In the spirit of fresh starts, I would like to make the new year the beginning of civility and understanding between myself and those who hold different ideologies.

To this end, I will try to “put myself in their shoes” rather than contribute to the politics of divisiveness.

• I will try to understand the New York Times’ bias.

  Of course they must lean left. As any self-respecting business will do, the NYT caters to their audience. We on the Right express our outrage when Bush’s every policy is condemned on their editorial pages.

  But imagine the outrage of their paying readership if they said something like “you know, maybe the invasion of Afghanistan did more for women than all of NOW’s blustering.”

• I will not be so harsh against people who hold Liberal views.

  I too was young once. Young people can see that there is something wrong with our world. “Why can’t we all just get along?” is a legitimate question to one who sees hatred and racism for the first time.

  Combined with energy and idealism, Liberals can become activists who try to make things good. Sadly, without a solid foundation in experience, works like the Communist Manifesto seem to have the answers.

• I will try to engage the Angry, not inflame them.

  Related to being young, there is an intense anger at injustice. Life is not fair. That good looking a-hole kid will get the girl for no other reason than the fact that his parents are rich.

  I can respect that you found your niche in the Goth crowd.

• I will recognize the qualities of NPR/PBS.

  For all its bias, NPR presents depth in reporting. While NBC, CNN and FOX are giving us the news in 15 second bites, NPR will find an engaging angle. A hypothetical example; an interview with a New Orleans plumber on the impacts of post-Katrina water tables. It is a given that the plumber is African-American, however.

• I will cut those in Academia some slack.

  The act of living in an insular sphere and projecting it onto reality is to be celebrated, not condemned. I can understand how one in a Womyn’s Studies program would believe that a Christian Sharia law is only two minutes away.

  Without you, it might happen. So bless you and thank you for keeping us honest.

Happy 2006!! May your heart’s desire be granted to you this year!

I’m already feeling the love.
 
 
 
 
 
Aw, who the Hell am I kidding?

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