<p>There is a dark shadow spreading over our nation these days. Despite the greatest need in a generation for Americans to come together as a people, we are more divided than ever. To face a torturous recession, wars in far away lands, and a healthcare crisis that is polarizing our leaders, Americans are losing their grip on reality and decency. I want the hate mongers to shut the hell up, and stop demonizing our president. Would we really be better off with another assassination of a courageous leader? One who is willing to take on powerful monoliths of our country, like John F. Kennedy did, and who paid the ultimate price? And for you out there who are so quick to criticize the hard choices that this president is trying to make, do you really think the status quo is working for the majority of Americans? Do you really love your insurance company, bank, and gas station?</p>
<p>A little over a week ago I wrote an article for Biznik about the healthcare debate in this country. The reactions by many members of Biznik were quite supportive, helpful, educational, and thoughtful. Others were laced with character attacks, right-wing bromides, and distorted facts. Healthcare is an explosive issue right now in the United States. Vitriolic outbursts seem to have become the norm as well. Where have such qualities as consideration, tolerance, and dignity gone?</p>
<p>There is a dangerous undercurrent of hostility flowing in this country right now. We witnessed a normally elegant, graceful athlete, Serena Williams, launch into an epithet filled tirade against an umpire at the U.S. Open this summer. Glenn Beck has been in the news for his baseless attacks on President Obama, including calling the President, “a racist.” Kanye West grabbed the microphone away from Taylor Swift, who was on the stage at the Video Music Awards to accept her award, and made a boorish appeal for Beyoncé. And the most egregious breach of decorum was when the Representative from South Carolina, Joe Wilson, called President Obama, “a liar.” I’m sorry. No one should ever call the President of the United States, “a liar.” I miss the good old days, when people were more gracious in public forums.</p>
<p>Is it a new form of dissociation from reality and proper etiquette? As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I witness many forms of hostility and anger in session. The goal is to de-escalate the tension that has built up in a couple’s relationship. We find new ways to communicate and problem solve, so that there is a prevailing sense of decency between partners. I understand the power of pent up anger in a person, and constantly look for ways to identify triggers before something happens that the person is sure to regret. Have you done an inventory of your own business behavior lately? Have there been times when you wished that you had echoed something in your head at least twice before uttering it out loud?</p>
<p>I think the most egregious practitioners of unvarnished hostility and unbridled dogma are the T.V. and radio talking heads out there. I know that freedom of speech is a constitutional right, but what happens if someone really gets hurt because of a political diatribe by one of these PAID talking heads? What would happen to us if we made untrue, outrageous, and nasty comments about our competition? It seems like we are willing to sit back and watch these nasty little wars continue, without demanding a return to civility. Well, I’m on record to say ENOUGH ALREADY! Our challenges as Americans are too big and important for anyone to attack President Obama as he has been attacked recently. Let's stop with the noise, and try to find common ground.</p>
2009-10-01T20:06:35Z
2009-10-01T21:33:55Z
-2.056
122
6745
true
21
21165
dark-side-of-the-soul
4
2009-10-01T14:32:35Z
2009-10-01T21:33:55Z
At a time that Americans are struggling with such weighty issues as an entrenched recession, a healthcare crisis, and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, radio and television personalities are further dividing people into FOO (Fans of Obama) and Obama haters.
Dark Side of the Soul
1
2009-10-01T21:33:55Z