To the Editor,
I have been quite entertained with the back and forth that began with Bob Meade sending a website to Marty proving the persecution of Christians (probably Fox Howler Todd Starnes' site GodlessAmerica). Russ Wiles doesn't like Marty's answer and Steve Earle thinks Marty is stupid and Dale Channing Eddy thinks we should stop the name calling. So, what is name calling? Firstly, they are labels meant to degrade and diminish someone's worth so name calling isn't just calling someone a stupid libtard or a hallucinating conservatard. It actually covers considerably more territory. What is the difference between Steve Earle calling Marty stupid and Russ Wiles calling Obama a lawless dictator? There is no difference because they are untrue to begin with. None of us are stupid and Obama isn't a dictator or a fascist or a socialist except as defined in the New Huckabee Conservatard Dictionary. And what of Dale Channing Eddy who wants us to stop calling people names but then takes a break midway in that same letter - in parentheses - to call Obama incompetent? Using a word in a way that doesn't fit its definition in the dictionary is name calling because his opinion is hyperbole, not fact based. The stock market is at 17,000, Iraq war is ended, unemployment at lowest since recession, the child immigration surge is over, the deficit has been cut in half (Reagan tripled it), and we have far more healthcare options now shows a competence that passes the test. In fact, he has accomplished much more than the religious fundamentalists or economic libertarians wanted. Its been a "disaster" for the fringes.
And how about those who accuse others of being hateful just because the other person incinerates their ideas in a not so congenial way? That is name calling too because none of us are really hateful. Possibly contemptuous, disdaining, disrespecting, and angry maybe, but its not hate. Hate is black. People often project too much of their own way of thinking on to others' letters; psychological projection is a weakness that has no place in a debate. So when you use labels within what we consider our opinions, you can be just as offensive and wrongheaded and name calling as someone who uses gutter talk like stupid or heartless scumbag. Its all about painting someone with distortions and misinformation. These methods are all of the same species so lets not pretend they aren't. False accusations, deliberate mislabeling, and trash talking are all just siblings of the same family meant to degrade and insult. Its all name calling. In fact, who can call me anything you want. Everyone does it in their own way from behind the mighty keyboard. Just ask those barking dogs at Fox.
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