Quote:
Originally Posted by Growler
He's not wrong, and frankly, it's no disrespect. One of the great strengths of this country is that no two people march exactly to the same drumbeat, and it is, indeed, those who dance the strangest that get noticed first. Sometimes the strange ones are really just strange. Senator Joe McCarthy strangely saw Communists hiding everywhere, and ran right on over the Constitution in search of them. Other times, it's strange that leads to change. Rosa Parks acted strangely for a black woman in her time - and began a process that changed how blacks would be treated in America.
For every birther or conspiracy theorist in this land, there are dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of people who line up to give blood, give money, give time, and in many cases, give their lives - throughout its history. For every criminal we heard about in New Orleans following Katrina, there are dozens or more untold stories of people coming together to help each other. The same is true in the stories emerging this week from the tornado-blasted South.
Are we a perfect nation? By no means; far from it. But there are millions of us in this country who remain committed to keeping it a pretty nice place to be for everyone. Just because we may differ on what that means doesn't diminish that we do have that in common.
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Well spoken. As a non American, I see the term 'only in America' being used more and more. This is because as you said, 'those who dance the strangest that get noticed first.'; and in a country with so many inhabitants, there are of course a hell of a lot of people that 'dance strange' that we get to hear about. But that's just numbers. Actually American people as a whole are pretty much the same as us Europeans, some slight cultural differences aside.
The main problem I see, is a tendency to polarization. Both here in Europe as well as in the US. People tend to think they are obliged to describe and express themselves as left or right. And in every discussion, it seems to me like nobody even listens to the arguments of the other.
If I see some reactions/posts in political topics, it seems like the only thing people are thinking of when reading it, is 'How can I come up with some argument against what he said', not even considering the possibility that the person you are arguing with might even have a point. Having a discussion only seems to be about winning or losing. (And yes, I'm sorry to say this completely applies to this forum when it comes to politics)
I guess that's the whole thing I'm trying to say; just consider that 'the other' side may have a point. Maybe they don't, but it sure helps to open up and ponder the possibility that they
might. And that they might even have the best intentions, as was Growlers point if I understood him correctly.
/RANT MODE OFF