Spin Cycle: Opinionated

This week's Spin Cycle is about opinions, a topic which sent a stab of worry through my heart. Because, while I have many, very strong opinions, I HATE to argue. Because my opinions are seldom reached through an intellectual thought process, but are purely visceral. I FEEL my opinions, and get extremely emotional when I'm disagreed with. I hate it when I get opinionated and on my high-horse, but often don't seem able to stop myself.

When I first started this blog, I swore that I would NOT become political, and I have vehemently stuck to this vow. I've always described my political leanings as just right of bleeding heart liberal. But I'm not sure if that's truly accurate. In many ways (fiscal issues, government interference, stay-at-home-momming), I'm fairly conservative. But in the larger-view issues of human rights, civil rights and social justice, I'm a staunch lefty. My biggest issue in this past election was in support of same-sex marriages - something I believe to be about basic human rights.

Add into this my Catholicism, and I guess my opinions are a pretty mixed bag. I personally, don't believe in abortion, but I also don't believe that any government should dictate a woman's reproductive freedom. I believe that a government telling a woman that she MUST have a child is as frightening as a government telling a woman she must NOT have a child. Which is worse, pro- or anti-natal, Romania or China? Both horrifying examples for society. I don't believe in capital punishment, but for what I think of as "conservative", "Christian" reasons - I don't believe it's up to us mere human beings to dole out that kind of punishment. WWJD? Well, we know what He would do. Forgive. Turn the other cheek. Duh. That said, I am not stupid enought to believe that if I was (GOD FORBID) faced with a situation where someone had murdered someone I love, this opinion might not do an elegant 360.

Okay. Ehehehehehheheh. I just got a chill, because I know I've just offended somebody, and I HATE that. And I TRULY believe that everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion, not just because it's a right guaranteed us as Americans, but because it's simply right.

I believe that the most offensive stance that a person can take is one of absolute authority. I think that one of the major elements that has divided our nation over the past two decades has been the influence of the partisan media. Someone like Rush Limbaugh or, on the left, Bill Maher, spout their political beliefs with little or no respect for the other side (Maher - little, Limbaugh - no), and the belief that they are absolutely right, and anyone with an opposing belief is simply stupid. Anyone on the other side of an issue is ridiculed and jeered. Hatred is sown. And people hear these pundits spout their opinions and don't bother to find out if they are actually facts. Sarcasm and mean-spiritedness rule.

So, do they have the right under our Freedom of Speech to deliberately breed descent? They certainly have a right to have an opinion and to voice it. But where is the line between opinion and sedition? Between expressing yourself and hate mongering?

I'm always so upset when someone makes knee-jerk assumptions about someone from another party, or places derisive labels on them. I have one close Republican friend who always jokingly refers to me as a "Commie", which might be humorous if I didn't think he actually believes it to be true. I find it so offensive to assume that someone who's a Democrat doesn't believe in Democracy. Or that someone who doesn't want to see thousands of young Americans die in a war is "un-American" or doesn't "support the troops". Offensive. On the other hand, it's offensive for people on the left to assume that Republicans are "fascists" or that they're heartless and uncaring because they believe in tightening up the welfare system, or they're  "warmongers" for supporting the war, or that they're "racists" because they believe in tightening up our borders. Offensive.

Politics in America used to be very different. Democrats and Republicans used to sit down and have friendly debates over a couple of drinks. My father, though a registered Democrat, voted Republican about half the time. The horrible divisive nature of our current two-party system wasn't there. People had respect for the other party. And for each others divergent opinions. I have tremendous respect for someone like George Will, who may have beliefs that differ from mine, but who is respectful and responsible in expressing those beliefs. I'm a regular reader of Lawyer Mom, who, though we disagree in many ways on political issues, is smart and open-minded and thoughtful.

So, where am I going with all this? What's my opinion on opinions?

In the infamous words of Rodney King "Can't we all just get along?" Must it be us against them? Can't we see the good and learn from the differences? Can't we just respect each other?

Sigh. Let's hope our the our children's generation is able to move beyond labels and party names.

But that's only my opinion.

For other opinions about Opinions, visit the Spin Cycle at Sprite's Keeper.

Comments

[Viki]

I used to be a real news junkie but the last few months I've hardly watched the news at all. I just can't stand the pundits anymore. Every thing is so slanted this way or that way. I pretty much agree with your views. Although I've been guilty of calling someone a warmonger LOL. We really need to fix the economy, HEALTHCARE and other stuff. It's time for the congress to start working together be it democrat or republican and compromise. You are a brave woman ;0)

[Tater Mama]

Well said!

[Jan]

I, too, adamantly stayed away from all things political for a very long time and I still don't express my opinions very often, but when I do I explain why. I've only been flamed about my opinion once, and it was really no big deal.

Now religion is something else all together - I stay far, far away from that one and it may be another 2 years before I broach the subject.

[Sarah at themommylogues]

I hate some conflict/controversy myself, but I think the Bible's pretty clear on the issues. We are to treat each other like Christ would. With love. END OF STORY. How does it all get so messed up?

It seems like we're in such a negative age. The "Church" is known more for what they're against than what they're for. Politics is more about defeating the other party than actually getting something done. Ugh.

I'm excited that we've recently moved and found ourselves in a church that's main focus is loving people and serving them. And politics? I hardly even follow anymore. Too irritating.

[The Bug]

We're definitely on the same page - no controversy here. My husband & I have often said that, although we don't want children, we'd never be able to have an abortion (we've been VERY careful & lucky LOL). But, like you, I don't think I'm the person to dictate another person's reproduction.

I always steer clear of political topics on my blog - because like you my opinions are visceral, not fact based.

[Sprite's Keeper]

"I believe that the most offensive stance that a person can take is one of absolute authority."
Best thing I've read all week!
I agree completely. Politics is not my favorite thing to discuss unless the other person is drunk. Then it's just funny.
You're linked!

[debbie]

Fellow Catholic here with conflicted emotions too! And don't you hate writing what you believe and then knowing someone is going to be upset?

[Ellie Belen]

Yes, We the People don't really factor into it anymore. I haven't been able to listen to politics or watch it or care about it for a long long time, unless of course someone is making fun of it.

The hypocrisy on both sides is mind-boggling. The corruption is flagrant. (Notice how the word corruption is no longer said in the vernacular of politics?)

I'm also seriously worried about the IQ count up there. And if I see another white haired old retiree telling me what I should think, I thing I'm going to scream.

Raised as a catholic (small c, since I'm not a good one) I remembered that the most important lessons I learned as a child was to care for/about the weak, the sick, and the poor. Very low on the priority scale these days.

Okay, thanks. I've got it out of my system.

[Steff]

I used to be very sure I was mostly left leaning, liberal, and Democrat. Now I have no clue what to call myself because neither definition fits nor do I agree with either platform.
I grew up in Oklahoma City and I can state without a doubt that my opinion about the death penalty changed drastically after the bombing. I had always been pro death penalty with few exceptions, but after they put McVeigh to death, I still felt no closure, no sense of things being righted....I recall feeling at the beginning that he should be stoned to death and that was really too good for him. I still feel that way....sort of. Going peacefully with a cocktail of drugs was definitely too easy for him.
Though its not a choice I could make, I believe in the right of other women to choose the course of their own reproductive lives...I believe in helping those who need it and in some kind of gun control, but i am not sure any way it stands right now it could be controlled properly.
My opinions too are hearfelt and rarely make total sense, but I am not usually afraid to express them.
Steff

[The Lawyer Mom]

Gretchen, my dear friend (and thank you for the link love), you and I agree on more than you might imagine.

Theodore Olson (that arch conservative who represented Bush in the hanging chad-Gore case) has joined with his liberal friend David Boise (who rep'd Gore) to argue against Prop 8 in California.

This is the same lawyer who rep'd Citizens United (or was it People United?) in the campaign finance decision just handed down by the S.Ct. yesterday. Brilliant guy, in other words. Brilliant. And plain-spoken. And utterly logical.

What a beautiful, persuasive and cogent argument Olson made in favor of gay marriage.

In the words of pedestrian me, the federal government simply has no business inside of our bedrooms (or our doctors' offices, for that matter).

Okay. Pushing Tide box back into closet.

Here's link to Olson's article in Newsweek. To me, it was like a symphony. I'd give my eye-teeth to be there when he argues the case to the S.Ct.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/229957

XOXO

[Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)]

"I believe that the most offensive stance that a person can take is one of absolute authority."

Amen to that! :) Great Spin! :)

[Jessica]

Gretchen, this is my favorite post of yours so far. I agree that we have come to a place where it's all about winning, not compromise, just winning and frankly, it is no suprise this country is in big big trouble