Published: May 14, 2009 09:10 pm      

Try problem-solving, not name-calling

In my columns over an array of topics (energy, the environment, education, transportation, food), I always mention something positive that would help to alleviate the problem. What concerns me is that some quickly see drawbacks or risks in any change and resort to name calling rather than reason and reality.

While this is an irritation on local issues, it is a serious impediment to any needed change on the national level. Our country has critical problems such as the uninsured (for health care), the staggering cost of health care, low literacy levels among high school students, overcrowded prisons, weakening bridges, Iraqi War veterans without jobs or adequate medical treatment, etc.

What makes these problems hard to handle is that most people will either be sympathetic or antagonistic towards solving these issues. Those opposing any changes usually see the solutions as resulting in increased taxes on their income. Some feel strongly that these taxes are their money, which the government will squander.

Naturally, these folks, feeling much emotion will resort to name calling and belittling comments. This reaction will naturally provoke the other side, who will return the epithets with clever sarcastic statements. Then another salvo of ridicule will erupt from the antagonists. (similar to a Medieval battle scene). And the process will continue.

During this time, there will be a large volume of phone calls and emails to members of Congress who realize a rather muted response will be the best political stance. Naturally the votes on these issues will be nearly split, making any strong bill unlikely to pass. This brandishing of views becomes a game, with each side trying to embarrass its opponents.

Any gaffes by either side will result in “I gotcha,” played out on the national media. So the bitterness grows, with many members of the U.S. House of Representatives scarcely speaking to the other side on the floors of Congress. Naturally, most issues get worse, thanks to the name calling, ridicule and the portrayal of each side as idiotic.

So what can be done? My suggestion is to first stop using the most emotional labels, which have long lost their original meaning. The two terms I am speaking of are: “Right Wing” and “Liberal.” “Right Wing” conjures up a cave man, dragging his mate around by the hair and ignoring the needs of others. “Liberal” has the image of a mealy-mouthed person, fastidious about political correctness and lacking common sense.

For rational discussion of the issues, it would be so best to identify each side of an issue as either “For” or “Against.” Then each side would calmly present its views, focusing on facts, rather than label slinging which fires up emotion and drives away rational discourse.

Now even if the U.S. House and the better mannered U.S. Senate minimize name calling in their discussions, there will still be certain members of the media, whose forte is mud slinging, distortions and personal attack.

Some of these individuals have been doing this for decades, so they are masters of the art. A handful have more daily listeners than the largest subscription to any magazine or newspaper. This gives them huge annual contracts that are comparable to highly paid professional athletes or movie stars.

So why do so many people continue to listen to them on talk radio and cable television? Well, many of us are disenchanted about our jobs (if we are lucky enough to have one), our relationships, our children and our state and national economies.

How can one get out of this funk in an easy manner? Just listen or watch _____ ______ or _____ _______ and they will tell about the latest outrage or misstatement so you can despise or hate these public figures or celebrities. In getting enraged about these other people, your own misery seems diminished and you feel relieved.

Then you can spread this message to your friends, your family or your neighbors, saying “It’s those damned ______, if it wasn’t for them, the country, state, locality would be better off.”

So these bad feelings about others serve a useful purpose, it helps shift responsibility for one’s own difficulties to other people who you likely have never met or had a chance to talk to. Getting enraged through the rants of these media figures is a lot cheaper and less destructive than overindulging in alcoholic beverages or doing illicit drugs.

My own advice to readers is: When you hear or listen to a media person, who seems to have an edge, resorts to a lot of name calling, twists other’s words so that they seem idiotic, then change the channel and try to find the facts, not the fabrications.

For starters, read this newspaper, which has more real information and facts than several hours of talk radio or an hour of television commentary. The media figures give you their take on events and happenings. Why not make up your own mind, rather than following someone else’s view?

Last planetarium program

Today we have our last public planetarium programs at Frostburg State for the spring. Our showings are at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The featured presentation is “Earth’s Greatest Hits,” covering the highlights and tragedies of Earth’s 20th century as viewed from nearby night stars.

After this program and a brief intermission, Planetarium visitors or any one else is invited to a tour of our Science Discovery Center, starting about 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. All of these presentations are free to the public. Visitors from West Virginia and Pennsylvania are welcome.

The Planetarium is in the front lobby of Tawes Hall, behind the Performing Arts Center and across the street from the Compton Science Center (where Science Discovery Center is). There’s plenty of free parking as well as nearby parking for the handicapped.

Bob Doyle invites reader’s comments or reactions. Leave a voice message at (301) 689-7799, email him at rdoyle@frostburg.edu or talk to him after the FSU programs today.