Political Blogger’s Pledge
Posted: 01.10.11 Filed under: Politics | Tags: Arizona, blogger, blogging, conservative, democrat, Gabrielle Giffords, god, hate, liberal, political, political climate, politics, republican, rhetoric, tone, United States, violence, Washington DC, Wil Wheaton 4 Comments »In light of my previous post, and in the spirit of being part of the solution rather than part of the problem, I’m hereby making a solemn pledge as a political blogger. I urge my fellow political bloggers on both sides of the aisle to take up the pledge themselves, and to open your blog and your arms to your political opposites in the name of progress and civility. I highly doubt that the news networks take up this mantle because they’re in it for the ratings. It’s up to us to change the tone in America–and, by God, we’re Americans and we damn well can do it if we put our minds to it.
As a responsible citizen, I pledge to avoid all inflammatory rhetoric and propaganda, including violent rhetoric, unfair comparison of people with whom I do not agree to atrocities such as the Holocaust simply because we do not agree (unless, such as in the case of the Arizona laws where immigrants have to carry their “papers” at all times, such a parallel is historically warranted), immature and childish name-calling, and to use a minimum of unnecessary sarcasm.
As an American, I pledge not to center my political blogs around conservative vs. liberal in order to avoid deepening the divide between political groups. Instead, I will focus on ideas and not make mass generalizations about groups of people.
As a blogger and a writer, I pledge to do my best to try to see both sides of an argument, even if I initially think that the other side isn’t worth considering (and even if this conclusion persists through exploration).
As a friend and neighbor, I pledge not to let differences in ideology interfere with my ability to see other people as human beings, even when we disagree or when they start name-calling, using unnecessary sarcasm, or using bad logic.
As a person, I pledge to be as compassionate as I can.
I am human and humans are prone to making mistakes and forgetting pledges. To anybody who is reading, if I break this pledge, I want you to call me out on it (but as Wil Wheaton says, don’t be a dick).
We may differ politically, but you are not my enemy.
[...] This is courtesy of GreenGeekGirl: [...]
I’m glad your doing this, Suzy. It it encouraging to see someone taking positive action as an individual to not only turn the political discourse around, but channel it in a positive and logical direction. Thanks for doing what you do, and doing it so well!
‘I am human and humans are prone to making mistakes and forgetting pledges. To anybody who is reading, if I break this pledge, I want you to call me out on it (but as Wil Wheaton says, don’t be a dick).’ – consider it done ;)
Good pledge, I would join you, but I’m not a political blogger and I think, that as far as I can I’m trying to stick to the same principles already.
Thanks ^_^ It’s much easier to forget basic human decency these days when political blogging.. it’s insanity out there! But I’m trying to force myself to remember.