Ellienor wrote:I agree with Prim and Voronwë. I read the comments on internet blogs and don't want the conversation here to devolve into that. I wish we had more perspective in here from more people, and I think that we (and I am guilty of it too) are driving people away. I want to have my thinking challenged on issues, and simply insulting and defending various personages in this campaign just isn't interesting.
Ellie, what a wonderful post.
When things get very lopsided in a conversation-- anywhere, although certainly here-- it's going to be a very uninteresting conversation to "listen to", let alone participate in, for those who are not 100% imbued with whatever viewpoint is dominant.
Especially when it gets into "she's a poodle in a skirt" types of comments.
I know there's a lot of emotion around about Democrats vs. Republicans, and the stakes are high. This really is the Democrats' year to win. If they do not, I can understand the incredible frustration-- and anger-- that would engender. I get the passion. I do.
The conversation becomes uninteresting to anyone other than a strong "believer" whenever the descriptions of candidates get snarky and personal, though. I know I have the option of not reading those kinds of posts, and I do tend to skip them, overall. However, when the "tone" is more and more jabbing on a personal level, I tend to skip the whole discussion. And that's a loss for me. I learn stuff from you guys, and enjoy reading what you write. And when I do have the cajones to step in for a moment, I appreciate your collective input on what I have to say.
(As a centrist, I please no one.
Believe me, I wish sometimes that I WERE as strong as some of you are in your beliefs that YOUR side is wholly right! Unfortunately, I see good points in all four candidates. I see bad points in all four candidates. I do not see any poodles.)
Look, I understand a lot of the fears about Palin's experience, and I share them. I think she's very energetic, ambitious, and she's a talented politician (not necessarily a compliment in my book, btw). She may help get McCain elected, and she may do fine as a VP, which in my observation, means she doesn't have much to do. But I would be pretty scared of her running the country. Long live McCain, if he's elected.
But as Prim says, it's much more interesting to me (and important to my life) if the discussion is at the level of "is she the most appopriate choice for VP".
I really don't care if she wears lipstick or not, or who talks about it, actually.
I don't care if her daughter has made mistakes. Whether she should have said she listed something on eBay when it never actually sold on eBay doesn't matter to me.
I just want to know that my country has strong, experienced, capabale leaders in a challenging time. She's still got to prove to me that she is that kind of leader.
Just my two cents' worth.
"What do you fear, lady?" Aragorn asked.
"A cage," Éowyn said. "To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King