More Food for Thought 1
Doug Thompson:
In the past, I’ve been guilty of contributing to the anger that makes rational debate impossible. I was wrong and I’m sorry I did so. I can’t change the past, although I intend to go back and edit what I have written before, but I can use the future and this web site to try and promote civility and coalition building for a better America.
Because when all is said and done we’re not really conservatives or liberals or moderates. We’re not really Democrats or Republicans or Libertarians or any other stereotyped political label.
I must add one qualifier–my qualifier, not Mr. Thompson’s: This applies only insofar as one accepts underlying American values. To the extent one does not, one places him- or herself outside of this playing field.
April 1, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Maybe we will see more of this kind of attitude. For too long, conservatives played Bob Michel-style politics, where they were too submissive and too apologetic about their views. Liberals got too used to this in the 40 years of congressional control and we had an entire generation of liberals who were not used to having their views seriously questioned. Ronald Reagan and Rush Limbaugh finally convinced conservatives to at least stand up for what they believe in, and it swung the mood of the country, but in the process both sides got so combative that all they wanted to do was defeat someone, not persuade them. When we learn that real debate is the art of persuasion, not denigration, we’ll be in a better position for progress.