Monday, January 16, 2017

Are we haters?


By Donna Volmerding
I loved to watch the TV show “Little House on the Prairie.” The Ingalls family, who were excellent role models, were sometimes opposed by the dysfunctional Oleson family — in particular, Nellie. Years later, the Olesons adopted Nancy, a girl who made Nellie look like a choir girl.
Whenever Nancy did something hateful or malicious and got caught, her quick response was “You hate me!” I would roll my eyes and say to myself “Puhleeeeze.”
In today’s politically correct climate, I often feel the same way about hot-topic discussions. You don’t agree with gay marriage? You hate. You didn’t vote for Hillary? You hate. You don’t believe in open borders? You hate.
Thoughtful, informed, reasonable discussion is shut down. You are labeled a bigot, homophobe, misogynist, xenophobe, sexist, fascist, blah, blah, blah. You are in a basket of deplorables, irredeemable, in fact.
If you have any beliefs other than what the radical left deems appropriate, you’re a hater. Your speech is mean and hurts others feelings; therefore, you are denied your First Amendment right to free speech.
It isn’t that the left needs to hone its message. The problem is, lefties don’t have a message other than to demean those who disagree with them. When they are asked probing, serious questions from those who seek understanding, the kneejerk response is “You hate!”
My eyes roll, and I say to myself “Puhleeeeze.”