Dear Governor Palin,
I am writing in the hopes of bringing to your attention a perspective regarding political rhetoric and the use of hyperbole which I have found shockingly absent in the views and opinions expressed from all sides — liberal and conservative, pundits, politicians and media — in the current national debate prompted by the horrific crimes committed in Tucson on January 8th.
Although you and I are generally in disagreement on pretty much anything imaginable, I will grant you — in spite of disagreements on the issue at hand which I will elaborate upon shortly — that an unfair level of blame and criticism has been aimed at you personally. But this should not come as a surprise. You have voluntarily, and may I add skillfully, placed yourself at the forefront of public debate in every media format currently known to man. Others, in an effort for their voice to be heard, invoke your name in order to draw more attention to themselves. To now, my biggest regret (as an aspiring blogger) continues to be that you have yet to notice when I do this myself…
Let me preface my remarks on the subject at hand by first mentioning my heartfelt belief that anybody claiming that a link absolutely exists between any remarks you (or anybody else) have made and the terrible events of Tucson is being just as disingenuous as anybody who claims that one absolutely does not. We can only speculate as to what inspires a deranged mind.
But what has been shockingly absent from the debate, in spite of its obviousness, is the danger that one brings to themselves — as well as those they target — by invoking inciteful language. Just the other day, I posted a picture of you that I am sure you will agree crossed the line. (If you like, you may view it by clicking
here. Additionally, it may be purchased on T-shirts, mugs, and a wide variety of other items by clicking
here.) Of course, when you compare the size of your following to mine, the chances that this (or any number of other things I have published about you) will trigger some troubled individual to commit an act of violence against me are exponentially greater than the chances of something similar befalling you. Remember, arsonists are often the victims of their own fires. Lest we forget
Alan Berg, the controversial (to put it mildly) Denver radio personality who was gunned down by white supremacists in 1984. He was once quoted as saying, “Hopefully, my legal training will prevent me from saying the one thing that will kill me…” It didn’t.
You, Governor, are in a unique position. You — more than anybody else in this country at present — possess the power, should you choose to exercise it, to set a new tone. Because you are perceived, rightly or not, as the national lightning rod on this issue, so too can you be the beacon that leads millions in a better direction. If you lead, others who share your views will follow. The choice is yours.
Of course, I support the First Amendment rights of you and every other American. I celebrate that I may exercise my own, and do, liberally. But I would be remiss if I wasted the opportunity to tell you, as a full-time ’satirist’ — not a commentator who merely hides behind the term to deflect criticism rather than admit to going too far — that I would love nothing better than for you to make my job easier. That last sentence may seem odd, as I’m sure you would naturally suspect that prompting a more civil, rational dialogue would make my job more difficult, but things have gotten so out of hand that the opposite is now true. If I were to publish a piece tomorrow which portrayed you or any number of prominent conservative media and/or political figures as supporting a plan under which elderly people would be used as food in order to not only reduce spending on Social Security and Medicare, but also feed and shelter the poor and homeless, a shockingly large percentage of readers would believe the story was factual.
Also, as a human being (and a liberal), I would hate to see you truly become a martyr almost as much as I enjoy watching you play one on television. Perhaps Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck might be satisfied with an epitaph that reads, “He had ratings to die for,” but something tells me you hope to be remembered for something far more substantial. Whatever my own personal doubts may be in that regard, I wish you every opportunity to achieve it.
Again, please give serious thought to what countless millions of Americans hear on their televisions and radios every day about those they disagree with. Please exercise your capability to unite instead of divide. And please, don’t give this blogger the ammunition to go back to
calling you a 'retard'…
Sincerely,
The Desperate Blogger
January 20th, 2011 | Tags: political rhetoric, Sarah Palin, Tucson Shooting | Category: Editorial, Media, Opinion, Politics
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