(subtitled: We have to do better)

I thought I'd go visit my pals at NW Republican, see what kind of fun the little scamps are up to (anonymously). But there's no fun there at all. A couple of posts taken from some blogspot site called "The Oregonian" which has nothing to do with the paper (not necessarily something to be proud of). Lots of spinning. Lots of wishful thinking. Lots of attacks on people like Merkely, Kitz, John Edwards, anyone who votes Democrat, people who don't think the war is about to be won.

The usual crap.

What gets me down, though, is that we who are not of the right (the center and left) do much the same. Taunts, jeers, jibes, gloating, etc. The trouble is when you have material like this, it's hard not to say something. Jesus Christ, the fucker has helped kill tens of thousands of people, and we're supposed to be nice?

Well, no. Of course not. Cheney is a war criminal and traitor. But the Americans who support this war are not; they are good Americans, just as I am. Are they fools? Dupes? Blind? Not gonna say. That's where the line gets crossed: judging people I don't know. Cheney I do know. His words and actions are clear and present (as in danger), and his guilt is established beyond doubt. Those few remaining Americans who give Bush approving marks to the polls: I don't know them. They make me sad, fill me with astonishment and sometimes anger. I'm going to assume they mean well.

And then there's all the people running around making noises. The ones who have no regard for the concept of respect — on either side. It is frikkin hard to speak of the ugliness of political opponents and remain respectful. The people at NW Republican: I want to be respectful because of my values. They do not merit respect, however, not from me. They hide their identities, which allows them to say whatever they want, with little basis for doing so other than it makes them feel good. How can I respect that?

But I can respect myself and the general concept of humanity. Like my mom said (her 74th birthday would have been Wednesday), consider the source. Yup, Mom, you're right. No need to respond in kind; that just diminishes me. We all know that cliche, but most of us seem to ignore it. It's so easy to do online, too: you have this easy forum, an occasional audience, a chance to prove how cool you are. Slap some nasties onto the screen, hit submit, and Bob's yer uncle.

You're a dick.

I don't want to be a dick, and I don't want to walk that road. But jayzus, some of these people just make that soooo hard. I guess I can hold my (virtual) tongue, not say what comes so easily and just sit back and feel superior. And try to figure out how to get others on "my" side to show the same (quietly smug) restraint.