NonnyMouse, guest-posting over at Crooks and Liars, posted a very beautiful and heart-felt commentary on the mass shooting at a Universalist chrch in Tennessee over the weekend, killings carried out by yet another sick individual with too-easy access to firearms, one who apparently had it in for “liberals” and who specifically targeted this church because of its well-known progressive social positions and activism within its community. Obviously, anyone who would do such a thing has problems and is in need of medical care, and the shooter’s history in this case seems to match all the usual classic patterns we’ve all heard about.
That doesn’t, however, mitigate the fact that the hateful language of the Right in this country, especially in the Corporate Media, shouldn’t take some of the blame. When people like Michael Savage, Ann Coulter – and especially Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh - and all their copy-catting ilk routinely refer to liberals as “radicals” and “traitors, ” lumping them in with terrorists and such, they are using the language of violence. I’m reading a book on that subject this week (one that, unlike the “books” these hate-mongers folks write, like the ones this killer had in his home, has actual documentation and footnotes and stuff), and it’s been very enlightening: lots of head-nodding and “a-ha” and “uh-huh” moments. It’s the recognition that the use of violent words constitutes a violent act, and we all maybe should start thinking about that.
That, unfortunately, includes many “progressives.” I often am dismayed and disheartened by the use of violent and derogatory language by people who call themselves liberals. I suggest you read NonnyMouses’s post, but I’d also politely suggest that you not read most of the comments that follow. As per usual at C & L and other supposedly progressive blogs, the fundamentalist religion haters are out in force on this post, using this tragedy as yet another excuse to beat up on self-professed believers and their beliefs. Their language makes one double-check to be sure one hasn’t landed on littlegreenlunatics.com or freebrownshirts.net or something like that. It’s the thing that most often keeps me off and away from most of these places these days.
It’s also something of which I’ve been guilty, and it’s something I need to work on.
NonnyMouse’s post is full of the language of peace, reconciliation, love, and tolerance.
The comments are full of bigotry, hatred, anger, profanity, and a heavy dose of down-right meanness.
It makes me sad.
This tragic incident should be yet another reminder that progressive ideas are literally under attack in this country, on a daily basis, by people with big mouths, big microphones, big-money sponsors, and big audiences, and that the hysteria of some on the Right can translate into violent acts by desperate people who only need an excuse, an automatic weapon, and a little push to go over the edge. It shows us that when folks say there is a “culture war” going on in America, we might want to remember that some among us take that word “war” very literally.
It’d be nice to think we on this side of the room could band together to non-violently respond, as we should. If we truly believe in peace, then that peace should begin with each of us, starting with the words we use.
Unfortunately, it appears as though that’s asking too much from some people.
Filed under: Blogging, Bootlicking Corporate Media, General outrage, Kvetching & whining, News & commentary, Peace testimony, Religion & faith, Tolerance & diversity
One wonders what we perpetuate more in this society: a culture of barely repressed anger or a culture of denial.
You pointed out something that I also said in response to a post about this incident. It’s not just the right wing that perpetuates talk of hate and violence, I’ve seen it many times by progressives. For instance, Keith Olbermann who said that Hillary should be brought into some back room with a couple of guys who come out alone, all because she had not dropped out of the primary race.
The hateful comments on blogs like C&L and Huffington post makes me wonder if those who call themselves “progressives” really know what the term means. I have to wonder what the maturity level is with these people. I’m not talking about the young voters…there are just as many that are my age that write things that remind me very much of a group of junior high kids. I quit reading all those blogs, they’re filled with too much hate.
Oh…and it’s not just the big blogs, I mentioned one of the smaller ones, From the Left,on my blog where you can find plenty of hate and violence in their comments aimed at those who don’t follow their chosen candidate. I have to wonder…is hate radio fueling this talk from their listeners or is this behavior of their listeners which is fueling hate radio to put more of it in their shows?
Either way…it needs to stop.
I’ve read that when they searched the killers house they found copies of three books: one by O’Reilly, one by Hannity and one by Savage. Your point is well taken it seems. Of course people like this don’t care, they don’t even necessarily believe the filth they utter. It’s just good for ratings and thus one’s paycheck. A pox on all their houses!
Sherry’s referring to this:
http://jeffrey-feldman.typepad.com/frameshop/2008/07/frameshop-why-i.html
i appreciate your post – esp. when pointing out that it’s not just the right that uses violent language. in your post you write this about ann coulter and savage and the like and you use this language ‘one that, unlike the “books” these hate-mongers write’.. is this not violent language as well? i’m not asking to attack you, i’m asking because i’m trying to understand where the line is between non-violence and pacifism, and when language becomes violent vs. when it is used to make a point. i struggle with this every day – how to make a point vs. being loving.
Point well taken, brooke. Thanks for calling me on that.
Not to pick nits, but that blog post was not written by Nicole Bell. She doesn’t write with the kind of language that is full of the peace, reconciliation, love, and tolerance that you describe. She writes blog posts that actually encourages the comments you describe that are so typical there- full of bigotry, hatred, anger, profanity, and a heavy dose of down-right meanness. And it is sad.
Ann: That’s the kind of nit-picking I appreciate, as I try to be accurate, and that post was written in haste, so thanks.
As to your comments about Nicole Belle, I let that pass without comment.