I found this to be interesting...
EE-Aw!!!
October 9, 2006 Issue
Copyright © 2006 The American Conservative
Trading Places
How to rekindle conversation between Left and Right
by John Zmirak
I remember when liberals and conservatives used to be able to talk to each other. Sure, liberals had an important advantage, since they controlled most of the prestigious media. On the other hand, we conservatives had logic, tradition, and most of the facts on our side—which pretty much leveled the playing field. I was perfectly comfortable as a teenager taking up petitions for Ronald Reagan and ringing doorbells for the Right-to-Life Party candidate for NYC mayor. While it wasn’t easy being the loudest (and almost the only public) conservative at Yale in the 1980s, I felt I had the Truth on my side—and was constantly subjected to criticism from the Left, which honed my ideas and arguments.
Things are different now. Those who call themselves conservatives have entire TV networks and chains of talk-radio stations on their side. They are able to preach to the choir—much as Pacifica Radio, National Public Radio, or campus newspapers in the Ivy League always have on the Left. Today’s self-styled conservatives can go for months without encountering an opposing opinion—and if they happen to hit one, there are hundreds of blogs ready to dismiss the information or arguments they encountered as toxic byproducts of the “Mainstream Media” or “MSM.” Likewise, the Left has plenty of comfy sandboxes where it can play, untroubled by alien ideas.
EE-Aw!!!
October 9, 2006 Issue
Copyright © 2006 The American Conservative
Trading Places
How to rekindle conversation between Left and Right
by John Zmirak
I remember when liberals and conservatives used to be able to talk to each other. Sure, liberals had an important advantage, since they controlled most of the prestigious media. On the other hand, we conservatives had logic, tradition, and most of the facts on our side—which pretty much leveled the playing field. I was perfectly comfortable as a teenager taking up petitions for Ronald Reagan and ringing doorbells for the Right-to-Life Party candidate for NYC mayor. While it wasn’t easy being the loudest (and almost the only public) conservative at Yale in the 1980s, I felt I had the Truth on my side—and was constantly subjected to criticism from the Left, which honed my ideas and arguments.
Things are different now. Those who call themselves conservatives have entire TV networks and chains of talk-radio stations on their side. They are able to preach to the choir—much as Pacifica Radio, National Public Radio, or campus newspapers in the Ivy League always have on the Left. Today’s self-styled conservatives can go for months without encountering an opposing opinion—and if they happen to hit one, there are hundreds of blogs ready to dismiss the information or arguments they encountered as toxic byproducts of the “Mainstream Media” or “MSM.” Likewise, the Left has plenty of comfy sandboxes where it can play, untroubled by alien ideas.
20 comments:
he lost me after the sand boxes. i think the rest of it is idiotic.
Yeah well it pretty much is.
Thats why I figured it would fit right in at The Aurora, for if it is not idiocy that we strive then we are doing something wrong.
This comment:
"On the other hand, we conservatives had logic, tradition, and most of the facts on our side"
made me realize he has NO interest in rekindling a conversation between conservatives and liberals.
Rather, that he was just interested in continuing the petty battles.
SkiRock I dated a woman that handled Mr Rogers book tour, and I got to tell ya the guy was a real cool dude, completely not what I expected.
Way to miss the point Anita.
eh, ya win some, ya lose some.
i guess my mind was too focused on the current nuclear missile crisis.
try to be nice donkey.
Are you implying that I am sometimes not?
well, yes.
Well if you dont like it why dont you go back to your home on....Brooklyn Island.
That's pretty good.
maybe i will.
i was just going to write something on TBR defending you ... that you're not quite as crazy as they are claiming you to be.
now i've changed my mind.
maybe they are right.
and there's no reason to be so rancidly cruel to me.
I can assure you Anita that any cruelty that you perceive to have been leveled against you is completely in your head.
Going forward I will italicize any comment based in sarcasm and use footnotes to identify any popular culture reference that I make.
Where in Brooklyn I might be in B-Hurst this week, if not I might swing by Fri although I loathe Connecticut aka the UES.
yes, that would be much appreciated, as i spend more time in my own head than i do in the real world. thus my obliviousness to much of popular culture.
case in point ...
Trash Bar is in Williamsburg. THAT I know.
Then do yourself a favor and rent Kingpin, Wedding Crashers, and Anchorman as most of our material is stolen from those movies, plus they are frickin hilarious.
Did you just get here? Youve seen how we treat each other. When we STOP giving you a hard time is when there should be concern as we only mock those in our favor and shun those who are not.
what time do you go on in brooklyn, donsky?
I believe Rhino's sister lives near Trash Bar. Looks like I may have to squire the young Rhinette about town Thurs night as one professional helping another professional, because I know what it's like to be lonely in a new city.
Sky you see the big plug we gave you in the left side bar...now wheres our damn song? it doesnt have to be bohemian rhapsody you know.
Well... now nothing personal donkey, but well if you're going to call on my baby sister is might want to be around to chapperone. I'm not saying i know you'd slip her a mickey or anything, i'm just saying i don't know for sure that you wouldn't.
Again, nothing personal, you know i love you.... in a manly kind of way i mean.
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