Alex, what in the hell is wrong with your sorry ‘Republican’ RINO ass?

Yep, I got the email this morning from an extremely ‘conservative’ friend, and I am going to paraphrase a little:

“Dearest Alex Patton, the political guy with an awesome wife, Lately, I’ve been reading your blog and social media posts, and I must ask with all due respect, what in the hell is wrong with your sorry ‘Republican’ RINO ass? He is destroying our country. Be a good conservative, get on board & fall in line. Signed, a true conservative friend who is absolutely right with God on my side “

I am going to hide the identity of the person sending the email to protect their ego and identity, but frankly at first I blew the email off.

These types of emails are expected when you put out there any opinion counter to conventional wisdom; however, it has stuck with me because I have struggled to answer it with a one line witty, quippy answer.

The question requires a well thought out answer slightly more expansive than “Kiss my ass.”

An Answer – What in the hell is wrong with Alex Patton?

1) I am concerned with the absolutism on display by all sides during the past year and especially during the shut down.

The problem starts with this absolutism. (see a previous post – What if they are Right?)

2) With absolutism comes an attitude there is a greater good and even some think this greater good has been blessed by God.

3) From this belief in a greater good that some think has been blessed by God, you quickly arrive at “any tactics or means are acceptable if they serve this greater good.” ie “We will allow the government created explicitly by a Constitution to crumble to the ground because we have a greater good.”

4) From this greater good with a belief that any tactics or means are okay quickly comes to a license to hate. Almost a requirement to hate; hence the email.

Here is a key – this type of absolute idealism requires an enemy, not only a enemy but one to despise.

We have seen this from the left (yes, you holier than thou people) with they way some treated W in his second term. Daily Kos, I’m looking at you!

We see it now from the right with the way some are treating President Obama in his second term.

It is this behavior that I have a hard time stomaching.

I am seeing the language change to a point that I am worried about some of my friends.

From this same person that sent the above email, I have also received assassination ‘jokes’, links to news articles that were so inflammatory they must have been written by a world class propagandist, and an explanation as to why they “hate” this President and feel that his “absolute” goal is to “destroy our country and with it our way of life.”

Before you jump in and cheer my lefty, Democratic friends, I received monkey photo George W emails, links to news articles that were so inflammatory they must have been written by a world class propagandist, and an explanation on how Republicans want to “destroy our country and with it our way of life” and that is why we need some hope.

Both sides are guilty of it.

The important point is that if you look at human history, absolutism has lead to the most atrocious affairs in human history : the Crusades, Inquisition, Communism, Genghis Kahn, the Khmer Rouge, WWII, and this list is almost endless.

Here is the kicker: This absolutism is not happening to evil people, it is happening to people that think they are right and are caught up in this absolutism with no room to compromise.

People I once found sensible, I am now having a hard time recognizing. They appear to be caught up this idealistic fever complete with an absolutism’s requirement to hate. These people see themselves as ‘free thinkers’, yet all talk from the same page, and the second you disagree with them, you get emails.

Conclusion

Some think I have a requirement – no, a duty – to hate. When they ask, “What in the hell is wrong with you?” what they mean is “If you do not hate the enemy like we do, there must be something wrong with you.”

To some, there is now a complete and total, “if you are not on our side of good as we define it, then you are officially the enemy. No compromise, we are good and righteous and just. We can not compromise, because afterall, we can not sell 10% of our soul to the devil or enemy.”

Ok, I reject that.

I reject absolutism, and there is NOTHING wrong with me.

I was personally reminded of the perils of absolutism by the recent, wise words of Pope Francis:

If one has the answers to all the questions — that is the proof that God is not with him. It means that he is a false prophet using religion for himself. The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble. -NYTimes interview with the Pope.

I think the language of absolutism or fundamentalism that leaves no room for compromise is dangerous not only for our country but also as history has shown, the human race.

So, in closing, I guess I am not on board and this fight needs to happen.

PS Now, be honest, was this not a little nicer than “Kiss my Ass?”

PSS Funny Story

One of my favorite memories on the campaign trail happened during a Republican primary debate.

One candidate said that he was running because “God told him to run.”

Our candidate looked at him and said the following “Oh, God is such a joker, he told me the same thing.”

True story.