TheBanyanTree: Mental Illness Ain't No Picnic

[LaLinda]

Yes, and how to try to see things from the perspective of (reasonable) 
others, I think.  I mean, I just read that the guy was liberal, then, an 
independent, then, a fan of Mein Kamph, then, A Communist Manifesto? 
Clearly, the guy was not in the realm of reasonable thinkers, so, as 
much as I'd like to drag Palin around by the hair, the reality is that 
this guy had his own lunatic agenda.

Regarding disagreeing, my experience with family political extremists, 
both right and Left, is that neither are respectful of one another, 
their ideas or opinions and everything is a contest or a competition to 
"prove" who can be louder. Get-togethers are becoming a potential 
minefield and then add alcohol?  Apparently no one is immune from being 
an asshat.  Everybody has to be right and no one really cares about 
doing the right thing and seeking peace, at least not from what I have 
seen.  It's one-ups-man-ship: who's got the sharpest put-down, insult, 
whatever. It's about CONQUERING.  It's sick.

L

On 1/11/2011 12:29 PM, Jena Norton wrote:
> The sheriff of Pima County was so vocal on this subject. And it surprised me
> to hear a cop in a conservative area question the rhetoric in politics
> today. I agree with Julie about the political climate today. It reminds me
> of what I read about politics preceding the Civil War.
>
> I own guns and was raised around them, but I have a problem with people who
> think we should all carry guns everywhere. I found it ironic that one of the
> heroes of Saturday was a young man who was carrying a concealed legal weapon
> when he went running out to help when he heard the shots. He helped wrestle
> the shooter to the ground and hold him until the police came.
>
> It's all horrible, but the little girl that died is the one I think most of
> us are focused on. I keep hoping this incident will cause many people to
> reflect and think twice about what they say and how they say it. The nation
> needs desperately to reflect on how to disagree without rancor and hatred.
>
> Jena Norton