tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post2017625737231415054..comments2024-02-23T11:23:45.971-05:00Comments on Lost Motorcyclist: Is Violent Rhetoric to Blame for Arizona Shooting?Lost Motorcyclisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08873504561959138792noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post-45995003098201099262011-01-10T07:31:58.547-05:002011-01-10T07:31:58.547-05:00When it comes to psychosis, making political disti...When it comes to psychosis, making political distinctions is unproductive. Loughner's 'political' views are obviously as confused as his perceptions of reality.<br /><br />What I find discouraging is that the educational system (both in Canada and the U.S.) seems to have failed in one of its key missions: instilling the essential values of democracy in our populations.<br /><br />Without the principles of tolerance, compromise and respect for the rights of minorities, democracy is doomed. And, without an educated and informed electorate, democracy becomes dysfunctional.<br /><br />Demagogues appeal to our base instincts of fear and anger. Everyone who does not agree with us (albeit as poorly defined as those beliefs may be) becomes an enemy, and just about any tactic becomes acceptable in dealing with that enemy.<br /><br />There are fewer and fewer shades of gray - everything becomes black or white. And as one American president expressed it, 'You're either with us or against us.'Madeyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593933575568389288noreply@blogger.com