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We share one thing in common with the conservatives we oppose. We value our ideals, our perspective on the world and the universe that we strive to understand and, in some respect, control. Both sides want things to work out for the best, in general, though not only our goals, but even our methodology, are seemingly diametrically opposed.
They think we're misguided in that we reject the use of raw power to achieve those goals, for we understand that the use of power in this way tends to create more problems than it solves. We see authority as ultimately fallible, though, for some reason, they believe that we idolize our leaders to the point of blindness.
If that isn't a perfect example of projection, I don't know what is. If anything, we may be harsher in our judgments than is actually good for us. Or our leaders, for that matter.
Where they see black and white, right or wrong, we see various layers and permutations, a universe of technicolor wonderment, where things may not be as simple as they might at first seem.
They think it's our plan to make peace with the terrorists, to work to placate them rather than oppose them and their tactics, as if we don't realize that appeasement might well be impossible. In any war there are multiple options--victory, defeat, and diplomacy. Negotiation. Compromise.
How many terrorists can we kill without creating more? That's really the question, isn't it? Can traditional military forces defeat an army made up of individuals strengthened by ideology, and protected by the very thing that might be seen as a weakness...the very lack of hardware that forces them to fight by the means they do.
It is also difficult for us to fight them by standard military means because we're not facing a nation, but a loose coalition of people who oppose us on principle. People that do not wear any particular country's colors, but instead may be of any nationality, and any race.
The Republican belief in the value of naked force has strengthened them and their cause. They use their aggression as proof of the rightness of their beliefs, that we are the ones in the wrong.
The Republicans seem incapable of recognizing the folly of their behaviors.
It's sad that we see them all so clearly but they won't listen to us. They despise us for it.
Scary sad.
We can only hope that something changes. But how can it? They are incapable of changing their minds, and we cannot force them to. No matter what happens, they will continue to heap insults and scorn upon us, no matter how many times we are proved right in our assertions.
And we will continue to be right, no matter how they treat us in response.
What's worst of all is that most of us want to see a better world. The only difference is the way we believe it can be attained. Or, at least, how we might approach the possibility.
If only there was a way to bring them to the truth. But no matter what we do they'll never speak the same language as we do.
In the meantime they will continue to be manipulated by power-hungry, greedy, and sociopathic individuals who use the right language to play to their fears and their belief that overwhelming force guarantees victory, regardless of all evidence to the contrary.
When will they learn?
Now there's the 64,000 dollar question.
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