Should we be proud?

Question

I just had a democrat (my party) argue with me in the most polite way, and just had a republican complement me and say that I helped our country. I'm not important.
What is is the two people's actions (not them personally) which speaks to our ability to discuss things without the nonsense like name-calling, spreading unfounded rumors, or treating each other as "guilty until proved innocent", let alone things like sedition (which isn't always the same thing as the previous three, but sometimes is). What a place this could be if we all spoke up against the latter and supported the former!

What a place. I'm really honored to be part of this group. I'm far from a major participant, being a daddy and all (baby says, "Hi"!), but I've never been treated like I should leave (I don't do that either, saying, "But please keep speaking up", and recently, due to someone brave and kind enough to correct me, "...but sedition is better than silence".

What do you think. Should we all be proud?

Four responses so far.

Only in America. I love this country.

Everyone, please read Exoilfeildtrash's entry! WOW! Take a breath, guy! Free speech too much for you? Sorry, we have it, too, and we use it, sometimes to respond when someone is acting foolishly. You won that prize already. No need to prove it a second time with such a rambling run-on sentence! If you are going to act so rudely, don't expect courtesy. I won't call you names, but then again, after that answer, I won't have to!

Answer 1

Pride and feeling good for a job well done can be looked at from different angles just like a republican and a democrat can see things eye to eye and contradict each other at the same breath. If you do things for the right reasons "pride" in the sense of feeling good for doing the right thing is no problem. Else it self glorification at the costs of others.

Answer 2

Are you looking for a reward for being Governments biggest suckazz ? You tryed to turn a simple statement of mine into a political argument and even had the nerve to say it was hypocritical and that I was affraid and trying to hide stuff from a government that knows everything that would not be hypocritical but stupid OK 2 points for being a bigger roll over than I am but you say your such a patriot but say things like your the one with things to hide and by sucking up you may get a pardon or reward for being the teachers pet half of what you say is a joke and I am glad you stay so close to the political questions and attack others for their views on things that do not coincide with you own.You toot your own horn fairly loud but its out of key.

Answer 3

We should be proud when we disagree but do so with respect. I follow three personal rules (which some won't agree with, but I hope you'll agree they aren't extreme):

1) I return courtesy with courtesy
2) I do not feel the obligation to return disrespect with courtesy--I may do so or not if I answer.
3) I do not extend either courtesy or respect to those who are clearly motivated by bigotry and racism.

BTW--as for sedition, here's my view:
Dissent is speaking out in opposition to the government--and it is the right of every citizen to do so.
Sedition is speaking out against to would-be dictators--and it is the duty of every citizen to do so.

Answer 4

You only get name calling when their is a lack of evidence. One of the cores of conservatism is to protect the strong father figure protectionist leader and attack before any proof of guilt can weaken the strong father figure image in the public eye.

Answer 5

I am hopeful that regardless of party affiliation, we can always try as best we can to respect the idiotic opinions of the pin head across the table from us.

Best regards.

Answer 6

pwoot......pwoot.....pwooot......pwooooot