Glenn Beck--Theologian???!!

quote:

Originally posted by O No!:
And there are "birthers" and now "religioners"(?) trying to jump on everything Obama says or does, trying to prove he is a Muslim, born in Kenya.

I think the polarization in this country started when Bush II was in office. We on the left were outraged at what he did. Now the right is getting even. "King George" to "King Barry". And in the end, it is the American citizen who is suffering for the intolerance of BOTH sides.

O No,

I'm not sure what Bush did in office. I believe the news media caused the
polarization of the country and death of the truth. What has happened in
the last year and a half???

quote:

the news media caused the
polarization

That is how I see it too. There has always been the fight between left and right but it wasn't until Carter that the news media started hyping up the animosity to horrible levels.. I can remember nasty articles about him, then with Reagan , it was pay back, Bush I payback again all up to GW when the level of hatred was spewing everywhere. There was always the unwritten rule to not criticize a sitting president by another president, but that was blown away by Carter and Clinton ripping GW. That set the stage for anything goes.

Obama made the mistake of promising bipartisanship effort on everything, while blaming the republicans for all the evils of the world. Time doesn't stop form one admin to the next. Problems flow across time-lines and what happens under one started under the previous one. To try and compartmentalize the events of the world into 4 year increments won't work. It's like blaming the car for not starting when you forgot to buy a new battery last week.

You know, I think a lot of the hate in the last 10 years or so has been fueled by forums just like the one we are on. When people are able to post under ficticious names they feel free to say any outrageous thing that comes to mind.

If everyone had to use their real name, they wouldn't be saying some of the far-out things they sometimes do. If they had to use their own names, they would debate much more politely too.

As much as I believe in freedom of speech, and I surely wouldn't change that, I see people getting so riled up! I see so much of, "Oh yeah?", "Sez who?", that it seems we have degenerated to the schoolyard sometimes.

The problem is, we are not always leaving this anger and outrage behind when we shut off the computer. Then we watch inflammatory "news" commentators and become even more angry.

How in the world are any of us ever going to compromise and accomplish something when we spend so much time FEEDING our anger?

B50m

I agree with that statement completely. To blame Obama for the economical mess we are in is plain silly. It started long before he took office. As with many other presidents before him he only inherited these issues.

Glenn Beck and his ilk, are part of, if not all of the serious problem with have in our countries great divide. I would love to see Americans stop thinking in terms of Dem vs Rep and start voting for the candidate that seems to have the best interest in our country at heart. I don't know if there is such a person in the realm of politics though. Seems to me that in this day and age of politics to get to the point of running for president, you have to make a lot of promises you can't keep and blow a bunch of smoke up the a55's of the people to get elected.

I would also like to see a presidential candidate who does not run on moral issues. Abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research. We need to pay attention to the true issues at hand. Stop worrying so much about what your neighbor is doing in his personal life and start thinking about the country as a whole. What is the best economic plan, international relations, up holding our constitution, trade, jobs, these are the important factors. Not whether or not the president goes to church or where he goes.

The media is a business. They no longer present the facts of a situation and leave it at that. They each and everyone have their own breed of "Glenn Becks". Its all about the ratings and how much advertising it brings in.

Stop buying into their programming and do the research your self. Its the only way you will ever get the true picture of our government and what they are truly up to.

Does anyone else remember the saying "United we stand, divided we fall" lets all try and remember that before its too late.

O No,

You are probably right. Then you have these tv personalities fuel that fire.

Even ones like John Stewart (who I enjoy watching) does this too. I see him as more entertainment than anything close to journalistic news, but there are those that hang on his every word as if it were facts.

In the words of the great Rodney King....Can't we all just get along.

quote:

Originally posted by O No!:
You know, I think a lot of the hate in the last 10 years or so has been fueled by forums just like the one we are on. When people are able to post under ficticious names they feel free to say any outrageous thing that comes to mind.

If everyone had to use their real name, they wouldn't be saying some of the far-out things they sometimes do. If they had to use their own names, they would debate much more politely too.

As much as I believe in freedom of speech, and I surely wouldn't change that, I see people getting so riled up! I see so much of, "Oh yeah?", "Sez who?", that it seems we have degenerated to the schoolyard sometimes.

The problem is, we are not always leaving this anger and outrage behind when we shut off the computer. Then we watch inflammatory "news" commentators and become even more angry.

How in the world are any of us ever going to compromise and accomplish something when we spend so much time FEEDING our anger?

O No,

On forums like this most people using their real names aren't going to tell
the truth anyway. People protect what they believe. They do whatever is necessary
to push their ideas.

Kraven, that is what is so sad. Before the internet, it was easy to believe that most people were basically good. But when I read about things like, "My right to smoke trumps your right to breathe and if you don't like it, go somewhere else.", or things like, "I have insurance and if you don't, it's because you're a lazy bum.", I am starting to believe that people are basically selfish and mean.

Kindness? Compassion? Empathy? I guess they were just an illusion...

quote:

Originally posted by Jankinonya:
B50m

I agree with that statement completely. To blame Obama for the economical mess we are in is plain silly. It started long before he took office. As with many other presidents before him he only inherited these issues.

Stop buying into their programming and do the research your self. Its the only way you will ever get the true picture of our government and what they are truly up to.

Does anyone else remember the saying "United we stand, divided we fall" lets all try and remember that before its too late.

Jan,

No president has ever in history done what obama is doing. It will get worst as
time goes on. The country has been down before, But things were done to fix it.
People should think about this as if we had no president at all.

Now think of what the problems are and what a sane person what do about it.
I'm not saying anything against obama, It is what it is. It's just his group
of people want every country on the same level.

quote:

Originally posted by Kraven:

quote:

Originally posted by Jankinonya:
B50m

I agree with that statement completely. To blame Obama for the economical mess we are in is plain silly. It started long before he took office. As with many other presidents before him he only inherited these issues.

Stop buying into their programming and do the research your self. Its the only way you will ever get the true picture of our government and what they are truly up to.

Does anyone else remember the saying "United we stand, divided we fall" lets all try and remember that before its too late.

Jan,

No president has ever in history done what obama is doing. It will get worst as
time goes on. The country has been down before, But things were done to fix it.
People should think about this as if we had no president at all.

Now think of what the problems are and what a sane person what do about it.
I'm not saying anything against obama, It is what it is. It's just his group
of people want every country on the same level.

Kraven,

There is a reason that I do not participate in the politics forum.

I will not debate this with you. I don't agree with you, but that is ok. I am sure that you feel you are right and I could not, nor will I try to convince you otherwise.

I will just say that as an American I feel I made the right choice when I voted for Obama. I don't think he has done NEARLY enough, but I am hoping for another 4 years.

quote:

Originally posted by O No!:
Kraven, that is what is so sad. Before the internet, it was easy to believe that most people were basically good. But when I read about things like, "My right to smoke trumps your right to breathe and if you don't like it, go somewhere else.", or things like, "I have insurance and if you don't, it's because you're a lazy bum.", I am starting to believe that people are basically selfish and mean.

Kindness? Compassion? Empathy? I guess they were just an illusion...

O No

Can you tell me when this change started? I'm not sure, But I'll say
about the middle 70's. I think most americans think they can do whatever
they want and it will work out, it will be OK. We're too big to be hurt
by anything. Well.....people are watching.

quote:

Originally posted by Jankinonya:

quote:

Originally posted by Kraven:

quote:

Originally posted by Jankinonya:
B50m

I agree with that statement completely. To blame Obama for the economical mess we are in is plain silly. It started long before he took office. As with many other presidents before him he only inherited these issues.

Stop buying into their programming and do the research your self. Its the only way you will ever get the true picture of our government and what they are truly up to.

Does anyone else remember the saying "United we stand, divided we fall" lets all try and remember that before its too late.

Jan,

No president has ever in history done what obama is doing. It will get worst as
time goes on. The country has been down before, But things were done to fix it.
People should think about this as if we had no president at all.

Now think of what the problems are and what a sane person what do about it.
I'm not saying anything against obama, It is what it is. It's just his group
of people want every country on the same level.

Kraven,

There is a reason that I do not participate in the politics forum.

I will not debate this with you. I don't agree with you, but that is ok. I am sure that you feel you are right and I could not, nor will I try to convince you otherwise.

I will just say that as an American I feel I made the right choice when I voted for Obama. I don't think he has done NEARLY enough, but I am hoping for another 4 years.

Jan

I don't want to debate this either, and what you just say is why america is
so great. I'm just worried. Let's drop the politics.