Gary's Theories

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Call me a hopeless ideologue. Or Perhaps a hopeful one. I have for the longest time held the belief that, given information surrounding a circumstance people would behave rationally. By rationally, I mean make decisions that are reasonable and supported by the facts. Doesn't that sound reasonable? It certainly does to me.

Like everyone I receive loads of unsolicited - typically forwarded - emails. These emails almost always have what to me seems a mean-hearted, mean-spirited tone. I have cudgeled my brain in an effort to recall a single one that has worked to unite people, find a consensus, a common good and cannot recall a single one - which is itself a sad commentary, but a topic for another day.

Many of these emails are very well crafted - they create a sense of urgency, as if the author is sharing something of grave importance - and many also contain components of truth. . . half-truths, really. Remember though, a half-truth is like a half-brick. It can do more damage in some cases because it can be thrown farther. And half-truth emails are thrown all over the Internet.

Anyway, when I receive one of these emails I try to ascertain the truth - if the email has anything beyond simply biased, opinionated statements - and verify whether the sender has any new or real insight. As you have already guessed, typically these emails are spurious. Generally they have been altered - perhaps starting off as a real comment by some business person, comedian, or some such - to hold in many cases very hateful, spiteful agendas. A perfect example, I recently received one claiming Laura Bush had 1 personal assistant while Michelle Obama has 22. This one is easy enough to verify by reviewing the "Annual Report to Congress on White House Staff" (You can see the whole story of this email here). Plainly, this email was put together simply to say hateful things about the current First Lady. Now I am pleased to say, the individual sending me this email is an honorable man. I responded to him with the facts and he issued a second email blast indicating the error with the prior email. I value his honesty and candor - there are plenty of lousy things both parties do without the need to make things up.

This honorable individual is the exception. And don't misunderstand, we still have vast areas regarding public policy on which we disagree - which is fine.

In the vast majority of cases however, I have been very disappointed to learn most people that forward these types of email HAVE NO INTEREST in learning of factual errors in their assertions or hearing any opinion beyond their own. In fact, it appears for most of these the attitude of the sender is really one of: DON'T CONFUSE ME WITH THE FACTS, MY MIND IS MADE UP!!! In fact in some cases people have actually attached a line at the bottom saying something like - if you disagree, don't respond to this as I don't care what you think. Of course, in those cases I attempt to respect their wishes, I simply delete the email or in some cases respond by asking them not to forward that type of crap to me.

But the others. . . those that come and are plainly misguided and wrong . . . in my hopefulness or naivete I will respond with a question or facts that demonstrate truth. And don't get me wrong, truth cuts both ways and regularly hammers people on all sides of political discourse - but it is the truth. And the truth will set you free.

Much to my chagrin it seems virtually everyone who issues these biased misleading emails really doesn't want to engage in discussion, share ideas, or find common ground. It appears they only want to hear the same hateful, biased stories ad nauseum! The same old things - whatever is wrong it is always "their" fault - whoever the "their" is. 90%+ of these types of emails (or at least those sent to me) seem to originate on the right-wing side of politics.

Try as I might to engage any of these email purveyors in conversation - let's look at history, how did we get here? - I generally get the most hateful responses imaginable or no response at all. On the rare occasion when the purveyors of hate have engaged, the conversation is almost surreal. Ask challenging questions and the answers you get are to the questions they wish you would have asked, not the ones you DID ask. This unfortunately, is nothing more than an attack machine.

It saddens me. I would thoroughly enjoy finding out that most or many . . . or some citizens are interested in discussing public policy. Like the Founders of this country wanted, an enlightened citizenry engaged in public debate and discourse. Instead, what I find is a citizenry becoming more and more removed from real discussion. Stratified, each standing in their own corner, with an agenda and hurtling vile lies and curses at their perceived "enemies" and distancing groups farther and farther apart. It honestly defies reason - in my humble perspective.

I mean, at the end of the day, we are all in this together. For the most part we have more in common with one another than we have differences. Why can't we focus on the 90 % we agree on and make public policy that addresses and supports our common best interests rather that focusing on the 10% we disagree on? In the words of Rodney King, "Can we all just get along?" These hateful agenda emails, expressing these vile biases, lies, and half-truths - often cloaked in false patriotism or false religion demean the sender and do evil work in polarizing the citizens of our country. Perhaps there is a special place in hell for those who feel the end justifies the means and have no compunction about spreading, lies, slanders and falsehoods. At least I hope there is.

Regardless of your political perspectives, I hope you can and do articulate and support your views truthfully, but with an open ear. After all, no one has a "corner" on good ideas. I would welcome rational discussion on public policy.

Until next time.

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