The tension and hate between liberals and conservatives?

Question

Is it mostly made up of misunderstanding, ignorance? Misunderstanding and ignorance of how another person grew up, how they think, different values? Then hearing lies and over exaggerations of the other side? If so how can this barrier of misunderstanding, ignorance and lies be torn down so that liberals and conservatives can better understand one another?

PNAC...yes I agree. Debate is healthy but not to the point where people start name calling or saying liberals are not "normal" people and they hate America or Conservatives love terrorists. That is just ridiculous.

2+2 does equal four. I would not deny that.

regerugged- just because you disagree does not mean you have to call liberals "losers" and I am a liberal and I can tell you that no not all Conservatives want to compromise but I am willing to. As long as you show me respect I will show you respect. People from both sides are unwilling to compromise and understand.

Rick and handsome...my gosh just listen to yourselves you are the perfect examples of what I am talking about!

Jeremy where do you get your logic. Yes we have to tolerate these people in our schools, congress and other places just as we have to tolerate Christians, Jews, Bhudists etc. I mean YOU can swear on the bible if you want but why should Muslims have to if they do not beleive in it. Not all Muslims are "evil" or "bad." It is the EXTREMISTS of Islam...not the regular Muslims. You need to realize that not all people are the same and you cannot place these stereotypes on people JUST because they are Muslim.

Jeremy response continued. I mean no one is practicing Islam in our public schools. WE ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN NATION. We are a Christian, Jewish, Islam, Bhudist, Hindu, Atheist, Pagan, Wiccan (basically whatever religion you can think of.) We are White, Black, Hispanic, Asian you name it. We are straight and gay. We are poor, middle class,rich! That is what is so great about America and that is OK! We are so diverse! Anyone can beleive whatever they want (as long as they are not hurting anyone.) America is so great because we are built on TOLERATING EVERYONE of every race, religion, sexual orientation,sex and culture. Not just Christians. Don't you see? We have to accept Muslims because they are allowed in schools , government because in America we are based on being tolerant. Neither Islam, Christianity, Judaism ect should be allowed in any PUBLIC school. Colleges are private institutions who can make their own laws. Islam is NOT taking over america at all. You are being too paranoid!

Jeremy continued. Do you know why I promote people saying curse words? Although I do not like them myself EVERY American is allowed to say whatever they want. This is a country of FREE SPEECH and I refuse to support the banning of certain words because that goes against EVERYTHING this country stands for.

One last thing Jeremy. If treating all people of every religion equally under the law and protecting the right to free speech is "bad" then I must be evil. One final note.Why do you think everyone need Jesus Christ to survive? Jews have lived for hundreds of thousands of years and they do not think Christ is the savior. Neither Islam nor Bhuddism think Christ was the savior. Why will you not accpet that everyone has their own beleifs?

Jeremy: I am alive and I have not needed Christ to do that.

Answer 1

We have to start thinking of people as individuals instead of part of a group whose members are all the same. Thinking any group consists of people who are all alike is the root of all bigotry and racism. No two people are alike unless we are only looking very superficially. How can such superficiality arouse such passionate discord? It doesn't make any sense if we would just bother to look a little deeper.

Answer 2

Once upon a time someone told me there are three sides to the truth.
1. Your side
2. My Side
3. And the truth

Information we all hear and value is usually decided on #1 and #2.

In real life though, per the media, our elected officials, seldom is #3 actually an option for many.

People generally use one or two trusted means of receiving information and typically hone their decisions and opinions based on that criteria alone.

The hate and tension are grid-locked because people refuse to extend their means of receiving information and closing their options by receiving more - because they don't really want to spend the time or face the facts on what reality really is.

Governmentally, my theory is that if I don't hear people out, if I don't feed myself with enough input - then I'm not in a place to make up my own opinion let alone try to explain to others why I feel their opinions need to be a bit more broadened in order to make a logical or rational decision.... Long before I feel compelled to make that step, I go through the process of researching all the pros and cons.

Likewise I then ask myself - is this something that's only going to affect a small percentage of people or will it have a huge impact?
If the huge impact is vital, then it has to seriously be well-thought out and brought to the table.

Intellectually speaking, if most people don't take that extra step in finding out what's valuable to some may or may not be valuable to someone else - then they have no purpose to be in any kind of position to even be a party in the debate. Those are the ones vying more for attention than that of going for value or function - to others.

Those are the ones causing the ignorance, hate and poor value to others.

Answer 3

In my opinion (just my opinion), there is one major difference in world view between the conservative factions of the US and the liberals. For conservatives, all issues are cut and dry, black and white. We are good + AL Qaida attacked us = they are evil (not bad, mind you, evil. In a world of absolutes, extremes are the norm). The liberal point of view is that no issue is cut and dry. You can always find more imput that would change what you think on an issue. Why did Al Qaida attack us? Did we do anything to provoke them? What you end up with is two sides that are incredulous that the other doesn't believe the same. It's a matter of how you look at the world. The conservative can't believe, and is in fact, offended that the liberal might have to qualify his or her answer to the question "do you love America". The liberal is astonished that the conservative would have such a simplistic view on the answer. So in the end, Liberals look at conservatives like children (incapable of individual thought, viewing the world in absolutes) and the conservative looks at the liberal as Immoral and weak minded (doesn't believe in anything, won't commit to anything). That relationship is bound to breed some sort of animosity. Unfortunately, the animosity is biggest story rather than the issues the two are supposed to be debating.

Answer 4

Lindsey, the air and tension is so thick that we could cut it with a chain saw (maybe). You're right. I lose it sometimes, after reading 'question' after 'question' that is so filled with pure hatred and I zing right back. I'm sure that others do too, from both sides.

You've always been one of the level headed ones here and I certainly respect that. The problem with politics is that it gets hot, heated, and we tend to strike. There have been a few times that I've really felt badly about striking! I will also confess that there are a few candidates that I can't begin to imagine getting into office. I'm sure that both sides feel that way and that too adds onto the conflict.

We're at odds, but we're all here because we love this country (no matter who hurls what). Sometimes the best thing to do is simply get up and walk away from it all. Just remember that no matter what, if it came right down to it, we'd all defend each other and stand side by side.

Answer 5

This is how I see it: Conservatives feel like they control their own destiny and thus, they believe in the American dream. Study hard, work hard, save, invest, build a business, take care of your family and provide for your own rainy day. Taxes are for infrastructure and the country's defense and that should be that.

Liberals on the other hand want to be free to do as they see fit and believe that society has an obligation to support whatever they see fit to do with their time/life, and that just because they don't want to follow a path that will lead to self-support, the government should step in to provide for their needs. They think that government is their mommy/daddy and should act as such whenever they need help; no matter the reason. They are not big on personal accountability, and are selfish when it comes to wanting to tax others to support them or their causes. They are also anti-Christian because religious belief gets in the way of the government funding their lifestyle choices, since most Christians believe in personal accountability and trying to walk in Jesus' footsteps.

It has been said that if you're under 30 and you're not a liberal - you don't have a heart. It's also said that if you're over 30 and you're not a conservative - you don't have a brain.

People who worked for their money are a lot more likely to be conservative than people who inherited their money. Interesting how the libs have this socialist agenda, but I don't see much in the way of vows of poverty among lib actors or politicians..... Let's see Theresa Heinz-Kerry, Sean Penn, Alec Baldwin and their ilk, give away their money and then I will listen (and only then).

These two groups can be narrowed down to do'ers and whiners and this is why they can't get together - ever.

Answer 6

Most don't understand the intelligences community. What some perceive as facts are at best a best guess. ALL sides use the press to disseminate miss information it is aimed at other intelligences community. Our press buys into it & some were even shooked when Reagan acknowledged that all sides manipulate the press. Now the press isn't free from blame either. The more devicive the story the higher their ratings.

Check out the TV show 24. If you step back & look how many times does one group hijack another groups agenda for their own perposes?

It could even be argued that we the people have a measure of couplability we get wrapped up in the drama. We use their drama to either forget our own or to liven up our boring lives!

Answer 7

I think both are wrong. It is just a tool used by the powerful to divide you and you all fall allover yourselves trying to get one over on each other when really both parties are owned by a particular group of men more powerful than even the President himself. Infact the President merely does the bidding of his masters whether he is Liberal or Conservative. It matters not a bit. Politics is merely an illusion set up for the public to think that they have some sort of control over their lives but it is all false. Your vote counts for nothing. It is a dictatorship disguised as democracy.

Answer 8

A lot of people have the impression that all Democrats and Republicans are like the people they meet on YA. I think that about 99% of the questions and answers posted are done by people who want to see how many others they can make mad.

Answer 9

Make no mistake The reason Republicans do not like Liberals is they are anti American! they support Terrorism by removing the tools we desperately need to stop Terrorism They bad mouth America .They bragged about this big change they would do if elected Of coarse they wouldn't tell what this plan was . But now we know the plan was to raise Taxes higher then ever before then surrender to the Terrorist ! If you love America then you hate Liberals .If you hate America then you are a Liberal

Answer 10

Definitely.

The solution is to have debate that follows the rules of debate. And to do that, you need somebody in charge to enforce those rules - not just things like language, but the rules against using faulty logic, unsupported allegations, putting words in your opponent's mouth, etc. And we don't have that kind of enforcement here, or on most internet forums.