rumitoid

Cut and paste from http://www.patheos.com/blogs/teachingnonviolentatonement/2014/07/why-i-hope-ann-coulter-is-right-soccer-and-the-moral-decay-of-the-united-states/

Referencing Ann Coulter and her recent insane diatribe about soccer.)
"But we liberals won’t ignore her – nor do we really want her to disappear. As we become scandalized by Coulter, we gain a sense of righteous and moral indignation in our opposition to her. The more she opposes us, the more we oppose her. In fact, in our mutual opposition, we believe the exact same thing about Coulter that she believes about us. We think she is the one who is causing the nation’s moral decay.

"Both sides are caught up in what René Girard calls a mimetic rivalry. Each side defensively imitates the other in mutual accusations of immorality. Whereas each side believes it is different than the other, that it is fundamentally good and the other is fundamentally bad, both sides are actually guided by the same spirit of hostility and opposition.

"All in the name of moral goodness.

"That’s why I hope Coulter is right. I hope that the nation is experiencing a moral decay, at least the decay of morals that defines itself as “good” in opposition to “bad.” Morals are a good thing, of course. I teach my children that killing, stealing, and lying are bad and that compassion, sharing, and honesty are good.

"But morals are also very dangerous. Emphasizing morals – behaviors that are good or bad – can quickly lead to moralism. Moralism is toxic because it binds one group of “good guys” in opposition to another group of “bad guys.” It’s a trap because each side of the rivalry for goodness genuinely believes that it is good and that the other is bad – and both sides engage the other with the same bitter hostility, which only proves to each side that they are good and moral while the other is bad and immoral."

Non-moral solutions by Christ: compassion, love, mercy, and forgiveness.

rumitoid

The problem with this thread is that it strikes too many too close to home. It mercilessly reveals their "moral superiority" for what it is: just a sincere delusion used to freely express their fear and hate. Their supposed "immoral" opposite is in heart their identical twin.

JMHO Loc: Utah

Go back on drugs, or vacation...or both.

rumitoid

I expected even less response: cuts too close to the bone for many, those on the right and left whose highest idea of dialogue and deepest political insight is summarized here: "You're a poo-poo head!" "No, you're a poo-poo head." And "you're" will be most likely misspelled by both "your."

Maybe seven out of ten threads will be reduced to this pathetic rubble by the Haters. So few can respond to this truth of mimetic rivalry because they are exposed in all their troll-like hideousness.

We have to take back the day and stop letting these destructive few ruin any and all chance for open conversation and reasoned compromise.

at41

I agree. I hope that we can have one topic that can be debated on it's merits and not be trashed by a group of low information voters.

cant beleve Loc: Planet Kolob

Problem is,the human condition makes us choose sides.like prison,we find comfort and safety,with like minded individuals. I don't see this disappearing. Maybe arrested for a time,but deep down,we are all prisoners to the human condition. And no one is ever 100% right. Never.

rumitoid

Good point. We allow the debate and future of America to be derailed by the Haters who can only insult, misdirect, obfuscate, and tear down. They offer no solutions, only division. It is astonishing that so many here join in. Maybe it is mass hysteria or just wanting acceptance. Or maybe they fear being reasonable with the opposition as being seen as betrayal. But these hateful and fearful "squeaky wheels" are drowning out all efforts to maintain, strengthen, and enhance our country's present and future for no other reason than their pettiness. This is totally down the rabbit hole, yet usually business here for some ungodly reason.

rumitoid

You are right about human nature, yet we do not have to give in to the baser instincts of fear, certainty, safety, comfort, and control. Not a single Civilization that has ever existed, including ours, liked or tolerated the person who thought for themselves or followed their own convictions. Conformity was vital and foremost. Anything less was a lack of patriotism, suspicious behavior warranting surveillance, or outright treason.

rumitoid

Mimetic rivalry so totally captures the vacuous nature of too many exchanges at OPP, few can comment. Their foolishness and mean-spiritedness is laid bare. No escape. They are clearly seen for the slaves to hate, fear, and divisiveness that they are. OW! Nothing to hide behind, no misdirection possible: enemies of humanity and thought and spirit.

rumitoid

For those who may actually view the posts to this thread: notice the complete inability to respond, reasonably or the usual otherwise. The Haters are naked on both sides, have no cover, revealed for their utter smallness of mind. Yet smallness of mind may or may not be the root. Honest fear for the country and a passion for it to both survive and thrive could drive even the most ignorant and virulent of posts, making them appear mindless vessels of hate but people who are just frustrated and frightened lovers of the American ideals.

JMHO Loc: Utah

Why can't we all get along...tip toe through the tulips...have some more weed...blah, blah, blah.

Liberals are not interested in an honest debate, unless they agree with you. They're extremely narrow-minded and it's their way, or the highway. Never met a liberal who was interested in a real discussion of the facts. They drink the Kool-Aid and wallow in the LSM biased left news broadcasts. They condemn Fox News because it is fair and balanced, right down the middle with the exception of a couple commentators, in fact they have more liberal employees than they do conservatives. But, the liberals don't see that, they watch a snippet of Hannity, and Fox News is automatically labeled right-wing. Never mind that O'Reilly, Kelly, Van Susteren, Cavuto, et al are actually moderates.

Liberals don't provide facts, only left-wing propaganda they deem facts...and, their eyes are closed to any differing argument. Like my died in the wool registered Democrat Dad used to say about the National Enquirer, "if it wasn't the truth, they wouldn't print it."

Then, there are the moderates...the fence sitters. They have no core values or beliefs, they just stick their finger up in the air and go with the wind.

I am a conservative, and as Reagan once said "the Democrat Party left me." Carter was the last Democrat I voted for...being a naval officer at the time, I thought a Naval Academy graduate and nuclear trained naval officer is what we needed for a president at the time. I couldn't have been more wrong. At least Carter was an honest man. I was pretty much apolitical until Clinton came along. I just could not believe there were enough ignorant low-information voters in this country that would elect a do nothing lying sexual pervert from a hick state like Arkansas to the presidency...I was wrong. I disliked Clinton, but I did not hate him...I will give him credit in that he was smart enough to move more to the middle to get bills passed, one thing this phony president we currently have will not do. I voted for Bush, and I supported the war in Iraq because it put the war against radical Islam on their soil, not ours. But, I did not support his views on immigration and deficit spending. And, after about 6 years of the LSM's relentless attacks on Bush, they started taking their toll...and, his biggest mistake was not addressing them and defending himself. Then along comes a mulatto who can give an arousing speech (using a teleprompter), who has zilch experience in almost anything other than community organizing. A man whose mentors are the radicals, and communists Saul Alinsky (also had ties with Frank Nitty, of the Al Capone mob) and Frank Marshal Davis. And, his friends were the radical black liberation espouser Reverend Wright and the terrorist Bill Ayers. A man who said exactly what he was going to do if elected, but the low information voter didn't pay any attention because of white guilt. I did my homework on this man, and knew exactly what he was going to do...it was not hard to figure out, that is if one did any real research on him. Hmmmmm research, now there is a term that is new to a liberal. Now, look what we have; the most scandal ridden president ever, a man who couldn't lead horse to water, a man who doesn't give a damn about this country and can't destroy it fast enough, a man who is a narcissist, a sociopath, a pathological liar, is lazy, and I don't care what any one says, he is an elitist, and a socialist (in fact a borderline Marxist). He doesn't care about the poor, or the middle class...in fact he is trying to destroy the middle class, and he is succeeding. I've disliked presidents in my time, but I never hated one until this phony jerk came along.

So, liberals, if you don't like my posts, don't read them, because I will call you for what you really are.

Loki Loc: Georgia

The only thing I have found scandalous about Ms. Coulter is her former support for Chris Christie, and her continuing excuses for Karl Rove.

Snoopy

JMHO

No truer words have been written.

Snoopy

Vacaman

A spade is a spade.

LindaLegg

Altho' labeling groups as good or bad may by non-productive, it is essential for a moral person to judge behavior as good (aligned with ones moral values) or bad (destructive) - esp. one's own behavior. I agree it is easy to fall into traps like name-calling, but if I think someone's behavior is immoral, why can't I voice it? If I see something that's not right, why shouldn't I stand up and say so? As I recall, Jesus confronted people (like the Pharisees) who were doing wrong and leading people away from God. He didn't just sit there quietly trying to "get along".