An individual commented on an article I posted saying that in order to truly fight the demagogues, our website must be bipartisan. He then accused me in particular of being a “poser, propagating an agenda, the pot calling the kettle black.”
I prefer to think of our website as nonpartisan – free from party affiliation or designation, able to inform and educate on issues. But that is not to say we are disinterested or dispassionate about the issues this nation faces.
Unfortunately, our two party political system is operated on money, power and greed. That is not to say that all politicians within these parties are bad, but for those at the top, those in control, those with the power, those who will say or do anything to remain in control or gain control – they are the ones destroying our country. And by continually re-electing these politicians, by sticking our heads in the sand, by voting party line, we are aiding and abetting in that destruction.
Political parties create distrust by tearing down their opponents through deliberate lies, distortions, and half-truths. I don’t know if they do this because they actually have nothing constructive to say or solutions to offer for the problems we face, or if it is a deliberate attempt to turn voters off.
But I do know for a fact that by lying to voters about the serious issues our nation faces, by attacking their opponents to gain political points, by refusing to talk solutions, by creating turmoil, by turning one segment of the population against another, etc. the better their chance to stay in power and promote their own narrow interests and agendas.
Can there ever be fairness and accuracy in the political debate? I don’t think so because for one to be truly objective one would have to take both sides of an issue, which solves nothing. We view the world through our own particular consciousness so is it even possible to see all sides of an issue, to be able to shut off our life experiences, to come to an objective conclusion when our concept of objectivity is to describe a reality outside of ourselves?
Sometimes it is just easier to convince ourselves we are objective than to actually be objective. Sometimes what is actually true and what we think is true are two different things. If all rational conclusions were based entirely on reason and not gut reaction or emotion, would we not be much more objective?
I guess the big question is – is it even possible to be political, nonpartisan and objective at the same time?
God gave us a brain for a reason – we can learn, think and communicate – we can understand, sympathize and hopefully do what is right, just and fair. Our brains gives us insite from our past experiences and discernment to know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. Why would God give us the ability to acquire knowledge and wisdom if we are not to use it?
Proverbs, one of my favorite books of the Bible, is the study of life through Divine Wisdom. Proverbs 2:10-12 tells us that “When wisdom entereth into thine heart [mind] and knowledge is pleasant unto they soul, discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee, to deliver thee from the way of the evil men, from the man that speaketh perverse things. . .”
Willingness to listen, to discern is a hallmark of those that are truly wise. Wisdom is greater than knowledge – wisdom is learning how to apply what you have learned, what you know to be true – in a beneficial and logical way.
Some are born blind; others choose to be blind. I choose to acknowledge the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in. By refusing to stick my head in the sand and pretend nothing is wrong, I choose instead to cut through the lies and half-truths, to discover that which hides behind the deception.
I don’t look at the world through rose colored glasses, I live in the real world where nothing is ever simply black or white. If that makes me a partisan hack – so be it.
For me facts and truth are as nonpartisan or as objective as I choose to be!
“Get wisdom, get understanding; forget it not; neither decline from the worlds of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all they getting, get understanding. Exalt her and she shall promote thee, she shall bring thee to honor, when thou doesn’t embrace her.” Proverbs 4:5-8
