Jim
things should be taken in context , and I'm not sure I understand the full scope of what was said ....I can not believe that Palin , or anybody else for that matter , is calling to arms to win an election ......
Are guns popular there ?
Is hunting popular there ?
Is carrying a firearm popular there ?
As far as I'm concerned , life is dangerous , and you have to be taught to steer clear of that which will harm you . That means being exposed to all the germs so you can build up anti-bodys , and resistance to them .
Gosh, Frank, I'm not sure where to start...
Since you used a story to illustrate your beliefs, perhaps a true, personal story might serve as a beginning: when I was in college back in the 1970's I befriended an art major who became the boyfriend of a lady I knew. He became my best friend, we were inseparable for many years until the inevitable relocations separated us geographically, me in TX and him in PA. I was back in KS 10 years ago and just on a whim called his mother, asking about him, and within half an hour he was on the phone to me. How cool! We were instantly sympatico again....until the election of "Bee-OH!". He was never politically "involved", but like all of us he has political beliefs, and his didn't agree with the majority of Americans in the last election. He became bitter and angry, almost impossible to be around. It seemed he was preoccupied with the political changes to the exclusion of all else. Loved ones around him, and friends, were unable to reduce his angst.......but, having been a good friend for such a long time, I continued to tolerate his incessant outbursts against Obama's "socialist" leanings......until one day, he was talking about buying a high-powered rifle. Now, this guy had served in Vietnam, and I remember very well his pacifist leanings, so this was a shock to me, and even further perplexing b/c I know he is not a hunter. Finally, I asked him why he wanted a rifle when he doesn't hunt and of course I got the full diatribe regarding the government's intent to abolish private citizens' right to own arms....we discussed and debated the Constitution and how difficult that would be for any president to accomplish, but in the end what really creeped me out was a comment he made during one of our discussions, he said he wanted to be able to "....reach out and touch someone". I was speechless, this was a lifelong friend who to my knowledge had never wished anyone any harm, and yet here he was "promoting" armed violence against those with whom he disagreed. My concern was further heightened when I found an "open letter" to Obama in one of his art journals...filled with hatred and obvious infatuation with the idea that Obama is a prime candidate for assasination. Now I have no doubt in my mind that if Obama is ever assassinated my "ex-friend" will have had something to do with it. I mentioned to him how much I longed to have the "old Mike" back, and his response was the "old Mike" would return when the war with the current administration is over. I broke off all contact with him and have not spoken to him for over a year now, and this was the individual who I considered the best friend I had in my whole life. I watched as he was changed by the inflamatory rhetoric in the news media (Fox News Network, particularly) and in the "conservative" internet groups to which he belongs. So, I for one can attest to the changes that can be wrought in what seemed like "stable" individuals by the combative rhetoric the right wing has used since a "left-leaning" president was elected by the people of the US. Never underestimate the power of the media, both positive and negative. The radical right has deprived me of the best friend I ever had.....
The "don't retreat , reload , and aim for Democrats = could have been said - don't feel defeated , regroup , and vote them out of office . ... not her style .....And listen to our president ? wouldn't do that , He's a politician , If his lips are moving , he's lying !
Sure, what Palin meant "COULD HAVE BEEN SAID" in a manner in which you mentioned......but as for it not being Palin's style, I call BS on your assertion. Palin is a gun toting (not that there is anything wrong with that) "patriot", and any rhetoric that involves "reload and aim" to me seems to smack of incitement to violence to me, and I'm easy going and non-violent in nature. It could EASILY do so for someone with the mentally twisted views that the perpetrator of these senseless attacks is becoming well known for.
As for your warning not to listen to Obama's words, b/c by virtue of being a politician they are lies, I'd again call BS on you.....I happen to like Obama for having carried through on many of his campaign promises, he has gotten "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" effectively repealed, like he promised (regardless of what your opinion is regarding whether that is advisable or not), he managed to get health care reform implemented, like he promised, he got us out of Iraq (well, MOSTLY out), in strict opposition to the intentions of his oponent, like he promised. Sure, politicians twist and otherwise distort the truth at times, but it is not just this politician, it is ALL politicians. That makes our president no better than any other possible choice, but also makes him no worse in that respect.
I like the current rhetoric regarding both political parties working together rather than being so polarized, but when the emotion of this sad event that brought so many "enemies" to think alike is over, I have no doubt that the political parties will return to their previous practices. The only bright spot in this is that the House is now controlled by the Republicans, which means that in order to get ANYTHING done there will have to be some, however minimal, cooperation and compromise between parties.
As for the inflamatory rhetoric practiced by the radical right wing "news" organizations (and I use that term hesitantly), as long as they continue to practice their beliefs that they can say whatever they want with impunity, there will be highly impressionable individuals on both sides of the fence within our society who will feel "empowered" to commit acts of senseless violence such as we have witnessed in Arizona in the name of "patriotism".
Cheers from Doug!!!
