Muse – The Great Divide

I think, in all of those discussion involving the Middle East and countries within, we too often bet distracted by digression. I see many using many terms that I generally avoid. Like Liberal, conservative, chickenhawk and other such derogatory terms and slang. I don’t begrudge others the use of them if they wish, but when it comes to matters like this, it tends to bring to mind emotion to me and emotion is a killer in logical debate, blunting the pure thrust of an argument.

It divides us as it should not.

I read several pro and anti entries each day and notice the same thing on both sides. And I often watch the news and read about the protests that go on. As much as I would like to feel kinship with the physical protesters, I simply can’t because their ranks are infiltrated with elements that are using the moment to forward alternate agendas by the look. Just as pro war folks use the Iraq war as a springboard to launch attacks against whoever their pet hatred is and tie matters into some great conspiracy theory that proves, through proxy, that their argument is right.

I hear about a lot of stuff like that form time to time and most of it I dismiss and file away for later use. I don’t debate Iraq because I like Saddam. Quite the opposite. I don’t have agendas, I don’t want to crush the ‘evil’ conservatives. I don’t even consider myself liberal, though I know I have some of the ‘traits’. What I write here is my honest opinion, formed from what I observe, what I read and a great deal of my own interpretation and cross reference of what is encompassed by my collective consciousness.

But in the end, I don’t hold the beliefs of others against them. One of my favorites disagrees with me on this topic, yet she and I continue to treat each other cordially and correspond through notes as we have for over a year. Our difference of opinion does not cause us to look down upon each other, nor consider each other enemy. That, I think, is the danger in today’s day and age. Beyond the obvious international dangers of course. We let our opinions and assertions become a wall against others who are not like us.

Political prejudice? Ideological? Maybe not, but it is an interesting thought.

Mind you, there are some that I don’t like. I don’t like those who pervert the goals of public protests. I don’t like those who look at what I write and summarily place me with those who pervert free thought to some agenda, liberal or otherwise. Disagree with me, but disagree with me over what I write, not what you think is my secret agenda. I have none, save for a belief that, beyond the immediate good effects of this war(yes, I acknowledge them), the cons in the future will be worse. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think I am. The doctrine of preemption is and will be a bad idea. and the humanitarian aims of this action are hypocritical when across the world there are those in the same sorts of situation.

But the details of that belief are a topic for another entry. Perhaps I’ll write it later.

But for now this one and a conclusion. That being that we need to think more before we begin to assume and assign roles to those who may not fit them. We need more logic and less emotion. Or so I believe, anyway. We need to show the civilized tolerance when we claim the moral high ground and realize that belittling and insulting people won’t make them change their minds. It will just make those who read less likely to listen as who among us can honestly say we are more receptive to someone’s words when they are peppered with insults and derogatory language?

A simple concept. Pity it isn’t more widely embraced.

Only we can close this Great Divide, through our own actions.