The problem really resides in the extreme nature of our society, and the need for shock value just to get someone's attention.
To compare Bush to Hitler is of course as absurd as comparing Clinton to the leader of a communist country.
The problem is, that some of the actions taken by Clinton were
similar to some of the actions taken by communist countries.
In the same way, some of the actions taken by the Bush administration are similar to some of the actions taken by the Nazi party in the the beginning of their rise to power.
So how does one side spread the message that an administration's actions are worthy of concern and/or change, without going over the top?
It is a problem, as people are so saturated with drama that you nearly have to scream at them to get their attention.
If a calm and rational speaker is going on about the potential for abuse of the Patriot Act, most Americans change the channel.
If you say "Bush is acting just like Hitler!" Suddenly you have drama, and perhaps have captured the brief attention span of the electorate, and can manipulate their emotions, base emotions of fear, greed, etc.
I cannot condone what moveon.org did, but unfortunately I can fully understand it.
They are not the problem, it is really a societal problem, and a lack of rational thinking and crude emotionalism in this country on the side of both the left and the right. It has been taken to a ghastly extreme as to not seem extreme any more. Just like watching extreme violence on TV, we are become desensitized to the actually gross nature of the data input in our lives. Subtlety and simplicity are but a nostalgic reflection of a kinder and gentler time.
People have to become so extreme to get noticed these days it is really reduced us to who can scream the loudest and appear the most bizarre by contrast.
I see it even in these web sites, where it becomes a contest of who can flame the loudest and longest to see who wins, rather than just calm and reasonable discourse.
I have been guilty of falling into the flaming trap, and am trying to take steps to change that behavior. It is very difficult at times to break with the crowd and stay in touch with more refined and mature methods of conversation and argumentation.
It is as if we are all speaking in a very crowded noisy bar, having to yell to even be heard, when in fact the noise of the bar has been turned off....but we are all so habituated to the drama and noise that we don't even know we are screaming.
I would like to see everyone turn down the rhetoric, but alas, I don't think it is going to happen any time soon.
Quote from Error 404:
I had made that post very early this morning. No way did I think this thread would evolve into the heated and ugly thing it became.
No, I cannot give an example. And for once I agree with Pabst and Maverick. And Abe Foxman who I know quite well and agree with usually but not always. And less and less as the years go by (Marc Rich comes to mind). Hey Abe, take retirement!
Moveon.org was irresponsible. Period. No excuses.
Peace,
RS