Brian's+Page

Entrenched Warfare

“Democracy destroys itself because it abuses its right to freedom and equality. Because it teaches its citizens to consider audacity as a right, lawlessness as a freedom, abrasive speech as equality, and anarchy as progress.” -Isocrates

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Some say our bickering led to the attack of Rep. Giffords and 20 others, then spiraled into an oxymoronic political fight about civility. Which impression will last, the assault of Rep. Giffords, rise of false civility, or causes for which she unwittingly became a martyr? =====

The system of argument that was once limited to government has invaded an interconnected international society, removing the system from the argument. We don’t confront one another directly; we hide behind new media facades. We confound bitter words with violent action.

We don’t solve, we fight. We define ourselves by how we differ from our opposition. What is a Democrat without a Republican?

While interning at the Colorado House of Representatives, I answered a phone to a man who immediately launched into a ten minute rant about a bill that had passed with 5 votes on a 6 person committee. He couldn’t believe those pinko Democrats had pushed it through. As he was winding down, he beat me to the punch.

“I know that I called the one representative who voted against it,” he acknowledged, “and I used to work there, so I know there’s nothing you can do.” I sat in baffled silence for a couple seconds, trying to figure out the nice way of saying, “So what the hell //do// you want me to do then?”

But I soon realized he didn’t want me to do anything about it, he just needed to make an argument.

I believe defining ourselves by uninformed confrontation has become a threat. Even the Greek quote is misattributed. Isocrates quote of similar spirit actually praises an era of ancient Greek government because they did not, “look upon insolence as democracy”. No matter the intentions of the modern Greek, their version of the quote ironically serves to prolong the argument.

I believe defining ourselves by fully conceived solutions is the way to restore personal liberty.

//Brian McQuinn is a Senior Political Science major at the University of Colorado. He's looking forward to a gap year of traveling before going to law school.//