Honesty in Politics.
You know something? I have no problem at all with people just being honest, and getting their true feelings out in the open:
CNN host to first-ever Muslim congressman: "Prove to me that you're not working with our enemies."
"I have been nervous about this interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.' " Beck added: "I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way."
Posted 11/16/06 - Broadcast CNN 11/14/06
Video
Ignorant? Absolutely. But I give Beck a lot of credit for opening a dialogue about it. In fact, I would say this is the kind of discourse we NEED in America. I would MUCH rather all the conservative talking heads pose their questions openly and honestly directly to the people they enjoy vilifying so much, instead of setting up "straw man" arguments, or else ask intellectually dishonest, loaded, questions designed to entrap the interviewee into saying something in a way that plays into their world view.
Of course, a truly open dialogue about issues, with honestly posed questions doesn't sell nearly as much advertising as picking a weak representative of the opposing viewpoint and just screaming and yelling at him or her so they can't get in a complete sentence and look foolish.
I must admit, on the rare occasion when someone beats them at their own game, it is a beautiful thing to witness. But in order to do that you really have to take them by surprise....
Anyway, I could go on for hours on this topic, but the main point is that though I disagree with the statement Beck posed to Keith Ellison, I think the way he posed his questions illustrate the responsible, intellectually honest, way that political discourse in this country should be moving forward.
There's a long way to go.
CNN host to first-ever Muslim congressman: "Prove to me that you're not working with our enemies."
"I have been nervous about this interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.' " Beck added: "I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way."
Posted 11/16/06 - Broadcast CNN 11/14/06
Video
Ignorant? Absolutely. But I give Beck a lot of credit for opening a dialogue about it. In fact, I would say this is the kind of discourse we NEED in America. I would MUCH rather all the conservative talking heads pose their questions openly and honestly directly to the people they enjoy vilifying so much, instead of setting up "straw man" arguments, or else ask intellectually dishonest, loaded, questions designed to entrap the interviewee into saying something in a way that plays into their world view.
Of course, a truly open dialogue about issues, with honestly posed questions doesn't sell nearly as much advertising as picking a weak representative of the opposing viewpoint and just screaming and yelling at him or her so they can't get in a complete sentence and look foolish.
I must admit, on the rare occasion when someone beats them at their own game, it is a beautiful thing to witness. But in order to do that you really have to take them by surprise....
Anyway, I could go on for hours on this topic, but the main point is that though I disagree with the statement Beck posed to Keith Ellison, I think the way he posed his questions illustrate the responsible, intellectually honest, way that political discourse in this country should be moving forward.
There's a long way to go.
posted by Unknown at 3:50 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home