Regarding Ann Coulter’s recent comments about how Jews should convert to Christianity so they can become “perfected”… (Here’s the link for you media masochists.)
(And if you’ve managed to make it to this stage in your life not knowing who Ann Coulter is, consider yourself blessed. Or lucky.)
I realize that those responsible for “news” programming are only trying to promote continued job security by fanning the flames of discontent and sensationalizing hate- and fear-mongering under the pretense of encouraging a greater understanding. It’s unfortunate that there is little interest in genuine intelligent and thoughtful discourse; that, instead, attention is diverted to people like Coulter, et al. Sadly, this does not promote discussion or understanding, but rather only encourages every other narrow-minded bigoted and maladjusted amoral self-righteous gasbag with an opinion, that if they voice something controversial enough, they will achieve notoriety for it.
I think our society, overall, would be much better off if more people finally came to the realization that these mouthpieces of ignorance and intolerance are not much different than the monsters in our closets when we were children (and the case of Coulter, there’s the obvious physical resemblance). Not only do they feed off fear and ignorance, but their power comes from that which we willingly forfeit to them. And if we don’t give them a venue with which to spew their venom and ignorance, but rather expose them for the shallow and ignorant hypocrites that they are, I believe they will, eventually, recoil from the harsh sunlight of close scrutiny and slither back under the rock from whence they came.
Now, that’s not to say people voicing diatribes of hate and racism should be simply ignored and not held accountable. It’s just that when it comes to people like Coulter, etc., their thoughtless and insensitive comments should be taken for what they are and treated accordingly. There are too many aimless automatons out there, all too willing to subscribe to the culture of blame and self-righteousness preached by Coulter and company. All these myopic malcontents need to justify their delusions is to be pandered to by a self-imposed pundit atop a soapbox or, more accurately, in front of a camera or microphone spouting off half-truths and blaming everyone else–especially those who are different from them–for their problems and the state of the world today. And, unfortunately, there are plenty to choose from.
The irony is, by writing this post, I’ve just given validation to those monsters.
Luckily, no one reads this.