I often wonder why people lie so much. The lies are all over the television and newspapers, spoken at work and among friends. These lies happen in a process to spin viewpoints and paint a slightly darker (or lighter) picture of something or someone. I finally realized that these slightly shaded comments are the beginnings of propaganda. Yes, I've said it. Propaganda. From both sides of the American political spectrum. Right now there seem to be only two sides. And no one is allowed to straddle that deeply cut line. The media has made sure that things are seen in a black and white theme. So those of us who live outside of the television have no where to go during the elections but left or right. At least, that is what they would like us to think.
Which leads to a much more serious issue in our country. With all of this propaganda and campaign spewing, how can facts be sorted out for hearsay? How can people have an intelligent debate about the issues if no one in the room knows what the issues are really about? This should scare people, much more than it does right now. Along with the issue of the easy acceptance of unverified facts, more basic questions rise. Do people understand the political parties? Could they tell you what a republican stands for, or a democrat? Would they be able to explain the difference between being a liberal and being a democrat? Could they understand that you can be a conservative democrat and a liberal republican? I'm not sure if many people do, and these four different political tendencies have been so definitely combined in a certain way that people can't see how things could be different. The country sees all of this issues played out in Congress, where bipartisanship cannot be found. And we all suffer for it. All of us. Because now we cannot move forward as a country, we cannot progress. We shout at each other from behind our political stances, stubborn to give an inch, as if opening up to other's thoughts would somehow make us weak. It's ridiculous, childish, and dangerous. If we want things in this country to get better, and won't be by ripping apart the other side with various accusations; it will be when we figure out how to coexist with each other. I use coexist deliberately so as to encompass not only differences in political theories, but differences in religious thought, social and economic standing, and cultural background.
The United States calls itself a "melting pot" of a nation, since we are comprised of so many different people. Lately, it does seem like we are a literal melting pot, because we want everyone to meld together so that we are all one in the same, so we can all be the same religion, speak the same language, and think the same political thoughts. What we should aim for is some type of salad. Different but distinct ingredients come together to make a delicious (and healthy) combination. This is a country of immigrants. This is a country where acceptance was the ideal reason for coming here. Yet according to history, that usually has not been the case. The Puritans escaped persecution by settling in a new world, but then turned around and persecuted their own in a literal witch hunt. Lower class citizens found new social and economic freedoms with farms here, but then ended up taking away others freedom through chains and oppression in the bonds of slavery. The natural citizens of this land also suffered as the settlers drove them from their lands in the name of manifest destiny, until even today, as American Indians face the prospect of dying out completely. Immigrants of the early twentieth century became the backs on which America stood as they filled the factories and worked under harsh conditions, and were bullied into voting for certain political parties. And finally, the immigrants of today, and even American citizens who are not "white" are often targeted in racial crimes.
We are better than this. In our ideal country we stand as the land of the free and the home of the brave. We say that's what we are, even though throughout history we have continued to oppress people in our own country. So let's be that country that we proclaim to be. That can all start with listening to each other. Just listen. Don't interrupt. Listen to the argument and take into account the facts. Verify the facts with multiple sources. The same news station does not count. These blogs do not count. Be curious. Ask questions. If we don't start doing this now, we will be consumed with the "us v. them" mentality that the media shoved down our throats. Don't be taken in by it. It's sensational news. They are shock jocks looking for a response to make entertaining television.
I just don't understand where so much hate comes from in this country. We live in a country where we elect our representation into office, where we have the freedom to follow our passions, to have a family, to live where we please, to make as much money as we want, and yet so many seem so full of hate. I just want to make things better so that people can live better lives. So that people can live free and happy lives. Aren't those our unalienable rights ("life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness")? So let's all approach these issues with that perspective, instead of proclaiming that the goal is to get the people we don't like out of office. That's not a goal. We can do better. So let's stop listening to the lies, and let's start listening to each other.
