Reply #11: Sorry Dan. I'm with you. We need to fight.

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You're one of my favorite DUers and I don't want you to feel bad. I think many people are in a deep depression. For very good reason. What we're living in is kind of like a cross between a crony dictatorship and a fairly lenient theocracy. What I find most maddening is the tone of reasonableness in these unreasonable times. For instance, when people say "I support stem cell research, but people have a right to their beliefs... so if the majority of Americans want to ban stem cell research we need to listen to their voice.." I get upset. It sounds very rational. But in real terms, it comes down to DanCa can't get treatment for his debilitating illness because politicians feel the need to pander to irrational ideologues. Another example is when Kerry discussed the fact that Mary Cheney is a lesbian. Mary Cheney IS a lesbian; she is an "out" lesbian; she has worked for gay and lesbian organizations in the past. But Lynn Cheney huffed and hawed about how Kerry's comments were vicious and rude. These days, speaking simple truths is considered extreme behavior.

Another example of this is this attempt at a dialogue between pro-lifers and pro-choicers. It is fairly absurd. No middle ground will ever be reached. That's hard to say these days, but it must be said.

On many issues, no middle ground can be reached. And that's not a problem. I keep hearing "gosh, we live in such a polarized society." Polarization is not the issue. The issue is that 40% of Americans have lost their everloving minds. Nazi Germany was hardly a polarized society. The USSR wasn't too polarized either. In my opinion, we need to stop trying to reach across the aisle, unless it's to smack some sense into these fools.

--You can't have intelligent design in science class. End of story.
--We are doing stem cell research. End of story.
--The states must legally recognize the marriages of gays and lesbians. End of story.
--Women will have the right to choose abortion whenever they and their doctors decide. End of story.
--Schools need funding. End of story.
--We have no business in Iraq. End of story.
--Election fraud is unacceptable and we will uprise if necessary. End of story.

End of story. End of story. End of story. Period. Lines drawn in sand. We're dealing with extremists. WE ARE THE MIDDLE GROUND.

Funny note. I'm in the middle of a labor strike. 112 days. All of the scabs (95% of whom are liberal, by the way) have constantly said, "I don't want to cross the picket line, but I don't want to strike because that will make my employer mad at me. There must be a third way." But there is no third way. Excuse my language, but there is no goddamn third way. You are either crossing a picket line or you are not crossing a picket line.

We need to get hardened-- fast. We need to get used to having to take uncomfortable stands-- fast. You cannot reason or talk yourself out of a rape. Both sides do not "have a point" when one side is violating the other side's basic human rights. You fight your way out of the assault any way you can.