Last October, I attended The Columbian’s Community Funded Journalism event. The most compelling thing I heard was Rep. Sharon Wylie’s observation that we have become socially dysfunctional in part because politicians don’t recognize nuance on issues we collectively face.
This comment was spot on. We are constantly provoked to take sides on issues to support one extreme/dysfunctional position or another.
For example, supporting Israel’s right to exist requires supporting the rampant slaughter of citizens of Gaza; otherwise we are antisemitic. If we don’t see Hamas’ brutal attacks on Israelis as justified, then we are anti-Palestinian.
Two groups that consistently promote extremist positions are politicians and religious ideologues.
Of the three state-level elected officials representing me (17th Legislative District), one attempts to be even-handed in how they advocate for their constituents. The other two regularly promote disdain and distrust for their political opponents.
Going further, religious ideologues among us promote the notion that ancient religious groups who thrived and survived on violent interactions between themselves and their neighbors somehow serve as outstanding role models for a modern society.
Representative Wylie was right, but recognize the source of the problem if you want to rectify it.
