Monday, November 13, 2006

Which Way is Left?

There has been a lot said regarding the aftermath of last Tuesday's mid-term elections. Some things appear quite obvious, such as the conservatives and the GOP are pretty sore losers. However, at the same time, they know how to cut their losses in order to appeal to their base. Not to mention the fact that they are pretty handy at using propaganda in order to convince some of us that if we don't "believe in them", then we are "going to hell" or that "we're not moral". On the blog from X-mas past, I had gotten a few comments from individuals that told me that I embraced a "Leftist point of view".

I couldn't be someone who just talks about politics. Oh no. But, I could be someone who is leftist and liberal. And not only that. I was told in my past incarnation in forum fare from time to time that I was a Kerry-loving liberal. If it weren't so viciously flung, I would have had to laugh. Believe me I would. Being insulted for one's principles in a virtual Petrie dish of ideas seems so absurd in a Beckett-like way.

But, this lets on to a point that was brought up today on some news venues about the difference between electing "conservative Democrats" and "Democrats in general". In the opinion of some, the only Dems that were elected last week were centrist in nature and that Americans in general were more "conservative" now. In fact, the citizens of the United States, some opinions blared, openly embrace "conservative ideals" more.

By participating in certain sectors and forums on-line, you might think that this was the case. In my past experience, if you've dealt with a bunch of loud voices who support Mr. Bush no matter what. Furthermore, if they follow you from thread to thread discussing the same pro-neocon drivel when it comes to social and international issues, then perhaps it is easier to believe that there are people like this in droves willing to shout down anybody who adopts a caring, open-minded or empathetic stance. It might even be the case if there are a whole bunch of people who even insert their feelings about culture, diversity and politics in a conservative light by casually mentioning "those people getting 'social handouts" or 'giveaways'" and not even getting a slap on the wrist or a chiding for it. After all, since others think like them, then it is naturally opined that there are a whole bunch of neocons out there and you're the only progressive with an open-minded point of view.

However, it is good to note that a lot of people out there disband this notion by voting their conscience on last Tuesday. It is further refreshing to know that there are people who actually are sensitive to others and would discuss the plight of their fellow man. They also voted last Tuesday. What is even more, is that if the world was only one political entity opposed to another, it would be a pretty bland world. Don't these neocons get this?

Probably not. Knowing some good friends who are conservative (but very lucid, the last time I looked), they garner certain beliefs partially because of class and because of the way the wind blows politically. In fact, one told me that despite anything Mr. Bush did, he would still be considered a "great President". I asked, would historians be willing to throw out the questions of torture, habeas corpus, and of course the Posse Comitatus laws?

My friend looked at me cluelessly. "Just liberal double-speak, C," he told me. "Mr. Bush wasn't responsible for any of that. After all, that's just another lie cooked up by the liberal media."

Yeah, right. Just like the lie that there actually is a liberal media. In fact, there hasn't been one is quite a long time, and especially since 9/11.

The example conveyed by the statement from my friend is that there are people out there who think that anything leftist is dangerous. For older people who think this way, they equate leftism with communism. The sad thing about a nation embracing democratic ideals is the fact that it doesn't really let its citizens embrace their ideals openly. It seems that if you believe in anything different, and see those goals supported by some politicians in government, the world--by the neocons--is seen as going to Hell in a handbasket. Nothing can ever be balanced or inclusive. There is is only one way or the highway. And even when one who embraces this point of view sees his or her values repudiated by the majority in an election, the beliefs are contiunally embraced--even when the light has been shown on the machinations of this government.

In the past, I did write extensively on society after 9/11. On this blog, I will not leave this vital and important research out because it is still important. Certain attitudes, I've discovered are still crystallized in the voting patterns, attitudes and nuances of the American populace. And if you aren't reading George Lakoff and his studies, then one has to begin to understand why this is so. The notion of being leftist is a part of this. Somehow, since the eighties the notion of being leftist was wrong. My personal opinion leans on the fact that it is the right's way to criticize and nullify the strides made in sexual orientation, civil rights and the women's movement. By accusing those who embrace liberal ideals as being "wrong" and even "loopy" in their approach to the world, it puts all the progress made to bring people together into the trash bin. It also brings back the "olden days" of the way it used to be.

As I mentioned before in the past, the "olden days" is something that not all of us would like to return to--not even if the lottery sweepstakes were attached to it. The present, no matter how screwed up it is, is still worth fighting for. It needs people from all walks of life to contribute their two cents into this battle. In this struggle to make society better, one also has to realize that "morality" does not sit on one side of the fence. There isn't a certain political platform that embraces morality in totality. We all are capable of being good and moral in our approach. And we also have the power within ourselves to dictate our own moral standards to view the world.

But in the same way, it is our conscience, morality and empathy that will make things better in the long run. It is not the certain embrace of a political platform that will make us better or even greater individuals. In the end, it is the ability to see the big picture and have a sort of vision of how things might be better for not only one person, but for all of us in the world.

It is a shame that some are too narrow-minded and pigeon-holed by ideology to simply care.

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