...and recognizing the 'person behind the politics'
Reading the recent contributions to the politics forum, it would seem there is a crisis of identity and labeling among polarized liberal and conservative factions that has resulted in the loss of a few basic truths. The most important truth is that we're all here for the long-haul, so we'd better get used to the company. To marginalize the 'representatives' of both left and right as enemies or impediments to one's political agenda ignores the central fact that in the democracy, your so called enemies are the political agenda. We had better learn to start viewing each other as people, and not merely as purveyors of ideology. The second most important truth is that our similarities vastly outnumber our differences. This is true both politically and personally. If Americans weren't in the same boat politically, they wouldn't be able to work within the same political system. When 'liberal' and 'conservative' are given absolute meaning in defining human beings at the exclusion of other traits, personal character is overrun by a torrent of idelogical cliche. The overemphasis on political viewpoint in describing a person is counterproductive, immoral and hostile to the truth.
The sad reality in America is that political polarazation is a rising trend. Moreso than ever, people live in politically homogenous communities and have less exposure to those other political persuasions. Unable to supply our own faces to words like 'liberal' or 'conservative', we look at our fears and not to our hearts and minds to supply the missing images. We subscribe to a game of two party politics that thrives upon leading us to hold each other in contempt. For the politician who would villainize the oposition, there lies an immediate political gain... and a long term and unforseen detriment to civil society. The truth, once expressed to the best of its ability by independent media, can no longer be contained under the umbrella of political neutrality. We seek media sources that deliver the news and information we want to hear, and become offended by political spin we deem objectionable. Moreover, we fear that the other may indoctrinate so called 'clueless masses', that the public might be lost to the ideas and politics we take as granted truths. We question the ability of our political opposition to think for themselves, and suggest that their minds are somehow flawed and susceptible. Yet even flawed and susceptible minds are valid contibuters to the democratic dialogue.
Looking at one's self and discovering one's hypocrisies, misjudgements, and misconceptions can be an difficult and uncomfortable process that is greatly impeded by our own identification as righteous and worthy individuals. Much more important than seeing our flaws, I believe, is seeing and recognizing the positive qualities in other people. Therein lies the intent of my post. I offer a simple exercize to those who might wish to comment. Look through the ranks of your friends, family, and close aquaintances, and find the real faces of liberalism and conservatism. Set politics aside, put your judgements to rest, and concentrate on the positive and endearing qualities of the individual. Refrain from identifying this person as part of a larger movement such as 'The Left' or 'The Religious Right'. An individual stands alone. Give them the benefit of the doubt, and try to understand where they are coming from. If you don't have anything nice to say about this person, move to someone else. There is nothing wrong with a little constructive criticism if you feel alienated by this person. Everyone should have an example of someone with strongly opposing political beliefs who they admire as a person.
I am lucky. My maternal family is staunchly conservative and republican, and my paternal family is very liberal and democratic. I know the faces of liberalism and conservatism, and I know that they do not corespond to what politicians and the media want me to know. I have friends and family in Texas and south, and friends and family in Massachusettes and New England. I will pick a pair of anonymous individuals from each 'political persuasion'.
Liberal: This individual is an artist and a small business owner. He is intense, hard working, with an engaging social demeanor. He has a very strong persona that has brought a great deal of joy to many people. He is responsible, intelligent, and very cynical of politicians, but always gives the people he contacts their due respect and the benefit of the doubt. He is not patriotic, and extremely anti-traditional. He has a strong technical and musical mind. He is very positive, and full of wisdom, although he is often unable to see his own faults. Sometimes his wisdom comes off as naiive cliche. Sometimes his 'openmindedness' can come across as judgemental and alienating, but make no mistake, he has a very open mind about people, and always tries to see the best.
Liberal: This individual is youthful, socially minded, materialistic, and hard working. She is an amazingly graceful and competent people's person. She is bilingual and musical. She works with a sense of pride for her contribution to society. She has an excellent aesthetic sense, loves decorating, organizing, and taking charge of things. She operates on the surface, but is hardly shallow. She is idealistic and very conscientious.
Conservative: This individual is a joy to be around. He is smart, athletic, idealistic, tolerant, anti-democrat and neoconservative. He can be occasionally whiny, but its always endearing, never abrasive. He has a kind heart. He doesn't take himself too seriously, but is 100% his own person. He loves to keep things civil and easy-going, though he admittedly relishes his evil machiavellian side, so that it can become difficult to distinguish how seriously he actually takes his politics.
Conservative: This individual is very traditional and old fashioned in her social outlook. Paradoxically, she is also anti-traditional in that she is a divorced and retired woman who is often very unsympathetic to men. She is warm and generous, and a great hostess in the traditional sense. She keeps others in her thoughts and is always happy for your company, although she can be quite judgemental at times, and latches on to insufficient impressions of people. She has raised two children, and is an advocate of conformity to social norms, which gives her an expansive air of bourgeois affluence. She is a large person in more ways than one. She has a wonderful eye for the humerous in everyday life.
There, and in any comments you may wish to submit, are the faces of liberalism and conservatism. These are the people that are slandered by broad generalizations derived from the media and political dialogue when people try to paint the characters of people with a political paintbrush. And because of them, I refuse to believe nearly all of the misconceived notions circulating at this forum over what constitutes a liberal and what constitutes a conservative. My other intention is to briefly remind everyone that the primary factor in determining one's political identity is family and upbringing. When we know and trust people who express one opinion, we begin to trust that opinion and those who hold it. Perhaps we trust them too much, and don't allow ourselves to break from these early notions of political identity. Whatever the case, if you are a liberal and are worried about dating a republican, get to know the person before jumping to conclusions based on that persons affinity for George Bush. If you are a conservative and think liberals are what you claim they are on this forum, you'd better go find some real ones.