I detest absolutes.

Intelligent, rational beings try to take all sides into account, no matter the topic. True knowledge is gained from listening, even to the side with which you disagree, and coming to your own conclusion. Being told what to think by any authority and then summarily refusing to learn more on the subject is what creates sheeple, those who follow without question. My favorite example of this is the old bumper sticker, “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.”

Refusal to question authority is why priests become pedophiles, leaders become fascists, and children begotten of racists become racist themselves. Absolutes, moral or otherwise, instill in us a fear of the different (alterophobia) and, much to our misfortune, the great majority of us never strive to see beyond the walls which were built for us from the day we were born.

As for me, I see gray areas everywhere. I don’t necessarily dwell on the “what ifs,” but I do point them out occasionally, as a way of checking to see if someone’s beliefs are based on solid argument. I expect other people to play Devil’s Advocate with me as well, as a way of ensuring my own opinions are well-founded and valid.

As a result, I have very little patience for any political party, religion, or personal relationship that attempts to force me to choose their position based on the simple argument “the other side is wrong.” I need more - I need to know why they’re wrong. I require evidence, not hearsay. Anything else will automatically and immediately lose my respect and attention.

Until just recently, the ongoing problem I’ve had with the Tea Party movement is their lack of focus. What is the real problem? Gay marriage? Health care? Taxes? Socialism? Immigration? They can’t seem to pick one topic, let alone stick with it through some kind of resolution, mutual or otherwise. Rather, they are the rabble, unhappy with literally everything and willing to do nothing to change the world but complain - vocally - about it all. FOX News is the authority who tells them what to think and there is no other research necessary. This does, in fact, make FOX rabble rousers, but I have to thank them, genuinely, for starting the movement. I prefer the racist / chauvinist / fundamentalist / terrorist / other -ist I can see over the one who hides in the shadows.

But lately, I’ve detected another problem with the Tea Party: They can’t agree even with themselves.

A small part of the party is racist. The evidence for this is all over the web; Obama as an African witch doctor, anyone? No? How about using a misspelled N-word or actually calling two African-American U.S. House Representatives the epithet?

Yet regardless of what anyone with access to a simple Google search can find, the Tea Party itself refuses to acknowledge that any racism exists within their ranks. Even when called out by the NAACP, they only insist that they do not promote a racist agenda and that an apology from the NAACP is in order.

Let me get this straight: You not only tolerate, but defend people within your party who exhibit overtly racist views?

Okaaaaaaay. I understand the right to free speech. Anyone, anywhere, can say whatever they want to say and I will happily defend their right to say it. But I also understand that one does not win friends and influence people by defending racism. Not here, not now, in the United States of America, in the 21st century.

The lesson here, for the Tea Party, is to understand you are not a movement. You are not a political force with which we have to reckon. You are the rabble and you will continue to be nothing more until you admonish those who stand against liberty, equality, and dignity.

You see, it’s important that you take these steps because I am not the only person in America who researches and educates myself on all sides of any argument. As such, we are the ones capable of changing our minds and perhaps even seeing things your way.

But your absolutist, “we’re right / you’re wrong” attitude? Not helping.

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

ADDENDUM 7/14/10: Here’s yet another example of the Tea Party disagreeing with itself. Of course, if they actually got their act together and under one umbrella, there could be real trouble … er … change.

ADDENDUM 7/19/10: The national Tea Party stood up today and kicked out a member / faction which thought this letter was somehow funny. One hopes the rest of the racists in their midst take heed and that they continue to purge such overt prejudice.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 at 12:15 pm and is filed under WhatNot. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.