The Blog: if you don’t like it, you can get out!
There’s nothing more fun then a good and healthy debate. It can be enjoyable and even help relieve a little stress when you’re really able to argue your opinions. Even though I’ve always been pretty non-confrontational, I still thoroughly enjoy the occasional debate.
What I don’t enjoy so much is the constant third grade mentality that accompanies most of the debates I’ve heard recently. The relentless and very overstated phrase, “if you don’t like it, you can move,” has been grating on my nerves for months and months, and finally, I cannot take it anymore. I know, I know. If I don’t like it, I can leave. Right?
This logic, or lack there of, is stated constantly, especially when issues of politics are being addressed. What? You’re against the war in Iraq? Well, if you don’t like it, you can move to Canada. Oh and you, you disagree with certain political figures? I guess you better be on your way too.
Does anyone see a problem with this reasoning? Imagine what the country would be like today if instead of standing up against things you thought were wrong, you just left. There probably wouldn’t be anyone left in the United States. I don’t like slavery and I think women should be able to vote, but instead of working to change that, I’m just gonna go leave the country.
I know that as long as we have politicians, we are going to have differing opinions on who is right and what policies are valid, but the take it or leave it mentality makes no sense. It reminds me of a particularly brilliant episode of South Park, where the pro-war and anti-war residents were feuding. Of course in the cartoon world, everything was solved with a moving musical number at the end, but the point was if we didn’t have both sides, conservatices and liberals, things would be out of control.
Our government is made for the people, by the people, and that means that all opinions, whether you agree with them or not, should be heard, and if you don’t agree with that, maybe you should get out.
February 27th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Good points Jessica. Name calling gets old fast and retracts from the quality of a solid, healthy debate and cheapens the issue at hand. Staying focused and within the confines of the debate, makes it most rewarding for all parties involved.
But when some is just a whiner and won’t stop carrying on and rehashing the same moot point, it’s very tempting (and reasonable) to wish they leave.
Just my opinion. Please don’t request that I to Canada or France.
March 1st, 2007 at 6:21 pm
I’ve always said I learn more from people who disagree with me, than from those who agree. (They’re all wrong, of course, but I do learn from the poor, misguided souls all the same.)
So okay. They can stay. =)
March 5th, 2007 at 12:14 am
If you want change, volunteer your time to work on a Democratic or Republican or other party committee. Voice your opinion there, choose the running candidate, or run yourself. You do not have to be a lawyer to do that! Jessica is correct in that the country is made by the people and for the people, while you can complain - you must realize it is partially your fault if you do not help make a change!