It Has Been A While
My, my, but it has been awhile since I wrote here. And much has happened. For example, on my 60th birthday, last Monday, I suffered three tears in the retina of my left eye. After a laser procedure on Tuesday, I've been struggling with the recovery, which is not going as well as I might like.
But that's not what brings me back here. An interesting thought occurred to me yesterday. (Aside: Ah, it just started raining. Local time is 9:22 am.) My in-laws are busy moving my mother in-law down from Richfield, OH to Columbus, while also cleaning out my wife's uncle's place in Berea, OH. As they were cleaning out the uncle's house, they came upon his collection of hunting weapons from the days when he was able to hunt. Apparently, he has about a dozen or fifteen shotguns and rifles, that they were dividing up among those who want them.
I was asked if I wanted any of them, and I said, "No." Without any forethought I added that I thought the weapons should go to those of my Republican in-laws who are so afraid for themselves and their country these days. They obviously need more protection from their fears than I do, since I don't fear any of the things they fear.
Now I'm not saying that my relatives are especially fearful; they are not. But several of them, God bless 'em, are Republicans, and they seem to give a lot more credence to the fear-mongering that continues to be the central theme of the Republican Party these days, as it was the central theme of their 2008 election platform.
Frankly, I'm much more afraid of Republicans right now than I've ever been of anything in my life. It's not that they voice their concerns about the direction of the country; that's pretty standard political fare for the party out of power. It's how they express their concerns.
I'm afraid of people who carry guns to Presidential speeches.
I'm afraid of people who question the legitimacy of the newly elected President.
I'm afraid of people who seize any opportunity to whip up the fearful for their own benefit.
I've listened to the people trotted out as spokespersons for the tea party movement, and I've listened to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and their like, and I've listened to Sarah Palin. And I hear nothing positive from these people. All I hear in fear, and how I should be afraid of this or that possible (but in reality impossible) thing that the Obama administration is going to do. And I know they want me to be afraid of these things.
But all they do is make me afraid of them.
With rare exceptions--George Will springs to mind--conservatives are operating off of George Goebel's playbook. Tell lies; tell big lies; tell them repeatedly: and the people will believe.
I believe Franklin Roosevelt said it best, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." To which I would add--and the people who traffic in fear for their own ends.
But that's not what brings me back here. An interesting thought occurred to me yesterday. (Aside: Ah, it just started raining. Local time is 9:22 am.) My in-laws are busy moving my mother in-law down from Richfield, OH to Columbus, while also cleaning out my wife's uncle's place in Berea, OH. As they were cleaning out the uncle's house, they came upon his collection of hunting weapons from the days when he was able to hunt. Apparently, he has about a dozen or fifteen shotguns and rifles, that they were dividing up among those who want them.
I was asked if I wanted any of them, and I said, "No." Without any forethought I added that I thought the weapons should go to those of my Republican in-laws who are so afraid for themselves and their country these days. They obviously need more protection from their fears than I do, since I don't fear any of the things they fear.
Now I'm not saying that my relatives are especially fearful; they are not. But several of them, God bless 'em, are Republicans, and they seem to give a lot more credence to the fear-mongering that continues to be the central theme of the Republican Party these days, as it was the central theme of their 2008 election platform.
Frankly, I'm much more afraid of Republicans right now than I've ever been of anything in my life. It's not that they voice their concerns about the direction of the country; that's pretty standard political fare for the party out of power. It's how they express their concerns.
I'm afraid of people who carry guns to Presidential speeches.
I'm afraid of people who question the legitimacy of the newly elected President.
I'm afraid of people who seize any opportunity to whip up the fearful for their own benefit.
I've listened to the people trotted out as spokespersons for the tea party movement, and I've listened to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and their like, and I've listened to Sarah Palin. And I hear nothing positive from these people. All I hear in fear, and how I should be afraid of this or that possible (but in reality impossible) thing that the Obama administration is going to do. And I know they want me to be afraid of these things.
But all they do is make me afraid of them.
With rare exceptions--George Will springs to mind--conservatives are operating off of George Goebel's playbook. Tell lies; tell big lies; tell them repeatedly: and the people will believe.
I believe Franklin Roosevelt said it best, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." To which I would add--and the people who traffic in fear for their own ends.
posted by Tom | 9:18 AM
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