Nick Berry: Let me offer a brutal political quiz - Capital Gazette
Nick Berry: All of us, myself include, need to bust out of our political bubbles
It tries to put the finger on America's divisions and disputes, all of which do the country little good. In reflecting on your answers, not surprisingly, I reflect on my own values and attitudes.
Here goes. Do you believe that:
•African-Americans are not first-class citizens and equal to you? If the answer is "yes," then you are a racist and a champion of hatred, discrimination and conflict — not a patriot.
•Islam is not a legitimate religion and does not worship the same God as Jews and Christians? If "yes," then you are a bigot, are ignorant and are a champion of discrimination and conflict.
There is a soft spot in my heart for these nincompoops. Ridicule is not...
•Muslims cannot be true Americans and bona fide citizens of the United States because they are terrorists? If yes, then you don't know much about Islam, are ignorant of the Constitution or in opposition to it, and are a champion of national stupidity and disunity.
•Human activity using fossil fuels and producing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses does not contribute to global warming and environmental degradation? If yes, then you are anti-science and are countenancing human misery.
•Government should not assist, protect and nurture the poor, orphans, disabled, elderly and children? If yes, then you are cruel, self-centered and a genuine Scrooge.
•Capital punishment is a deterrent to crime and constitutes proper justice? If yes, then you do not value life or believe Jesus and others, who say that mistakes will be made and the innocent will die, so blood will be on your hands.
•Immigrants are criminals and robbers of American jobs? If yes, then you are unrelated to any, don't know our history and are willing to cut sugar cane, pick tomatoes, harvest fruit and refuse to be treated by or buy products and services produced by the foreign-born.
•The political party opposite to yours is the enemy and a bunch of traitors? If so, then you don't believe in democracy or the Constitution, and favor dictatorship.
I don't write this as a saintly purist without blemishes. Quite the contrary. My behavior sometimes does not mirror my ideals. And sometimes my ideals and values are off-base.
Readers will not be surprised that I lack understanding and empathy for those who flunked the quiz. My light, duh, is not everyone's.
H.L. Mencken, an astute observer of American folly, is credited with the words, "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." This last political campaign, in which alternate facts proliferated and were believed, certainly proved it. Now we are learning that President Donald Trump was just kidding on many of his campaign promises about China, Russia, NATO, the environment, coal, trade and tariffs, etc.
Learning —gaining real facts and humane values — is not a mystery. We become educated by associating with people of different minds and traditions, by going to school and being forced to research and think, by continuing our intellectual development by observing events, by reading the newspapers, and by seeing and hearing valid reporting. All this is tested by conversations and contemplation.
I guess to take my own advice I should watch Fox News and even take a Republican to tea. I live in a congenial bubble, which shapes my social and economic environment to make life easy and satisfying, lessening the strain of life in complex and difficult times. I carelessly avoid busting out of my bubble.
Nick Berry: Let me offer a brutal political quiz - Capital Gazette
Nick Berry: All of us, myself include, need to bust out of our political bubbles
It tries to put the finger on America's divisions and disputes, all of which do the country little good. In reflecting on your answers, not surprisingly, I reflect on my own values and attitudes.
Here goes. Do you believe that:
•African-Americans are not first-class citizens and equal to you? If the answer is "yes," then you are a racist and a champion of hatred, discrimination and conflict — not a patriot.
•Islam is not a legitimate religion and does not worship the same God as Jews and Christians? If "yes," then you are a bigot, are ignorant and are a champion of discrimination and conflict.
There is a soft spot in my heart for these nincompoops. Ridicule is not...
•Muslims cannot be true Americans and bona fide citizens of the United States because they are terrorists? If yes, then you don't know much about Islam, are ignorant of the Constitution or in opposition to it, and are a champion of national stupidity and disunity.
•Human activity using fossil fuels and producing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses does not contribute to global warming and environmental degradation? If yes, then you are anti-science and are countenancing human misery.
•Government should not assist, protect and nurture the poor, orphans, disabled, elderly and children? If yes, then you are cruel, self-centered and a genuine Scrooge.
•Capital punishment is a deterrent to crime and constitutes proper justice? If yes, then you do not value life or believe Jesus and others, who say that mistakes will be made and the innocent will die, so blood will be on your hands.
•Immigrants are criminals and robbers of American jobs? If yes, then you are unrela
ted to any, don't know our history and are willing to cut sugar cane, pick tomatoes, harvest fruit and refuse to be treated by or buy products and services produced by the foreign-born.
•The political party opposite to yours is the enemy and a bunch of traitors? If so, then you don't believe in democracy or the Constitution, and favor dictatorship.
I don't write this as a saintly purist without blemishes. Quite the contrary. My behavior sometimes does not mirror my ideals. And sometimes my ideals and values are off-base.
Readers will not be surprised that I lack understanding and empathy for those who flunked the quiz. My light, duh, is not everyone's.
H.L. Mencken, an astute observer of American folly, is credited with the words, "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." This last political campaign, in which alternate facts proliferated and were believed, certainly proved it. Now we are learning that President Donald Trump was just kidding on many of his campaign promises about China, Russia, NATO, the environment, coal, trade and tariffs, etc.
Learning —gaining real facts and humane values — is not a mystery. We become educated by associating with people of different minds and traditions, by going to school and being forced to research and think, by continuing our intellectual development by observing events, by reading the newspapers, and by seeing and hearing valid reporting. All this is tested by conversations and contemplation.
I guess to take my own advice I should watch Fox News and even take a Republican to tea. I live in a congenial bubble, which shapes my social and economic environment to make life easy and satisfying, lessening the strain of life in complex and difficult times. I carelessly avoid busting out of my bubble.