'You're as nutty as a fruitcake'

by David Grand
June 3, 2004

That's one of the milder epithets you frequently hear these days whenever and wherever the subject of the war and presidential election are argued, with emotion running so high that it's virtually impossible to carry on a calm, rational dialogue with those of opposing views without tempers flaring and eyes glowing like red, hot coals.

Now, when I was growing up, my father told me that there were two taboo subjects-politics and religion-that I'd be wasting my breath ever arguing about, for you'd never change another's views on either. Those words of wisdom rank right up there with two other gems he imparted to me: "Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don't say it mean." And "remember every time you open your mouth to talk, your mind walks out and parades up and down the words."

I've always tried to heed his advice, even though at times I had to bite my tongue so hard that it was close to bleeding in resisting the temptation to lash out at someone whose views I considered as idiotic and who didn't have the good sense that God gave geese. And believe me, it sometimes took the patience of Job to be able to "turn the other cheek" (all four of 'em), especially when the name-calling began. (Only once or twice I slipped, by giving my antagonist the visual sign of the "bull's horns.")

Speaking of name-calling, for neoconservatives "liberal" is a dirty word (uttered with disgust) when directed at a person they consider, if not un-American, as out of touch with reality. And there's no end to the timeworn quotes they can rattle off: "A liberal is a person whose interests aren't at stake at the moment."..."A cannibal is a good deal like a liberal, in that they are forced to live off each other."..."If left up to the liberals, the Ten Commandments would be the ten suggestions."... "A liberal is always willing to spend someone else's money."..."A liberal is a power worshipper without the power."

But, conversely, there's certainly no shortage of equally disparaging ones flowing from the liberal camp: "Conservative are pessimists about the future and optimists about the past."..."Some people get credit for being conservative, when they're only stupid."..."A conservative doesn't believe anything should be done for the first time."..."A conservatives just sits and thinks, mostly sits."..."A conservative is like a man riding backward in a railroad car; he never sees anything until he gets past it."

To me, those are still real "haw-haws" no matter how often I've heard 'em. However, many far-out "lefties and righties," regard them as venomous barbs and as fighting words, devoid of humor. Isn't that a sad reflection on our society I've often thought (never more so than today) when humor and joshing are no longer in vogue in political debates, replaced by vitriol and mean-spiritedness; and with opinions being judged, not on their merits, but based solely on who spoke or wrote them: a starry-eyed liberal or an arch conservative.

Fortunately, however, most Americans are "middle-of-the-roaders," the so-called silent majority, which aren't aligned with liberalism or conservatism, and who reject the extremes of both like a plague. And you'll seldom find them banging their fists on a bar and engaging in heated and wasteful, political arguments (no matter how provoked), obviously believing as I do that silence is one of the hardest things to refute.   

Well, it's time for me to read the paper and see who called who what yesterday. Perhaps there'll be some pejorative terms I haven't heard before. But I doubt it.