Nobody's Right if Everybody's Wrong

This is a line from one of my favorite songs, Buffalo Springfield’s anti-war hit, “For What it’s Worth.” For what it is worth, I find this song speaks volumes to us today. There are so many people speaking and while many are speaking of peace and unity, many others are promoting fear, anger, paranoia, prejudice and hate. And worse yet, some in position of power and influence are inciting people to act out in anger and hate. I am not here to deny anyone the right to bear arms, but if we love our country, if we are Patriots and we love fellow Americans, why would want to raise guns against them. We are fortunate to live in a free society, but are we really free if we have to have guns to feel secure?

The one thing I have stated in several of my previous blogs was my concern that the promotion of rebellion will provoke violence. Michelle Bachmann encourages violent revolution, Glenn Beck uses imagery of the Nazi’s to promote his agenda and Sean Hannity has at one time posted a poll on the best way to overthrow a nation. A message needs to be sent to these people that we will not be taken in with talk of hate and fear. This election was won fair and was won with a good margin of victory. I have said before, if we value democracy we MUST accept the outcome of an election. I had to stomach eight years of Bush and never did I think ill of him. We can’t rally into revolution just because we don’t like that our “team” didn’t win.

Last week our nation suffered two mass shootings. One man was Anti-American; a man who was tired of being ridiculed for his poor English. The other was afraid President Obama is going to take away his right to bear arms. Ironically, both these men gave a really good reason for the anti-gun cause. Let me reiterate-A man shot three police officers in protest, because he feared a gun ban. For if there were stricter rules on gun ownship thirteen people in Binghamton, NY will be alive and three police officers in Pittsburgh will go home to their families. Is this acceptable to all those who shout rallies of revolution and revolt? Does this sit well with Michelle Bachmann, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity? Is this really what they want, our valuable police officers to be gunned down? I mean, really?

I do believe the real blame is the media. Here’s my call to the media and pundits. SHUT UP! Personally, I do not believe we should have commenters and pundits. Look, I don’t care about your personal spin on politics, I want the news. The real news, not someone’s twisted version. I don’t want journalists to “guess” what will happen. And secondly, if you need “the American people to decide” then you are not doing your job. It is not the American public’s responsibility to sort through crap to get to the truth. If you have nothing intelligent to say, then say nothing. And if you need to call out for revolution, then you must accept the responsibility for any bloodshed.

The question I ask all Americans; Republicans, Democrats, the media-What is it worth? What in the heck are we doing? For what is it worth I think it is important we all take responsibility. Let’s evaluate our individual behavior on how we treat our neighbors, our views on society and the country. Instead of condemning our neighbor, we should open our hearts. If we learn, there is nothing to fear from one another, than perhaps many would not feel it necessary to cuddle up with an automatic shotgun at night. It is fear, not bravery that makes us cling to our guns.