Across Enemy Lines

Last night I retweeted someone’s post on twitter. The quote was: “Politics are important in making America what it is. Embrace it.” I thought that the quote really rang true to the relationship between America and politics. I think when we hear the word “politics” there is often a negative connotation with the word, without reason. Politics, whether it means a fight over issues, voting, a discussion, or anything in between that dialogue is essentially what makes our country work. Anyway, back to the quote. Someone replied to my tweet and said, “We can all tell you’re left-winger.” First, making that seem like a put-down, and second, what about my retweet made me a left-winger? In my opinion that comment was no-winger. It was a completely neutral comment that reflects America. America, which is neither left or right-winger.

Was I frustrated? Yes. Very. Should I have been so upset? Yes. The facts are that judgments like this are tearing up our country. Why does every, single, issue have to be tied to right-winged or left-winged thinking? Let’s take for instance the issue of education. I’ve brought this up in earlier posts. Being pro-education is typically a leftist issue. Unless of course it is an election year. Then everyone is pro-education. My question with this is, don’t right-wingers send their children to school?  Why isn’t education an issue that is important to all parties? Why is it typical that the right-wing wants to cut and defund education? This makes no sense.

Next let’s look at the typically right-winged issue of being pro-life. How has this become such a right-wing issue? Isn’t it really a moral issue? In my opinion pro-choice and pro-life should not be an issue of right-wing and left-wing thinkers. It should be something that people have opinions on, but not as an entire party. Additionally I find it interesting that we have laws about this issue. I think that churches and other organizations should make it their mission to educate people against using abortion as an option. As far as making laws about abortion, I’m not so sure about that. In addition the right-wing also wants to cut many programs that benefit children in low-socioeconomic situations.

A major complaint against left-wingers is that they like to spend money on programs for people in low-socioeconomic situations, while increasing the taxes on the rich for some of these programs. They also proposed national healthcare, but invited the major insurance companies to the table to help develop national healthcare. Aren’t these contradictions of terms as well?

Obviously this is a gross generalization of both groups. Notice that I used the very title that I didn’t appreciate being called myself. Mostly because I didn’t feel that it was warranted. Neither title should be a put down. Maybe, just maybe neither title should be used at all. Individuals should be able to choose their issues without fear of being labeled. After all we are all Americans first and foremost.

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