I think that the dem-repub contention is getting out of hand. Those of us caught in the middle of a very unrealistic divide between people who share a lot of the same ideas fueled by those members of the extreme left and right are growing farther apart. People are letting qualities erroneously drawn up by those who only want to disrupt for the sake of drawing attention and causing tension define them, and are forcing those qualities that they think, and were informed, are wrong on those who may not be that dissimilar from themselves.
We are all decent people here on THR.
Just because one person identifies with the republican party does not mean that they are Texan, rabble-rousing, gun-loving, violence-promoting cowboys, bent on conquest, that the left media likes to portray them as.
Likewise, not all Democrats are the baby-killing, gay loving, gun hating, anti-establishment, pinkos that the right media draws them up to be.
The people who are ruining gun culture are people who are unnecessarily afraid, and do not understand the firearm community. If we can teach them, amoung everyone, to understand guns, and understand firearm safety, then we have something we can work with.
No "party" when in office can "destroy" this country. This is a great, powerful country, and system of government that we the people have built.
It is durable, and will endure.
The extreme left does not understand that if there is a mass removal of firearms in this country, then people will get killed by knives. That would be the only difference. Nothing good would come of it.
At the same time the extreme right does not understand that gay marriage is not destroying the world, and when it comes down to it, it's a moot point.
I don't mind the party system, but I feel like there is a huge divide that is only getting bigger as people retreat farther to extremism and towards sterotype-based distaste for another group of people.
That said, what can we do?
Go out, meet with that most hated liberal neighbor of yours, don't talk politics, just have dinner and offer to take them to the range, or out hunting. Tactfully, people that don't know guns scare easily. Take it lightly, and ignore political chiding. Treat acrimony with reserve and respect, and their attitude will change.
Go out, meet with the hardlined republican neighbor, argue about sports, not about how the president isn't your favourite. Tact, politeness, repsect and reserve. Plan to have an neigborhood block barbeque, maybe on a game day, or just to lets the kids get together. There is no reason why we can't get along.
This is America, we are Americans, and we are supposed to be united. The pride in our country that we express is what we all have in common. It defines us as a nation. Keep it going.
okay, my rant is over. sorry guys.