This week . . . looking over the June highlights, certain patterns may not be obvious, but are actually clear: For the polarizers, accusations are more important than issues; anger is more satisfying than understanding; shouting far more than fun than listening.
Imagine if the pundits actually took the issues and the country more seriously than their efforts to pump up their respective bases (and recruit more followers…money…clicks…votes…) and, even in the cause of their respective ideologies, they 1) Focused more on resolving issues than using issues to blame the “other”; 2) Tried understanding and reconciling with the other view rather than caricaturizing and mocking it to stoke their anger; 3) Tried listening and maybe learning something instead of shouting and reveling in their ignorance and narrowness.
Is this naive wishful thinking? Or is it simply a desire to get back to what some would argue is the true greatness of America.
When reading these examples, check the above list and ask yourself: regardless of whether you agree or disagree, is this really advancing an intelligent resolution through the persuasive, rational arguments of advocacy…or simply fueling the fire of conflict through the divisive, emotional manipulations of polarization?
Here is a recap of some of the blue and red polarizing headlines from the month of June.
Blue Headlines
Now there’s proof: Republican judges are more racist—a lot more racist
California Republicans hit rock bottom
Major Right-Wing Media Outlets Can’t Keep Up With The Racism Of Their Audiences
Why do so many conservatives think of themselves as victims?
GOP Attacking Healthcare Again: This Is War
Unpatriotic GOP Is ‘Flunking A Major Character Test’ By Supporting Dangerous, Immoral Trump
Supreme Court Gives Republicans Another Tool to Rig Elections with Voter Purge Decision
Right-wing media’s latest pathetic attempts to smear Google as leftist radicals
Republicans are along for Trump’s racist, authoritarian ride. But don’t give Trump all the credit.
Robert De Niro Says “Fuck Trump” at the Tony Awards
Singer John Legend to Paul Ryan for Posting Father’s Day Video: ‘Seriously, F**k You’
The Insidious Republican Plot to Hijack the Census
Republican Party chair tweets a creepy authoritarian warning to the American people
The Republicans’ Jekyll And Hyde approach to denting the opioid crisis
‘You Are A Monumental Idiot’: Army Vet Blasts Trump Cheerleader
Red Headlines
The Left’s War On White Men Rages On
Liberal brains are pickled — take it from … liberals
Liberal town tells business to remove ‘excessive’ American flags. Now the business is fighting back
Blame California’s Crazy Left-Wing Politics for Water Rationing
Liberal Media Forced to Admit Economy is ‘On a Roll,’ Jobs ‘Excellent
Democrats Don’t Realize Their Dirty Tactics Will Be Turned Against Them
Krauthammer Is Dying With Dignity While Liberals Are Living With None
Bourdain: Casualty of Leftist Mindset
Liberals Cry Free Speech For NFL Kneelers But Want Conservatives Fired For Their Opinions
Trump to De Niro: ‘Wake up Punchy’
The left’s ‘bigotry’ cry has lost its punch
Miss America: The Latest Institution Destroyed by the Left
How to shut down the pro-choice liberal in your life
Liberals Freak Out Over Everything
The Left’s Unhinged Nazi Comparisons Drag the Discourse from the Gutter down into the Sewer