Gotcha! What now, liberal?” moment. For my part, I always have a sense for when a debate is fruitful versus hostile and know when to say when. Self-preservation, my friends, and I am not about to let additional personal attacks ruin an otherwise sunny and productive day.
However, I sincerely resent the diminishing mass of conservatives viewing us liberals as the sadly misguided, poor uninformed, desperately-needing-to-see-the light fools. Most liberals I know have come to their position by educating themselves and engaging in due diligence when it comes to controversial topics. In this case, prayer just isn’t gonna cut it.
Further, most liberals have a real understanding of the positions of conservatives while at the same time vehemently disagreeing and holding their ground. Conservatives, on the other hand, see the opposing viewpoint as simply wrong and the person holding said position just needs to be enlightened. No, thank you. Really…no thank you.
Oh, and the benevolent offers to pray for my soul as well? I’m good. But those children suffering abuse at the hands of their caretakers or soldiers on the front lines in Iraq or angst laden teenagers contemplating suicide? Kindly send your prayers their way.
1 comment:
First of all I am one of those conservatives who would love to see a complete end to Abortion. But we are going no where if we don't start somewhere. I believe the place to begin is the Middle groud. A place where we can both agree something is wrong or something is right and work from there. Teaching children how to make decisions about sexuality before it become a life growing and forming inside a young woman is the best place to start. When I taught about the Sacrament of Marriage to a bunch of 8th graders you can't start at something so far away from them and make them relate. We talked about friendships about what makes a best friend about growing and deepening intimacy. How wrong it is to take your cloths off together and yet be terrified to go grocery shopping with your "boyfriend" for the first time after sleeping and living together for over four months.... Getting people, young and old to think outside the moment, to understand the concept of sacrifice for a greater good...
I feel so strongly about some things because I know of a few people who if not for the support of family or laws that prevented it wouldn't be here and I know my life would be so very empty with out them.
But there are places that people feel are exceptions and don't want that to be taken away and thrown out with the bath water... so if we start where we agree perhaps we can educate each other on both sides of the coin. We will in the end have to agree to disagree but perhaps in the end a 30 some year old woman won't wonder each day what her baby would have been and if he or she might have made life better or worse...
Sorry... I love to debate... think and offer my opinion... It's not often one can really share an differing opinion and hope to be heard.... I can't learn a thing about life if I don't listen not only to what I agree with but wrap my mind about what I disagree with as well.
Thank you for your thoughts! I've enjoyed getting to know a little about you on line!
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