We're Sitting on a Powder Keg: Special Comment by my 72-year-old friend

By GottaLaff

My very caring, impassioned 72-year-old Twitter pal, who goes by the name 42bkdodgr, would like to share his feelings about something many of us see, including him, as a rapidly looming threat, all the hate speech and hostility we've witnessed recently... and I am more than happy to oblige.

Take it away, 42bkdodgr:

Powder Keg

In July, I wrote that I haven’t seen so much hate in this country since the Civil Rights movement. Since then the hate and anger has only gotten worse, and it will continue to get worse. You may wonder why I feel this way and what makes me upset about this hate and anger.

I get upset, when commentators are allowed to call the President Obama a “racist”, compare him to Hitler, question his place of birth-- with no disciplinary action taken by the media outlet.

I get upset when sponsors have removed their advertisements because of “racist “remarks and the viewing audience continue to grow. These commentators by their words and actions have encouraged mob rule at Town Hall meetings, instead of encouraging real discussions about the issues.

Their encouragement has led to demonstrators appear outside Town Hall meetings carrying signs “ It’s time to water the tree of liberty”?”, showing President Obama with a Hitler style mustache, questioning his religion; and demonstrators carrying loaded guns to the events. All this indicates to me they are directing their programs to a very narrow minded group of people.

I get upset when you have Republicans, discussing the Health Care Reform Bill, make misleading remarks and misrepresent provisions in the bill by making such statements as “pulling the plug on grandma”, “Death Panels” Death Book”, or such a ludicrous statement as, “What we have to do today is make a covenant, to slit our wrists, be blood brothers on this thing. This will not pass. We will do whatever it takes to make sure this doesn’t pass.”

These statements are made to frighten and scare their constituents and to rile their base.

When I take into consideration the hate being spewed by the right wing media together with the misleading and misrepresentations made by the GOP about the Health Care bill I have come to the conclusion: This country is sitting on a powder keg that I think is ready to explode. When it does, no good will come from it. I hope our politicians come to their senses and turn the country away from the hate and anger we are seeing.

While there have been Democrats in both the House and the Senate who indicated they may vote against a HCR Bill, not one Republican has indicated they will vote in favor, I find it extremely hard to believe that not one Republican favors a HCR Bill with a public option.

Then there are the politicians who promote that their state should secede from the Union.

We have become a nation where party comes first before the people.

Thank you once again for a relevant, heartfelt, and thought-provoking piece, 42bkdodgr. We need more like you.