A few weeks ago I joined a group of conservative bloggers called The Wide Awakes. It has put me in touch with the more extreme elements on both the left and the right side of the map. It really opened my eyes to just how extreme things can get. In fact, much of it has shifted my judgment on all things political as of late. It has warped my fragile little mind.
The first thing I noticed was how many people out there felt the need to hate this group for their convictions. Yes, many people call them trolls, others moonbats and still others just plain lefties. It has disturbed me to the point of taking common observations for the conservative point of view. Part of that has to do with seeing the most extreme on both the left and the right.
Being that the group I joined has many voices on the extreme right of the spectrum I started thinking a bit more from that side of the street than I had in the past. I started looking at the left and saw nothing more than bitterness, anger and hate. It really pissed me off and I expressed my views in type. It may have been a bit too extreme for some people, but it is how I felt.
Not surprisingly, these views and feelings have disturbed some of my left minded friends. Somehow they feel betrayed or let down that I would disparage them in the way that I have. If I have destroyed our relationship I am sorry. I'm not sorry for the words I have written though. They stand firm on many accounts and in particular the way it appears to have chapped their hides that I would put out such articles.
Well, I'm here to say that I'm not the only one guilty of offense. I have waded through harsh comments, unforgiving criticism and unabashed hate speech on many that I have considered close friends. In many aspects I feel betrayed by friends.
Frankly, I'm coming clean on my viewpoints on things. Some of the things I have written as of late were unfair. Although they were not meant to encompass everyone on the left or right some felt that I was making direct attacks against them. They were mistaken. It's not the first time someone has been mistaken when I've spoken about the left. I really don't get how I'm just supposed to sit there and take it and not write counter arguments, not get irritated, not get pissed off.
You see, this is my big problem. I don't fit perfectly on either side of the tracks. Both sides tend to hate each other and I get stuck pissing off one side or the other. Maybe I should just quit blogging politically? How about it I just stick to stupid things like movie reviews or silly memes or something?...No, I have a reason for being here. It's for the centralist viewpoint. It's to provide the argument you can't get with only left or right. Sometimes I'm left, sometimes I'm right as well. I don't fit into your box. If you can't tolerate a viewpoint other than your own you don't need to come by. Lord knows I've tolerated others viewpoints.
Speaking of viewpoints: In my next article - My perceptions on what the ACLU is, was and will become. Jay isn't going to like it one bit...
Really people, these are just ideas. Stop getting your panties in a bunch.
MOST peope are centrists, and that should not be confused with fense sitting. In my view, people who occupy either extreme of the political spectrum feed on one-another's contemptuous bile. Most people are willing to listen to both sides of an argument before making a judgment, which in my view is the mark of an intelligent human being. Because most people live in the center, extremists run the risk of losing support from MOST Americans. At least, that's how I see it.
Posted by: Mustang at May 15, 2005 06:17 PMJust write what you think. No one is forced to read it. If they get bent out of shape, thats their problem. Don't try to tailor yourself. Just my two cents.
Posted by: Tran Sient at May 15, 2005 08:22 PMI agree with TS. Write what you think. If it is controversial, so be it. If it is contrary to Conservative doctrine, so be it. As the saying goes "be true to yourself."
Me, I have a whole slew of faked photos that I have not posted, because they felt to be more pandering then what I really liked. So no one has seen them, and no one ever will. Believe in what you write and post. I do. And I believe in what you write. That's why I keep coming back, whether I always agree on not.
Posted by: William Teach at May 15, 2005 08:30 PMI was hoping you would tell us this, I have been a little worried about you moving toward the extremist right, since you joined the wide awakes. I am glad to hear some logic on this....
Jess
Your token Leftist reader.
Whats wrong with us today? Are we feeling soft?
Posted by: Jay at May 16, 2005 12:14 AMGood to hear that you are who you are. It is the experence that brings different points of view.
Posted by: Michael at May 16, 2005 02:30 AMCan you come fix my panties for me? Oh nevermind, I'm sure there's a government program I can apply to that will do that for me. ;)
Posted by: Ogre at May 16, 2005 07:26 AMThe extreme of one is nearly identical to the extreme of the other. Nazism ~ Communism; they just differ by the authors of their favorite books.
Jeremy sir: please think what you think and write what you write. That's why you're such a neat addition to the blogosphere. TMH's unsolicited advice:
(1) If some of your lefty friends don't like you anymore for some of your conservative views, then they're not worthy of your time. Let them go sip their Kool Aid.
I know what that's like: I had a batch of real close college buddies, but most of them turned into full-blown moonbats and couldn't deal with my "Bush-Cheeney 2000" bumperstickers, so I said Ta-Ta. (Otay, the feelings were mutual.) However, my great High School buddies who did the same major-leftward dive: we've got more history, more tollerance, deeper love for each other. Ergo, I'm still great buds with most of them. (...though some I'd probably need to slay as trolls in an instant if I met them in the anonymity of the b'sphere.)
(2) If your rightie friends (and us TWAs) can't accept your individuality and good-naturedly engage you when they disagree, then likewise, f*ck 'em.
You are surely more than the sum of your left-right views. Don't apologize.... opine! ;-)
Very well-written and well thought out piece, Jeremy. There is still a long journey ahead, and I see this is a true battle in the war of ideas. I love the blog, I love what you write, whether or not I agree. The fact that we still live in a country where we can agree to disagree and thank God nobody's not killed in the process--that is something still worth celebrating.
Posted by: Cao at May 17, 2005 07:04 PM