Divergence

I recently had a conversation with a person I used to know quite well. In fact, the person said something along lines of "You used to be my best friend and I respected your thoughts more than just about anybody. Now, I just don't know who you are." Around what did the conversation in question center? Obama and the healthcare debate. When this person started down the "Obama is a Socialist" path and I suggested, in what I thought was a rather non-threatening manner, that the "socialist" argument was a form of fearmongering intended to elicit a purely emotional response, I found myself on the receiving end of a conservative tirade. People are lazy, almost all people in need are actually out to game the system, and Obama is just trying to give handouts. I was also informed that my position (systemic inequities exist that lead to significant social/political/economic advantage and disadvantage) was the result of being brainwashed by people who look like, well, me (the liberal intelligentsia?). Ultimately, the person in question implied that my position--some kind of healthcare for all--was somehow in opposition to my education and intelligence. I bit my tongue (I think it may have been bleeding) and removed myself from the conversation.

I will gladly have a debate regarding the ideological positions regarding whether the US should offer healthcare to all citizens or not. There are reasonable arguments to be made on all sides of the issues. While I will defend healthcare as a right, I understand there are well thought arguments against that position. What I will not listen to is someone tell me that Obama is covertly advocating some kind of socialist takeover by the US government. That is just disingenuous and unfair. Quit spewing conspiracy theory nonsense and dig into the substantive issues at hand.

And to that person with whom I had this conversation: you're right. You don't know me. At all. Our political positions, and our general views of humanity, diverged 17 years go. I tried to have a civil conversation with you. I presented my position as one way of viewing the world, not the right way of viewing the world. I listened to your position and acknowledged that your view was a valid way of engaging the healthcare debate. In return, I was attacked. Not my position, not my argument, but me. I'm stupid because I don't think like you.

Brilliant.