The Audacity of Name Calling

Some may say that political bashing is “fair game” and that the bashing of Presidents and other politicians can be traced from history to contemporary times. However, any political tradition that encourages vindictive name-calling, with a capacity to undermine governance, is a dangerous one. The ability to pour out malicious and outrageous words at elected officials or anyone for that matter, and then get away with it, is a serious sign of societal decay. Hateful words that deliver “political punches” and defames others ought to be rejected and considered inappropriate. Those who utter ugly political vitriol and delight in destroying the characters of their fellow human beings are vicious name-callers and nothing but antagonists of progress. When name-callers resort to destructive and hateful name-calling with words that pierces the hearts of others, they set up a society where hate and divisiveness are encouraged. Besides, they provide ammunition to deranged individuals in the society that have been looking for reason to hurt others, both physically and mentally. Dangerous and insulting words that can lead to physical and mental abuse and cause sociopolitical upheaval within the society cannot be accepted as a norm under any circumstance. Name-callers who pour out steady streams of dreadful magniloquence are often encouragers of societal disruption. These detractors, who claim to be partaking in the political process, have the strong willingness to misinform, instill fear, and cause discord. Therefore, they mock, lie, and try to confuse the public before, during, and after elections with the hope of distorting issues and influencing election results. They disagree with anything and everything that may move the country forward, as long as it is not coming from their side. These individuals are not interested in the progress of the country but in sowing the seeds of hate and division, while convincing the public that their opponents are to blame. They are cruel and conscienceless name-callers, who consistently and diligently use name-calling as a distorted tool for political deliberations. In doing so; they call attention to themselves in an attempt to gain some weird media popularity, and they do. However, at the receiving end are targeted politicians and in this case, elected presidents, whom they vow to bring down at all cost. Such entities enjoy holding down the necks of their victims until they see the political blood of victory. Is it no wonder the “euphoria” of voting the first African American President into office dissipated as quickly as it came? Yes, the jubilation that came with the election of the first black president of the United States was quickly swallowed by malicious name-calling, and slowly; joy began to give way to bitterness, hate, and disharmony. As a consequence, the name-callers succeeded in redirecting the focus from the historical event to all that is “wrong” with the elected President. Besides, the sense of unification that could have been realized from the historical event swiftly morphed into serious acrimony. Thus, the initial jubilation expressed by well-meaning Americans and others around the world, about the election of President Obama, was immediately replaced with confusion and severe insecurity. As well-intentioned Americans discussed real political issues that will advance the country, the detractors nurtured and propagated the politics of revulsion and bigotry. Nevertheless, it is hard to make the case that President Obama was the only president that endured brutal name-calling. As initially stated, presidential bashing is nothing new and some can almost vow that it is a norm that is passed down from history. Mugging presidents and other elected officials is an aged long practice, used by abusers, who would rather disrupt the political process that is not going their way. Moreover, whether such horrible behavior is a tradition or not; an age-long practice or not; it ought to be disavowed and condemned as incongruous. Nonetheless, it does not matter whether this nasty behavior come from people on the “Right” or on the “Left”, it should not be encouraged in any way. When political opponents turn into name-callers, in order to throw insults on the president or other legislators, it is the country and the citizens that suffer. A doctrine of hate developed from resentment, hostility, and utter contempt, should have no place in the political process and it would not matter whether it is perpetuated by Democrats, Republican, and any other groups. Obama era may be a period when the political process is filled with despicable name-calling; a period when some individuals moved “freedom of speech” to a contemptible echelon and made a mockery of democracy. It could be safely said to be a time when democracy was pushed to its limit, while sounding more like the demonstration of pure craziness. While it is possible to conclude that deranged name-calling is an exercise in democracy, it is also possible to say that it is a serious demonstration of severe idiosyncrasies. An idiosyncratic behavior that allows some individuals in the society to silence those they hate is one that undermines democracy. Name-calling has become a vicious cycle that mimics a political dialogue but is actually an atrocious exercise of bullying, vicious attacks, and public humiliation. It is a culture of intimidation that attacks anyone who attempts to condemn it and therefore forces “the deafening silence” of citizens. As a result, name-callers gain the upper hand as they receive media recognition, since aggressiveness, absurdity, ugly utterances sells well these days. It is further exacerbated by the fact that ugly politics has high value and following; and therefore has high ratings. For that reason, the value of vindictiveness and evil political rhetoric take the center stage and name-calling become a booming business. Furthermore, hateful and dangerous words full of lies and distortions besiege the airways; television, radio, social media, blogosphere, and other information distribution channels. The more outlandish the utterances, the more public recognition the name-callers gain. It has no doubt, become quite lucrative to take to the public podium and spill hateful, dishonest, a false grandiloquence.