Hatred and Condescension

Is this how we're supposed to talk about politicians who hold different beliefs than we do? Or about those Americans who will vote differently than us on November 4th?

"[Sarah Palin is] a two-bit caricature culled from some cutting-room-floor episode of Roseanne .... And if she's a good enough likeness of a loudmouthed middle-American archetype, as Sarah Palin is, John Q. Public will drop his giant-size bag of Doritos in gratitude, wipe the Sizzlin' Picante dust from his lips and rush to the booth to vote for her. Not because it makes sense, or because it has a chance of improving his life or anyone else's, but simply because it appeals to the low-humming narcissism that substitutes for his personality, because the image on TV reminds him of the mean, brainless slob he sees in the mirror every morning."

"Not only is Sarah Palin a fraud, she's the tawdriest, most half-assed fraud imaginable, 20 floors below the lowest common denominator, a character too dumb even for daytime TV -and this country is going to eat her up, cheering her every step of the way. All because most Americans no longer have the energy to do anything but lie back and allow ourselves to be jacked off by the calculating thieves who run this grasping consumer paradise we call a nation."

I am not writing this in order to make an argument that Sarah Palin is or isn't qualified to be Vice President. I think that's your decision to make, and I'm not about to call you an idiot no matter what you decide. What I want to write about is hate. Vitriol. Poisonous, foul, ad hominem attacks made not just on candidates but on the individuals who decide in their own judgment to vote for such candidates.

This country needs to rise above this sorry excuse for political discourse. No matter what side of the debate you're on you should be disgusted with this substitution of prejudiced hysteria for rational thought. Our political process doesn't need this garbage--nor does our country.

"As you know, long ago God instructed Moses to tell His people, 'Do not murder; those who murder will be judged and punished.' But here is the even harder truth: anyone who is angry with his brother will be judged for his anger. Anyone who taunts his friend, speaks contemptuously toward him, or calls him 'Loser' or 'Fool' or 'Scum' will have to answer to the high court. And anyone who calls his brother a fool may find himself in the fires of hell."---Matthew 5:21-22

"Listen, open your ears, harness your desire to speak, and don't get so worked up into a rage so easily, my brothers and sisters. Human anger is a futile exercise that will never produce God's kind of justice in this world."---James 1:19-20

(both passages from The Voice translation)

See also all of James 3.