Criticisms From All of Us to All of You

Can everyone just stop being so disenfranchised and overly critical for just one day?

I’m a skeptic and probably a bit of a cynic, too, but I’m actually tired of hearing everyone’s moans of disapproval (said disapprovingly). PZ Myers and Chris Hitchens ripped the Rally to Restore Sanity
to Shreds. It’s not enough that this rally broke the record for the most passengers in one day on the metro. It’s not enough that people were there because they wanted to engage in civil discourse. It wasn’t political enough or it was too Liberal! People were disappointed in the music, the content, the posters…

First of all it was political satire. It was meant to be a sarcastic jab at Beck’s Rally to Restore Honor. Ridicule is the only way to handle the Tea Party, so Jon Stewart’s rally was one glorious collection of ridicule against the extremism of the Right. I thought it was extremely encouraging, even if it wasn’t as profound or [fill in the blank] as everyone would have liked.

As everyone on the right and the left levels infinite criticisms of the president and his administration, I’d like to know what they have done to support or encourage him… or us as disturbed U.S. citizens? What has anyone done but complain and complain? At least Jon Stewart roused people to some kind of action, even if that action was simply expressing “Be reasonable!” At least Barak Obama has fought tooth and nail to get where he is; has fought tooth and nail to pass the bills he’s managed to get past the Republican filibuster; has defended himself with dignity and without spite.

I feel that people are just ungrateful. They’re too busy finding fault with everyone and everything to see what good has come from the Obama Administration; to see what good came from the Rally to Restore Sanity.
Can we at least wait a week before everyone pisses on the parade?

I was feeling really encouraged by the turn-out alone! I didn’t care what bands played or even what was said on stage. What I cared about was seeing people from all walks of life gather together to say in unison, “Stop being crazy! Be reasonable! We're in this together!” It made me feel hopeful that maybe the GOP won’t take over and ruin the nation; it made me feel that there might just be a chance for REASON to take a hold. But there’s just too much discontent and in-fighting.

I really wish people would find the GOOD in this rally… and in Obama. I wish people would stop acting like movie critics; thinking they’re superior for disapproving of every word uttered or stance taken. Support each other, for the love of everything worth fighting for! Have each other’s backs! One of Obama’s main mission goals was to unify the nation, but we’re all just acting like a bunch of bickering, spoiled five-year-olds.

If you don’t like what’s being done or how it being done, organize your own rally!

P.S. Yes, I am complaining about the complaining. And now I'll stop complaining and write a blog about how awesome the Think Atheist meet-up was!

Tags: All, Criticisms, From, Us, You, of, rally, sanity, to

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Comment by Becca on November 1, 2010 at 11:20pm: On a side note....

I thought Stewart was at least agnostic? And Colbert?

Colbert is a practicing catholic (according to Wikipedia). And Stewart's beliefs are much more nebulous I did find these two websites with quotes, not sure how credible they are though: faith.com/2009/07/01/jon-stewart-on-religion-morality/ and http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/07/09/whats-this-jon-stewart-defen...

Comment by Wesley on November 1, 2010 at 11:56pm: I think Jon Stewart and EVERYONE else was totally blown away by the numbers..and thats why the chagrin at the oportunity for REAL speeches with REAL punch were expressed by some. There are a LOT of folks really needing to hear some good counter punches to respond to the complete barrage thats been leveled against this president and the democrats and liberals and progressives in general.

It was great. I wasn't thrilled by the performances but I WAS thrilled by the turnout and the interest.

Comment by Wesley on November 2, 2010 at 12:10am: Be counter punches I don't mean tit for tat.. I mean to really address the hate-mongering and deconstruct it point by point in a reasonable and factual manner. We can discuss the issues if we stay focused on them... but if we allow ourselves to get derailed by negativity then we'll waste all of our time arguing birth certificates and whether or not Obama is a Muslem or not or if he's hell bent on taking all of our freedoms away from us. OR whether the Teapartiers are all racists etc....

Comment by Cara Coleen on November 2, 2010 at 8:48am: Neal... I was looking for you at the meet-up. Was it too ridiculous to make your way through the crowd? :)

Comment by Scott D. on November 2, 2010 at 11:10am: I agree with Cara. I think their are times to complain, but when people start going overboard it gets kind of annoying. Some people seem to focus on the negative more than the positive. But their are always going to be people who aren't happy and their going to express it.

"You don't have to trust your government to be a good American. You just have to believe in your country." -Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Comment by Reggie on November 2, 2010 at 1:26pm: I think PZ Myers's shtick is his negativity, actually, I think that's how he attracted so many followers of his blog.

Watch your tone!

Now, to the post, I think there are fair points on both sides. I saw PZ's post and I would hardly describe it as "tearing to shreds" anything. He was critical of it, sure, but tearing to shreds? I think he made some very valid points and if he doesn't lace his sentences with emoticons and nice language, so what? Personally, I enjoy his straightforward style even if some find it too acerbic for their tastes (glaring at you, Adriana). ;-) (And yes, I do use emoticons, curse my moderate tone!)

Now, on the other hand, the expectation that a duo of comedians is going to perform a rally in a manner that Hitchens (I don't even know what Hitchens said) or PZ prefer is going too far. While Stewart often uses the fact that his show is a comedy show as a get of jail free card, the fact remains that it is a valid get out of jail free card. He is under no obligation to become the warrior for reason that people of a particular style and demeanor prefer. We are lucky to have Stewart and Colbert, in my opinion. Any ire about what the rally should have or could have been should be reserved for the mainstream media that does not bill itself as comedy yet comes across as one bad joke after another. And in at least PZ's case, he often criticizes the media for their namby pamby complacency when it comes to journalistic integrety and rigor.

I thought the rally was a success for what it was intended. Perhaps some others had the intentions built up in their mind for it to be something more, the reverse of what the Tea Party is for the conservative movement, a rallying flag we could all gather under. The problem with that is the same problem that Obama and the Democrats suffer from; we are typically not obedient soldiers and we all have our own ideas. So, no matter how the rally was executed, there would be people on the left complaining about some aspect of it. Our free (or more freely) thinking style is a hindrance to unity of voice and opinion.

Comment by Bill on November 2, 2010 at 2:59pm: I think the complaining and namecalling going on now is going to be nothing compared to what is coming with the newly elected tea party. I'm sure our nation will not come through the next 2 years unscathed.

Comment by Cara Coleen on November 2, 2010 at 3:48pm: I'm still holding out hope that the Tea Party won't get in as many clowns as they feel they will.

Comment by Bill on November 2, 2010 at 5:41pm: Me too! But I'm thinking we will still get way more clowns than we want...

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