Hatred is the most powerful emotion in politics. At present, American liberals are not fighting for an Obama presidency. I suspect that most have only the haziest idea of what it would mean for their country. The slogans that move their hearts and stir their souls are directed against their enemies: Bush, the neo-cons, the religious right.
As a motivating force, hatred knows no equal. As a governing philosophy in a democracy?
Kind of a tough sell.
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"A kind Providence has placed in our breasts a hatred of the unjust and cruel, in order that we may preserve ourselves from cruelty and injustice. They who bear cruelty, are accomplices in it. The pretended gentleness which excludes that charitable rancour, produces an indifference which is half an approbation. They never will love where they ought to love, who do not hate where they ought to hate."--Edmund Burke
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10 responses so far ↓
1
SeniorD
// Sep 7, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Cap’n,
Mr. Cohen also adds this observation:
“In an age when politics is choreographed, voters watch out for the moments when the public-relations facade breaks down and venom pours through the cracks. Their judgment is rarely favourable when it does.”
I do believe the facade is breaking down (see Corsi’s “The Obama Nation” and Fedderoso’s “The Case against Barack Obama”). Much like John Kerry, such books generate popular criticism that has yet to be fully refuted. Further, the candidate himself is making more and more gaffes when he speaks extemopraneously. More and more, Barack Obama is showing himself to be just a human being like the rest of us. Subsceptable to error, failure and supreme over-confidence.
The ultimate question to be asked of the electorate is: ‘Is this who we want to lead this country?’
2
david foster
// Sep 7, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Ralph Peters:
“Man loves, men hate. While individual men and women can sustain feelings of love over a lifetime toward a parent or through decades toward a spouse, no significant group in human history has sustained an emotion that could honestly be characerized as love. Groups hate. And they hate well…Love is an introspective emotion, while hate is easily extroverted…We refuse to believe that the “civilized peoples of the Balkans could slaughter each other over an event that occurred over six hundred years ago. But they do. Hatred does not need a reason, only an excuse. ”
I fear that the kind of hate Peters refers to as a Balkan phenomenon is being brought to the U.S.
3
Lexington Green
// Sep 7, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Brilliant assessment, and even more remarkable because it came from the Left-wing Guardian.
4
MaxDamage
// Sep 8, 2008 at 12:25 am
David, I would argue that kind of hate is in the US, always has been, and is somehow ingrained in human nature. To date we’ve simply not seen it to the extent that other countries have, we being a relatively young nation.
One need only reflect upon the phrase, “The South shall rise again!” to recognize that this is part of our history. Ever pass by a Catholic school? Those grew as a direct response to anti-Irish bigotry in this country from the 1850’s.
It probably goes without saying that race relations are still a subject of much debate.
Selecting a scapegoat is far easier than admitting responsibility. Witness big tobacco, big oil, silicone implants and DDT as examples of same.
And as our politics continue to preach hate against whatever scapegoat has kept the potential voter down, I see no sign of this disappearing.
- Max
5
Curtis
// Sep 8, 2008 at 1:01 am
Max D,
off topic
I haven’t made a study of it but I suspect that the Catholic schools in this country are more a result of the utter failure of the public schools to, you know, actually educate the young then to some sort of anti-Irish influence.
I daresay that a Catholic school provides the best education/pupil that your dollar will ever buy.
Would that you were given a choice as to where your $ went for education.
6
Bou
// Sep 8, 2008 at 4:27 am
Curtis- That depends. All my boys are in Catholic school and it appears the oldest will continue so for HS. Every child must be a round peg that fits in a round hole. Children who need more than that… don’t fit. That has been our experience. Our Public schools were not an option… but I truly wish they had been as the Catholic School, thankfully an option for us, has not been optimal either. (I have both very accelerated learners and one with a learning disability.)
7
Scott
// Sep 8, 2008 at 5:16 am
Clive Crook does the best job I have seen in capturing what intrinsically bothers me about the national Democratic party.
“If only the Democrats could contain their sense of entitlement to govern in a rational world, and their consequent distaste for wide swathes of the US electorate, they might gain the unshakeable grip on power they feel they deserve.”
I am the product of “fly over country”, and it is in my DNA. I dated some German neo-Hegelian a few times, and she once asked me, “Where is your soul most at rest?” I realized it is in the small towns of Texas — in the BBQ places, family run Mexican restaurants, barber shops, Friday night HS football games, where everyone — from four to sixty four — stands and puts their hands over their hearts for the National Anthem. I have lived in other countries — speak two languages besides English, can wax on about the differences between a good Burgundy and the finest Bordeauxs. But my soul feels at home in Sinton, Texas — population 5,000. And until the Democrats start making people like me feel that they “get it”, and that my values are not a subject for scorn, derision and condescension, then no matter how attractive their candidate, I will almost find it impossible to hold my nose and vote for them.
8
bc
// Sep 8, 2008 at 10:03 am
Wow. Scott, you nailed that. I grew up free-rein in Florida during hte seventies, 23 years of “structure” and growing up in the Navy. 16 years of putting up with SoCal and needed somewhere “else” to raise a couple of new, young boys.
Here now in the heartland. Mayberry, RFD. A church on every corner, and people go to ‘em. God Bless USA bumper stickers, and they mean it. People say howdy and hold the doors open for women, kids, and their elders. It ain’t perfect but it’s home, and feels like it.
Change I can believe in? Reform DC and state governments where necessary. Some middle-ground term limits. Keep yer mitts outta my wallet (beyond reasonable norms). Let businesses do business. Motivate people to. Get off the teat.
The man had it exactly right. (Big) Government isn’t the solution; it’s the problem.
9
badbob
// Sep 8, 2008 at 10:51 am
Scott- ditto.
bc-
We’ve “been there- done that”:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_with_America
Didn’t stick. Bubba-hate got in the way….I say we try again in these present conditions.
b2
10
MaxDamage
// Sep 8, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Curtis, you are likely correct in this day and age, however their start was due almost entirely to Protestand -vs- Catholic rivalry, with the State of New York choosing the Protestant side.
Look up Bishop John Hughes, and the Philadelphia Bible Riots. There’s some pretty eye-popping stuff that’s happened in our own history, it just pales when compared to elsewhere.
Which, we’ve come pretty far in only 160 years or so, all things considered. Be kind of nice were others to do the same.
- Max
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