I've shamelessly lifted this poster and the text below it from the Jon Stewart Rally to Restore Sanity website.
Why? Because I'm sick to death and weary of how so many have forgotten the importance of simple common courtesy and plain ol' good manners.
WHY is it okay to treat people who don't agree with you in a hateful manner? When did we forget that differences are just that - "differences." And they're okay! Not wrong. JUST different.
WHY is it okay to be working in a Customer Service related area and refuse to treat the customer with a little bit of respect and actually offer a little bit of help, an answer, and some service.
And maybe it seems like a huge jump to go from ranting about non-existent customer service to politics - when actually it's not . . . .
WHY is it okay for our politicians to forget that whole speech about . . . "this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Remember it??! It's one of the mainstays of this country. Or used to be. Words that used to motivate good people to serve in public office. Now those words have been replaced by words uttered by special interest groups who will promise a person a whole bunch of money in campaign funding if they'll promise votes for their special interest - which is not necessarily an interest that's going to be good for this country. Count on it.
Honestly - I'm just sick to death of politicians. Period. This from someone who was, at one time, fairly actively aware and involved, but now can't even stand to watch or read the news.
Politics these days is a sport. Whoever has the most money wins.
" . . . and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Pfft. Who cares about that tired old saw??
And these negative political ads we're subjected to on TV? Oh yeah, I forgot - someone's going to say they're going to keep their campaign clean. Pfft. sure.
and how much do these ads cost?! Does that even make any sense???
We have people losing their jobs, their homes, their health care, their life savings . . .
But there's plenty of money in this country for nasty political ads on TV and in the newspapers.
WHAT ON EARTH HAS HAPPENED TO US????
this is me
am I proud of it?! NO! But I'm finding it comforting right now, so it's where I'll stay. Unless I can find my way to the shadow of the Washington Monument on 10/30/10. Who knows - people there might actually be laughing and enjoying one another instead of spewing hate speeches. What a novel concept!
I don't expect you all to agree with me. And I'm okay with that. But, it's my blog and I'll rant if I want to. You can agree, or you can disagree. And you can even leave a comment telling me how you feel. But please do it in a respectful manner. If you think I've trampled on your ideals, I'm sorry that's how you feel, that's not my intent - but "this" is how I feel. I am all for restoring sanity.
"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
Who among us has not wanted to open their window and shout that at the top of their lungs?
Seriously, who?
Because we're looking for those people. We're looking for the people who think shouting is annoying, counterproductive, and terrible for your throat; who feel that the loudest voices shouldn't be the only ones that get heard; and who believe that the only time it's appropriate to draw a Hitler mustache on someone is when that person is actually Hitler. Or Charlie Chaplin in certain roles.
Are you one of those people? Excellent. Then we'd like you to join us in Washington, DC on October 30 -- a date of no significance whatsoever -- at the Daily Show's "Rally to Restore Sanity."
Ours is a rally for the people who've been too busy to go to rallies, who actually have lives and families and jobs (or are looking for jobs) -- not so much the Silent Majority as the Busy Majority. If we had to sum up the political view of our participants in a single sentence... we couldn't. That's sort of the point.
Think of our event as Woodstock, but with the nudity and drugs replaced by respectful disagreement; the Million Man March, only a lot smaller, and a bit less of a sausage fest; or the Gathering of the Juggalos, but instead of throwing our feces at Tila Tequila, we'll be actively *not* throwing our feces at Tila Tequila. Join us in the shadow of the Washington Monument.
And bring your indoor voice. Or don't. If you'd rather stay home, go to work, or drive your kids to soccer practice... Actually, please come anyway. Ask the sitter if she can stay a few extra hours, just this once. We'll make it worth your while.
Watch Jon's call-to-reasonableness on The Daily Show. Keep checking back for updates and rally information
12 comments:
I couldn't agree more. But the screaming and rudeness has a purpose for those who employ it--diverting us from the issues and the facts. If you don't have solutions, and you want power back, you spend tons of money on commercials, misrepresent (lie), and do your best to delegitimize the President. Same tools used against President Clinton, and President Roosevelt. Sorry to be partisan, hope I've been quiet and respectful about it!
I'm with you Kaye (and Sarah). I think it's great that Jon Stewart cuts through to the core of many issues (byway of comedy) while others in the serious media only seem to egg the lack of any serious discourse on. I sincerely hope this rally catches on. I'll be following you, and this, my friend. Thank you very much for the post, Kaye.
I don't watch the evening news any more, I watch Jon's show, as well as his pseudo-nemesis, Stephen Colbert. I am sad for our country, and I would so like to see sanity, and civility, and respect - for those who are like us and for those who aren't - restored. I can't be on the mall on Oct. 30, but my heart will be there. And good on you, dear Kaye, for posting this.
I actually had a hate speech spewed upon me the other day. It does nothing but create more hate and intolerance.
Yeah, boy, Kaye! It's frightening to see that repeating a lie often and loudly will gather a gaggle of true believers.
Scary times. Good post.
I tweeted/FB posted the other day that the negative politcal ads are polarizing and poisonous.
What happened to the day when people of differing opinions could actually sit down and discuss their positions? Find some middle ground?
I'm sick for our country.
Oh, Kaye. You always sum up my feelings beautifully. And, I love the ostrich. Jim always told me I was an ostrich, because I wouldn't pay attention if I didn't want to. And, since his death, I've almost given up watching news - as you said, from someone who was a political junkie. After the last election, people turned mean.
I do disagree with one point, because, as a librarian, I'm in a public service profession. I don't think anyone works any harder to help people than librarians. (Some work just as hard - nurses, etc. But, no one works harder to be helpful.) However, even in our profession, we sometimes face patrons who are hateful and nasty to our faces. We've had patrons swear at us, and someone told one of my staff he was going to hell. Sometimes, it's not easy to smile and be helpful, but I'm proud of my staff, and we do try.
But, that's just one more example that the country has lost it's soul - we're no longer polite to each other. No matter our differences, and we should be able to disagree, we should be polite and considerate.
I love you, Kaye, for standing up for all of us.
I'm not going to be in D.C. on 10/30. I hope John Stewart's audience rallies around him, though. We need some civility here.
Thanks for saying it so well! We need campaign finance reform more than ever.
No way can I get to Washington on the 30th... but if you and Donald can go, I'd be happy to chip in a bit of gas money, to get a first-hand report.
For me, this brings to mind the filibuster scene from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". Senator Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart) has just read from the Declaration of Independence, then continues:
You see, that's what I had in mind about camp--except those men said it a little better than I can. Now, you're not gonna have a country that makes these kinds of rules *work*, if you haven't got men who've learned to tell human rights from a punch in the nose. And funny thing about men-- they start life being boys. That's why it seemed like a pretty good idea to take kids out of crowded cities and stuffy basements for a few months a year--and build their bodies and minds for a man-sized job. Those boys'll be sitting at these desks some day. Yes--it seemed a pretty good idea--boys coming together--all nationalities and ways of living--finding out what makes different people tick the way they do. 'Cause I wouldn't give you a red cent for *all* your fine rules, without there was some plain every-day, common kindness under 'em--and a little looking-out for the next fella. Yes--pretty important, all that. Just happens to be blood and bone and sinew of this democracy that some great man handed down to the human race--! That's all! But, of course, if you need to build a dam where a camp like that ought to be--to make some graft and pay off your political army or something-- why, that's different!
oh, Jonathan. This scene from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is one that will make me cry buckets over and over and over. Thank you. It's pretty doubtful Donald and I will get to DC for this (hard to get us off this mountain!!), but not to worry; "if" we do you can rest assured you'll get a complete replay!
Lesa. I love you to bits. and I was wrong to make that sweeping generalization about customer service. I know better, and was caught up in the moment which is no excuse. It was thoughtless and I apologize. And I appreciate you reminding me how hard some people do work, only to be treated shabbily by the very people they're trying to help. See there! I'm one of the people I'm preaching to - ACK!
Sounds like we all do fear for our country and feel the same way about wanting to restore some sanity. Perhaps we just need to do it one person at a time and each of us work on our own personal platform of kindness and integrity. How long it'll take to reach the politicians - that's another story, I think. Beginning with, yes LJ! - campaign finance reform. I agree.
Jill, I want to hear about this incident.
le0pard - Humor. We underestimate it sometimes, and it can help accomplish SO much, can't it?
Peg and Shirley and Vicki - and people wonder why we keep our heads buried in a book?! The news is too scary, and not even always truthful. And that, imo, is just plain criminal.
Sarah - you are so right, there's a condition that some people have. They honestly think if they speak their minds LOUDLY enough it will sway everyone over to their point of view by convincing us all they're right - along with diverting our attention from the facts. What is that all about?! They think we're all too stupid too see?!
Thanks, everyone for coming by. Wish you could all be right here to join me and Donald for a cup of coffee.
Total agreeement here. I read something recently that questioned why some of the people believe what they believe in spite of all evidence to the contrary. His answer was that they believe it "because they believe it." Much like a religion, they hear something often enough and they "just believe" it to be so.
Kaye, chiming in a day or two late, but I saw this John Stewart show and loved the SANITY of it. Thank you for sharing it with your readers!
~Avery
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