thomas friedman wrote a thought-provoking opinion piece this past tuesday. he comments on a new america that is taking shape. a reactionary splinter group that is growing in number, vigor, & influence. friedman claims intellectual political discussions are replaced with violent facebook polls, congressional outbursts during presidential speeches, & our elected officials are voting along party lines with remarkable regularity. this frightening splinter is not only a conservative movement. it is not a recent phenomenon. friedman goes on to explain that presidents bill clinton & george w bush have also fallen victim to fierce and divisive opposition.
friedman also draws parallels among the current american political climate and the israeli political climate of the early 1990s. yitzhak rabin, at this time, was viewed as too accommodating of palestinians and ultimately was assassinated for his policy decisions. although friedman doesn't go as far to say that obama needs to be scared for his life, he does raise major concerns. what does it say about our "city upon a hill" if americans cannot speak about our problems with one another without loosing our heads?
[via nytimes]
