Maybe we need a new breed of leadership in Washington, D.C. that can bring both sides to the table in order to make things better for all of us, or maybe we should show our elected leaders by our own willingness to listen. Wouldn't it be funny if we came together leaving the politicians in the dust? Now that idea I find amusing.

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I have been debating whether or not to write this column. The reason is I do not wish to give power over someone who emailed me concerning my comparative piece of how the Iraqi people must think of President Bush.   

Someone took exception to this comparison and while I will not publish all of his email to me, since most of it contained expletives, it is this part of it that is most disturbing in which he said, “It’s a shame that Cho didn’t kill you” When I read that sentence, it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I was left to wonder if this person does want me dead.  I did not know what to do with this one particular email so I sent it on to a friend and confidant who writes for several major news papers.  His advice to me was do not answer him directly, so I will take his advice. 

But, it got me thinking; has civility gone out the window?  Can’t we have a difference of opinion in this country without wishing others harm?  I do not know about the feedback that other writers get, but there have been two other times in which people who read what I had to say wished me a similar harm. 

Whatever happened to the civility of debate within this country?  Are we long past that?  I seem to remember in high school taking a debate class in which you had to sit down, listen to what the other was saying without reverting to name calling or the use of expletives. 

You may not like the position one person is taking; but can’t we seem to rise above it all and say, you are free to think and take such a position?  Lately, as an exercise I have sat and listened to the views of others from the other side of the political aisle.  I did it for this reason to see if there were any commonalities.  Instead of digging my heels firmly into the ground and without budging, I wanted to see if I could at least listen.  I have found to my surprise it is possible to listen to another point without going nuts.  In fact some of their opinions have made sense to me. 

I have to admit that it does not work all the time. I may not like what Ann Coulter has to say or Rush Limbaugh for that matter and what they have said in the past and in the present still brings the bile up in my throat.  Would I ever think of emailing them a threat or wish of bodily harm?  Would I ever use expletives to drive my point home?  No, my parents raised me better. Also using expletives in a response shows ignorance.  By the way, I have emailed them in the past stating I have felt certain positions taken by them are wrong.  I even challenged Ann Coulter to a debate on the issues through an email.  I still have not heard back.  Cei la vie. 

But, it brings me back to what has caused civility to be thrown out the window in which we can no longer debate issues or have a differing opinion and must result to name calling, or worse, threats?

  Are there outside forces pitting us against each other and how do we end this?  Is it the media and various think tanks?  Is it the us versus them mentality and the red against the blue that is allowing for this?  At times while trying to keep us informed the media may be the biggest culprit.  Those who dictate policy coming from any think tank may also be responsible.  Can we wrest back control from both of these factions? I think that it's in our best interest to do so. 

Is the reason for this polarization is that folks on either side of the political aisle have gone to their respective corners not willing to come to the middle and at least talk?  If that is the case, what a lost opportunity to us all. 

I tend to take many online polls just to see what the outcome is and the ones that are politically based are split down the middle.  Are we that entrenched that we have a tendency to vote in this fashion?  I would find it amazing to see if an online poll can take a lesser known quote by and individual without giving their identity away and say; do you agree or disagree?  Wouldn’t it be amazing and jaw-dropping if you agreed with someone you have not agreed with in the past?  Now that would be mind-blowing.  But, then again, you would have folks Googling the quote just to see who said it.  To those that would do so; does the term cheater come to mind?  

I often wonder if the politicians and the third-rail issues have brought this about.  Do we see an issue come up and we scream; oh they just cannot get away with this?  Do we say; oh what nerve?  Maybe it is delving into the issue with a fresh set of eyes that may have you re-thinking your position.  When we look at certain politicians often our opinion of them has been one of contempt.  If we cannot seem to see their point, it’s okay.  Hey, we are Americans and it is our freedom to disagree. 

I will give you on example of a third-rail issue in light of Virginia Tech massacre. As a result, the gun debate is back in play.  It may surprise you that as a Democrat, I once wrote an article defending gun owners in this column, When Bad Gun Legislation, Punishes the Wrong People.  One of the reasons you will see is that I am a gun owner.  That column took a lot of research, but I was able to prove Democratic legislators in New York State wrong.  I sent this column to elected officials on both sides of the aisle and the ones that did support me were the Republican legislators.  I wonder if it had them scratching their heads.  I would have given anything to be that proverbial fly on their wall as they received it. 

While you may think this column is directed only at Democrats; to that I add it is directed towards Republicans as well.  In fact, it is directed towards all and not just some. 

In closing, I do not pretend to know what it will take to restore civility to this nation. Maybe is it the art of listening to what another has to say.  Perhaps before responding to a writer’s thoughts even if you angrily disagree, it means walking away for a bit and then writing them.  If you cannot seem to do that, no writer if they are Republican, Democrat a member of any other party or none at all should ever get an email wishing that someone would kill them.  Maybe we need a new breed of leadership in Washington, D.C. that can bring both sides to the table in order to make things better for all of us, or maybe we should show our elected leaders by our own willingness to listen.  Wouldn’t it be funny if we came together leaving the politicians in the dust?  Now that idea I find amusing.  

Author’s note: Please feel free to email me at xmjmac@optonline.net

Authors Bio:
I am a writer who currently writes pieces for my own blog http://www.mary-macelveen.blogspot.com I have been published by Buzzflash.com, TheLiberalPatriot.org and MikeHersh.com. I was a guest on the Jay Diamond Radio Show on WRKO in Boston and have appeared on CNN.  I have done numerous web broadcasts for sites such as RadioLeft.com, TVNewsLies.org and FranklySpeakingRadio.com.

Please take time to visit my Facebook.com page as well as my Twitter page.