I do not agree that debate, discourse, and / or disagreement among members of this site are, or should be a bannable offense, generally. As I have been known to say before, there is a time, and a place for honest, honorable, civil and decent disagreement among those who have the ability to do so without being, or becoming disagreeable.
Throwing respect out the window for no purpose other than to "win" a point is a political tactic we are not generally known for. I believe we should leave that (and many other) rhetorical fallacies to the parties opposite.
However, the time comes when such activities become more than meaningless: they become harmful. We, as reasonable people of at least average intellect should clearly know when that time arrives, and agree to withhold perhaps our most favorite passion, and focus on action. Polity and ideology should inform our discussion. Our actions however require decision.
If we do not make them, they will be made for us. I cannot think of any political reality more starkly apparent than this one, right now. If not in Florida's 13th Congressional District, certainly in Crimea.
It seems to me that we are focusing on either nothing, or the wrong thing with entirely too much frequency here. I'd like to urge a dramatic, and immediate change to that situation right now.
Follow me below the squiggledoodlethingey fold for some opinions.
Taking only those two realities as examples, we must focus if we have any chance of saving our own democracy, much less anyone else's.
In my mind, these are both worthy endeavors, joined with a few principles of politics and morality that only we will address with action. I may be wrong about that, on both counts.
A foreign sovereign power has unilaterally determined for itself that it will abrogate the sovereignty of another simply because it can. There is simply no other reasonable, or factual explanation. With the most recent addition of 10,000 more troops along the border, Russia will take the Crimea, and Ukraine, without a hostile shot being fired.
Is there anyone on the planet who truly believes this will happen because of the hue and cry of a constitutionally democratic sovereign state for that event to occur? Or, is it fear and it's close ally, hatred which will serve to effectively silence the majority of some 54 million citizens? Or, is it the belief (again) that no one cares who could do anything to stop such action? I know what my belief is. History informs that belief, and so far, I see zero determination from anyone besides Russia regarding this matter. That is, to me, indefensible. Crimea, then Ukraine, then...? If you do not know the well-worn path these actions have heralded in the past, you should make it your business to know, right now, and well before any rubber stamp referendum (whose votes are already counted, by the way) takes place. As late as today, our Secretary of State was IN Ukraine, trying to determine the validity of reports that only a small minority of Crimeans and/or Ukranians would favor such an action as re-integration into the Russian sphere of influence.
In reality, every pro-Russian demonstration, and nearly every demonstrator for that view, are paid activists...from Russia. There is no possible way to factually disagree with this statement. Is this just? (And, NEVER doubt the power and abilities of one blogger again. Ever.)
How unjust does a situation have to be before reasonably intelligent human beings dare take actions against that injustice? I can think of 54 million reasons to at least consider an equal, and opposite reaction myself. But that's just me. How about you?
Maybe it's too far away. Maybe it deals with peoples you have never known. Maybe because it isn't happening here, in America, you don't feel justified in supporting military force to counteract military force. Really?
The number one, and only reason we lost the recent Special Election in Florida this past Tuesday was because Democrats, or those who traditionally vote democratic DID NOT SHOW UP AND VOTE!!
I'm not talking about overseas travel here. I'm not describing some far-away repelling force to be dealt with, in order to be required to oppose militarily in order to "exercise the franchise". Voter suppression? No doubt. Difficulties in registering, and/or qualifying to vote? Surely. We let that happen, too. Don't say otherwise, citizen. It happened. You know it. Ergo....
If we as citizen do not show up in November, 2014, we will lose our senior position in the United States Senate. We will definitely see a major increase across the aisle in the House of Representatives. They will control our nation for the next two decades, minimum. They will increase their possession of more than 38 statehouses and governorships. That is, regardless of any other opinion, the facts of this particular matter. Democracy will disappear, in my lifetime (which is saying one hell of a lot!) and there will be those content to bluster, argue and offend anyone who comes within range. They will be known as Democrats.
If this isn't enough to cause YOU to focus, where you live, absolutely nothing will. This site, and these friends will become transformed into the very same circular firing squad which entertained us as a nation in 2012. I do not care if you call me a conspiracy theorist, (or a whatever floats your boat in this space) because it simply will NOT matter.
If this is something you find agreeable, leave. Don't leave the site. Leave the country. It will lesson the task of the need for calling every citizen and/or patriot to clear the identity of every wolf between me and my national identity.
To say we are citizen is easy. To act as citizen is sometimes extremely difficult and costly--and universally disfavored among citizens. Not so much for those who wish they could be, but for us who fully engage in the realizations of the freedom we have today, we do find it inconvenient to live up to the obligations and responsibilities that citizenship requires.
We must focus on that. Right this very second, and every other second until the final votes are tallied in November, 2014. There is no reasonable alternative to this course. One of two things will, in fact, happen. The outcome is still, as it always has been, in your hands--and mine. Burn your boats in the echo chamber. Use your time, talent and treasure defending democracy by making it possible to speak truth to power within twelve blocks of where YOU live.
Of course, there is also another tremendous benefit to such activity. You may need those muscles sooner than you think possible. If you don't believe me,
Ask a Crimean.
PS: If you want to harangue me, holler at me, or even (gasp!) agree with me, this will unapologetically be our topic on this Sunday's show on PPTS.