If there is an “objective truth” it is the statement that there is no objective truth. It is amazing how little appreciation or consideration this statement gets. Consider how this affects the American presidential elections, now in full bloom as each party engages the painstaking process of electing their candidate.
As you listen to the various speeches, it seems they are often incapable of knowing or appreciating that in a pluralistic, democratic society, reasonable conflicting points of view exist - or they are hypocrites or ideologues, playing to whomever they have to in order to gain their electorate’s support.
If the latter is true no wonder there is no middle ground in American politics. If you don’t agree with someone, you do not have to spend any time considering their point of view since they are obviously ill informed. What else could they be if they don’t agree with your political viewpoint?
And it’s much easier this way. You don’t have to waste any time rethinking what you believe. You certainly don’t need to spend any time trying to analyze opposing points of view from a different perspective.
What would that accomplish since the people you don't agree with are bubble heads anyway? This seems to be the scenario for American political thought today.
This also makes it a lot more fun for professional journalists or newscasters. You don’t have to spend any time researching and actually knowing the news. You just have to be very good at making sure you call those you don’t agree with imbeciles. (Fox News?) There is one caveat when entertaining your audience with the so-called news. You don’t want to use the word imbecile too often, though it does help occasionally.
It is more effective to employ words that ridicule those you disagree with on more intellectual terms. Use words such as misguided, misinformed, and inexperienced and other pejorative terms that are equally degrading, but offer a much higher level of discourse.
It also helps to be able to sit on a stool with your legs crossed and still keep a straight face.
And just consider for a moment - this is the way we pick the leader of the “free world.” What does that say about us, the electorate? After all, our elected leaders do reflect who we are as a people. And the beat goes on and on and on ………..
John Frank Giovanni, commenting for “The Pizzaonian”* from the United States
*A division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network, Diverti Mento, editor
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