Dumbing down the discourse

The UW-Madison and its College Republicans played host to Fox News pundit and conservative blogger Michelle Malkin this past Friday. Naturally, there was a lot of hubbub leading up to the event. Some folks thought it was insane to even bring her here to speak, expressing shock that anyone of a more liberal persuasion would attend. The talk itself then involved several shouted obscenities from certain members of the crowd (a fact little commented on in the press, as far as I can tell), both during her talk and throughout the Q&A that followed.

This should be unacceptable for all parts of the political spectrum.

I understand, very well, the frustration of those with more left-leaning feelings. It certainly seems like factions of the far-right have hijacked the discourse and the law in this country, and many of them certainly don't shy away from ad hominem attacks and mudslinging. This makes it especially infuriating when they then, when faced with similar tactics, see fit to cry foul as though they themselves are without sin.

In the end, though, someone has to take the high road. Simply because your opponent stoops to a certain level doesn't mean that you should, too. This goes for the left, right and center. Interrupting someone, whether it be during an organized event or regular conversation, is rude and petty. It will do little to advance your point, and plenty to turn others off from hearing you out when it's your turn to speak.

I disagree with most of the positions Malkin takes, and as much as said positions tend to offend my sensibilities and occasionally fill me with rage--apply this to most conservative pundits, really--I would be extremely disappointed with myself if I ever let that anger bubble over into trying to silence their voices. Doubly so if that involved shouting "fuck you!" and "racist!" at someone during a rally or speech (with the except of a Neo-Nazi group or something).

I think it's safe to say that the majority of people--right, left and everything in between--want a better life for themselves and their children/families. We want to feel relatively safe, and to be free to pursue our own goals. We want to be heard. If there is to be any real progress, we need to elevate the level of discourse: do our best to restrain ourselves when we feel the (natural, but not good) urge to sling mud in order to discredit our opponents. Try to see where the other guy might be coming from. This doesn't mean you have to agree with them--Lord knows a little partisanship can be a good thing from time to time. But it should mean that we never stoop so far as to try to restrict someone's free speech, or to crassly interrupt them when they are speaking.

You know the old saying: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Yes and no

Veteran's Day is this Sunday. Did you know that? I hope so, but if not, now would be the time to educate yourself (for instance, it lands on the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I). It's important for us as a nation to remember those men and women who have done their civic duty through military service, especially those unfortunate enough to be called during a time of war. It's important that we remember and support them all year round, but I'm also glad that we have a specific holiday set aside for them as well.

It's not often that I find myself commending the actions of the College Republicans, but I was pleased to read an article in The Badger Herald that mentioned their efforts to raise money for the Madison Veteran's Center. Too often, politicians and other public figures pay a lot of lip service to taking care of our vets, only to fall woefully short when it comes to actually taking action. President Bush is guilty of this, but the guilt spans the partisan and professional gap, too.

Just recently, charges of embezzlement were filed against the spokesman for Wisconsin's largest nursing home for veterans. Stealing in general is bad form, but stealing from retired veterans especially is pretty damn low.

In any case, good on the College Republicans for making sure attention is brought to the holiday and for taking positive action to help (though I'm a little confused about the direction the BH article then takes, as it talks about them hosting a talk by a local global warming critic--why can't you let me have my little moment of respect for the CR's, Badger Herald, why??).

For a list of Veteran's Day events taking place in the area, click here.


(photo credit: State Historical Society of Wisconsin)