The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politics as we approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility.Now that's a far cry from our typical political discussions these days, isn't it? I read a fair amount on the current political scene, and the one common element on both sides is anger or vituperation. Once one has bought into the demonization of the opposing side, compromise, even civil discussion, can seem immoral.
You see this all the time in online exchanges (on Facebook or wherever). Is it any longer possible to change this trend? The admission that one's indignation is perhaps not as righteous as we like to think is an admission that all of us have great difficulty making. And much of this angst has been manipulated into us, like yeast into a batch of dough. Most of the time these angry declarations are made up entirely of oft-repeated talking-points that are nearly word-for-word borrows from talk radio hosts or our favorite political bloggers.
Now, I have contributed to this trend myself, not infrequently. If hatred or fear motivates our politics, we are swimming in dangerous waters. Suddenly mobs in the street wielding clubs are deemed heroic. People are doxed, people lose jobs over 5-year old Tweets that took the wrong stand on some issue or other. Death-threats and public shaming increase. All middle ground disappears.
Here are the rules of modern political discussion:
- Always depict your opponent's case in the weakest possible manner, making it seem not only ludicrous but quite possibly evil.
- Make fun of your opponent's facial features, body shape, etc.
- Compare everything your opponent says to Naziism.
- Predict utter doom if your opponent's case is implemented or his candidate wins.
- Depict compromise as caving to Fascists.
- Call names.
I've probably done all of these, but I'm going to monitor myself a little more closely from now on. I'm shooting for magnanimity now!
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