I think that what Jay said earlier is worth repeating:
As long as both sides continue to stubbornly cling to the idea that the other side is to be demonized, eliminated, destroyed, etc., then there is no battle to be fought…we have all lost already. The comments on this article betray many on the right and left as perpetual projectors of stereotypes, misinformation and propaganda that comes not from reason and discourse but from demagogues, mistrust and hatred. It’s time to step up to the plate and act like adults and cease the name calling and idle pursuit of one conspiracy after another. The greatness of this nation is measured in the hearts, minds and souls of all of her people. This overwhelming push among some to eliminate the other, to stamp out dissent and to seek to discredit by any means necessary precludes dialogue and pushes us headlong into willful ignorance and defeatism. My father used to always tell us kids that a rush to judgment was wrong and that everyone was owed the benefit of a doubt. The benefit of believing that despite our differences we are all decent, caring and loving people. I’m glad he raised me that way and will never stop believing that about my fellow Americans. When is that last time you said that? MY Fellow Americans. Has a great ring to it, doesn’t it.
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Yeats had a couple lines in “The Second Coming” that have stuck with me. “The best lack all conviction; The worst are full of passionate intensity.”
