Once again

[PhillySane]

We've seemed to step beyond fiery debate. No one wants to hear what the other side is saying. My way or the highway. Whatever that way is. And, truthfully, I'm not sure I know, because there are SO many causes out there attached to SO many righteous people. It's all clatter. The real issue seems to be, "I'm right, you're wrong, about everything."

14 million guns were purchased by Americans last year. I believe we're sitting on a powder keg people. Isn't time to step off that keg? Take a breath. Stop throwing wild punches. Look inward.

Why are we so upset?

[fasttense]

1. Why are we so upset?

Let's see we have the sharpest decline in wages since the Great Depression, millions of people are losing their homes to banks who can't even show they own the mortgages, tent cities are springing up everywhere, millions of people can't even find a minimum wage job, the bushes and their minions got away with torture yet poor people go to jail for smoking pot; discrimination is rampant and promoted by our uber rich, our corrupt politicians are set to destroy any semblance of a safety net for the poor and middle class while the uber rich prey upon them and get wealthier, bankers and speculators continue to gamble knowing our tax dollars will bail them out, and getting medical care in this country is near impossible unless you pay extortion fees to insurance corporations.

The uber class have waged a war against the poor and middle class and they have won. People are suffering but no one will stand up and fight to help the majority of Americans.

Americans are on the edge of collapse and terrified but they don't seem to know what to do about it. So they lash out like the corporate media tells them to do.

[PhillySane]

2. All of that is true, agreed

But the tone of our debate has moved to "lashing out". Has moved to namecalling, hatred and physical violence too. Maybe this is our current media's fault. Maybe we are being incited by them. If so,

[canoeist52]

3. Theer is a time for anger.

Sometimes anger and action are the proper response

to a violent attack. There is healing in justice. Telling a victim of child abuse that what was done to them was wrong and not their fault is part of the healing process.

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. Ummmm......

You're right. We don't juat want to win. We want to dominate. And all too often we are willing to sacrifice the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in order to do so. Perception is more important.

We can't have a discussion with an exchange of idas if we have pre-determined that we are the only ones who have the "answer" - we cannnot acknowledge the validity of anyone else's viewpoint. And yet the scene looks diferent from every window.

We have little sense of community. We are segregated into red and blue - and a myriad of other groups. Groups that we are invested in and identify with. Groups whose agenda we wish to advance over others. We value and often thrive in our diversity.

But we are loathe to acknowledge that we have common needs and interests - or that what advances one just might well be to the detriment of another.

We prefer to value the tree more than the forrest.

[PhillySane]

5. It is easier to persuade your friends than your enemies.

Lesson: Try to make friends with someone from the other side.

(It just might work!)

[BeFree]

6. More?

You want us to kiss the asses of those who are wont to put targets over our faces?

What kind of mealy mouthed BS is all this crap?

You want that we should go apologize to bushco for thinking they are fucking killing us?

[PhillySane]

7. I wish for them to do the same.

This is a about all of us. And finding our better sides within.