Catty Teenage Girls Aren't the Only Ones With Childish Cliques

During the Presidential campaign, Obama was heavily criticized (by some) for admitting that diplomacy should reign, and the United States should engage in diplomatic conversations with our enemies.

I was actually surprised by the amount of criticism he received for a few reasons:

1. The United States is not blameless in these broken relationships. I don't believe our foreign enemies are simply annoying little countries that need to find a hobby besides picking on us.

2. Even if our government is blameless, wouldn't a conversation help equalize any misunderstandings?

3. Time can heal wounds. Have you ever made-up with a friend after time made an old argument outdated? Sometimes a kissy-kissy makeup is only a phone call away.

4. Who in all fuggin carnation died and left the US in charge of establishing a snooty clique, with a turned-up nose, that waves a pompous hand and decides which other leaders are too beneath us to deserve the respect of a conversation?

Wait. Do you hear that sound? Listen closely... Doesn't that sound very similar to the Far Right Christian Conservative idea that homosexuals and minorities don't deserve respect on their own soil? That same mentality is directed towards "others" here at home.

Folks, it's called xenophobia, and it's an ugly disease that can only maim and kill.

I enjoyed Bob King's commentary regarding negative reaction to Obama's honorable definition of diplomacy. Bob starts with this:

"This whole "we don't talk to people we don't like" foreign policy has struck me as being on a level with seventh graders deciding who gets to sit at what table at lunch. And - clearly - our leaders do not choose to be seen in public with the auto-shop boys, the "smoker's corner" crowd or anyone from "the wrong side of the tracks."

As field negro always says, the Christian Right is neither [Christian or right]. If I remember correctly, Jesus was regularly criticized by the uber-religious Pharisees for His regular conversations with "undesirables." Anybody who ever read a Bible knows how the Pharisees were spiritually stunted.

Bob King ends his assessment with this:

"And let us remember that despite being genuinely likable and good with people, George Bush's leadership style has never led him to deal with difficult issues in any substantive way. I honestly cannot think of a single situation that has been improved by George Bush's involvement, or indeed, improved on the basis of the Bush leadership philosophy. It's been a government of, by and for the "popular kids" - and we are reminded why student governments have grownup advisers."

Read the rest here.

Comments

[Kit (Keep It Trill)]

It's the same old story: parasitic religious zealots and amoral or immoral business interests find a common ground in politics, war and oppression.

[Hawa]

@KIT: Yes yes yes, Kit! That common ground creates some strange bedfellows. May I never EVAH in life find myself sleeping with such bedbugs. (pun intended, hehe)