“Tiresome political labels” The complexity of labels
In less than a month of writing this column, I’ve been labeled many things, “liberal propagandist” being the most popular. From the other side of the aisle, someone even compared me to George Bush, calling me an “ideological moron.” That one hurt. Because of me, people even accused The Colonnade of being liberal.
This week, I want to lay all the cards out on the table: Is Brian Shreve a liberal?
Before I attempt to answer that, I want you know how sick I am of these tiresome political labels. I would like to believe I am more complex than that, and I hope most of you are too.
Perhaps I should summarize a few of my beliefs, letting you be the judge.
I don’t have a uterus, but most who do are pro-choice, so I choose to be too. I believe gay Americans are entitled to the same rights as straight Americans because if you still think in 2005 it’s a choice, maybe you should go back and sit on the porch swing with Uncle Joe at the Shady Rest. I further think the federal government should be taking care of our poorest two percent before our wealthiest two percent.
So, by that rationale, I probably am liberal. But wait! I also adore the U.S. military, and I found myself tearing-up when I saw Ronald Reagan’s casket last summer, so where the hell do I fall? Wherever it is, it’s not as important as you might think.
People stress over whether any source of news or opinion, even The Colonnade, represents the left, the right, far left, far right, right-to-center, left-to-Albuquerque-I just want to read the damn newspaper, not learn the cha-cha. Is that OK?
For instance, I’m tired of hearing the opposition to the New York Times on campus. When I see a student reading it in the library, I sigh in relief, not because I wish them to think or vote a certain way, but because they are reading the most well-written, most embedded periodical of record in this country. As long as Fox News, the most irresponsible, biased joke in all of “journalism,” is still the most watched cable news channel, forgive me for not wanting to hear it.
People, and yes, especially conservatives, are insecure. What are you afraid of? An impressionable mind will read a newspaper and suddenly be in front of the White House dropping LSD while reading Karl Marx?
Give Americans more credit than that.
Whether it’s a politician telling “Mr. Gorbachev” to “tear down this wall,” or one lying about Iraq, I will never let labels stop me from praising admirable actions or criticizing shameful ones. None of us should.
Political opinions have become equated with sporting rivalries, and the politicians we choose to follow are like that friend we all have, the guy who kisses someone else’s girlfriend and ends up with a broken bottle over his head. Sure, he was out of order, but we’ll always have his back anyway-the sacrifices we foolishly make for our buffoons.
I long for the day when we are wiser than that, a day when reason comes first, not pre-defined opinions and reactions based on strict partisanship and labels. Without some sort of flexibility, we are doomed.
Do not think you have me already figured out. And if you disagree, who knows? Maybe you can enlighten me. In the end, I wish we could just appreciate political debate, have a drink and find security in the fact that this isn’t Red China. It’s no longer 2004-you’ve won. Let the healing begin.
Brian Shreve
Columnist
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Oct 7 2005. Filed under Opinion.
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