I've received a lot of responses on the lawn sign theft which have varied from honestly sympathetic and outraged to somewhat condescending (eg: "You think Democrats don't have anything better to do than go around stealing lawn signs?")
One thing I should be clear on is that I was not implicating any specific Democrats or suggesting that the organization was behind the theft in any way. I am especially not implying that candidate Loeffler or her campaign is involved at any level. What I am implicating are Democrats as a group. The words and socio-political environment they have contributed to creating. I believe that the Democrats have been demonizing their opposition for far too long. Not all Democrats do this, but those who do, do so very viscously and very vocally. I do not see other Democrats respond to or criticize this behavior often enough. It is my view that silently letting this happen is tacitly lending support to it. As Joshua Norton said in a recent web log post: "Take ownership of your principles. Don't let the partisanship of this election alienate you from your beliefs in basic freedoms and the rights of other human beings, no matter which side of this election they're coming down on. Be radical about your principles, not your willingness to violate them." (http://www.noematic.org/mine/archives/011876.html#011876) I know that in the past, when people have used nasty methods to support points I was making, I have sometimes tried to make a point of openly stating that I was not okay with it. It is a natural tendency to lump all followers of a political party into one category. Everyone has some guilt in this regard, including myself. Especially myself. However, recently it feels like more and more Democrats are taking it far past what I feel is acceptable in a mature society. Republicans become "evil". Even though they agree on many positions, Greens are attacked with almost as much acidic hate. These unchecked feelings and words create the environment where lawn signs get stolen, porches get burnt, offices get ransacked, and eventually, violence gets committed. Maybe it was a drunken young adult or a angsty teen who stole the sign, but that person was fueled by something. If they were just being destructive for its own sake, it would have been broken, or peed on, or tossed in the street, or something along that lines. To completely make it go away takes a bit more effort, and implies some level of motivation. For example, perhaps it was a teen who heard their parents or friends talking about how everything we've gone through for the past three and a half years is Nader's fault and simply saw the "Green" on the sign. In any case, I do believe that the root of motivation behind the sign disappearing was most likely fueled by the hate and anger flowing from the individual Democrats towards any who would oppose their party. I believe the philosophies of "this is the most important election ever", "we must do anything we can to win", and "anyone not voting for our candidates is supporting evil" combine to create an environment where people are willing to do more and go further. Many of us (especially angsty boys/men like me) have a natural tendency towards thuggery. By giving that thuggery a justification and a cause, you encourage it and make it acceptable. Even if my personal lawn sign was not taken for that reason, its disappearance catalyzed the thought and analysis of the situation, the consideration of the way I've seen some Democrats treat those who disagree with them, and the silence on the part of their party mates when this occurs. Even if this one incident was not for these reasons, there are enough that are that it needs to be commented on. I've heard of a Republican office being shot at in Knoxville, another ransacked in Florida, another invaded here in the Twin Cities. I've seen Dyna attack anyone who opposes endorsed DFL candidates, even if they are Democrats themselves. I've seen such vitriol from Andy that it made it hard for my to stomach being on the politics lists that he contributes to (I've heard he is a decent person in the "real world" - so why all the hate?) Why so much hate? Why attacking without restraint? Ends justify the means? I'm all for civil disobedience, but part of the message is taking the consequences of the actions, and avoiding violence and hatred during the actions. I'm open to revolution, but if we're going to do it, lets do it, and if we're going to do it, lets do it without forgetting ethics. The minute you start hating your opponent and reduce them from people to enemies, you start being willing to commit crimes - not crimes against the law, but crimes against ethics, against humanity. But to bring it back to the situation at hand: If we're just going to cross the lines of the law a little to harass and intimidate, don't be surprised when it simply feeds the culture of hate and mistrust, the divisions, the harsh responses and reactions, and inevitably, leads to crackdowns and oppressions as people get fed up with these things happening and give law enforcement a broader hand to prevent them. Yes, I realize by holding all Democrats accountable, I am, to an extent, doing the same thing. I feel my action (stating that I hold supporters of the party accountable when they do not condemn feeding the culture of division) is not over any ethical lines and is not building the divisions - just pointing out that they exist. I saying this because it is being done in the name and in support of the Democratic party, and by not condemning your allies just as strongly as you condemn your opponents should they cross the same lines, you are somewhat condoning it. I would feel the same about anyone supporting Greens, Republicans, or whoever, doing these actions. I know many of you would and do as well. I would just like to see a little more of that disapproval come from all sides when people do cross the lines from debate to attack. I am also saying this because I have these tendances as well, and by opposing them in the society around me, I also attempt to discourage them within myself. - Jason Goray Sheridan, NE http://www.xanga.com/rphaedrus _______________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Declare Yourself - Register online to vote today! http://vote.yahoo.com REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
