The Dangers Of Political Bigotry

Before I ventured into the realm of Mad Mikes America I had never really considered political bigotry. I sort of knew it existed – all I had to do was listen to politicians and there it was smacking me in the face – but it didn’t affect me in the slightest. I tended to ignore it. Not always I have to admit as, sometimes, it was difficult to ignore it as it could, from time to time, annoy me enough for me to get mildly irritated or even, on occasion, downright angry.

Political bigotry is not, by any stretch of the imagination, entirely the province of the right wing either. That, more than anything, is what has surprised me the most really.

I always, clearly naively, assumed that bigotry tended to be a right wing ethos whether against someone of a different colour or ethnicity or religion or whatever it may be.

Finding out that those of a more ‘left wing’ political persuasion can also be bigoted has, I freely admit, come as something of a surprise to me.

A recent commenter pointed out that he was surprised, given my ‘right of centre’ credentials, that I was alarmed at the prospect of a President Trump. His surprise was actually a surprise to me. Trump is not ‘right of centre’ he is just a nutcase. If he qualifies as anywhere on the ‘right’ then, frankly, he’s probably fallen off the edge.

Politically I can be ‘right of centre’ but, equally, I can be ‘left of centre’. It depends entirely on the topic in question. In fact I don’t consider myself ‘right’ or ‘left’ or, indeed, anything politically. I am, by nature, quite a pragmatic person. Being pragmatic however does mean that if I think someone of the ‘left’ or the ‘right’ is talking tosh then I will say so.

If someone wants to ‘pigeon hole’ me there isn’t much I can do about it.

A regular commenter, ‘Cherries‘, for example is clearly under the impression that I am a 21st Century version of Attila The Hun or someone of that ilk. Personally I couldn’t care less and consider her – I’ve always assumed it’s a her anyway – probably the most bigoted left wing person I’ve come across.

To me, your views are your views. If your views are that you deny the Holocaust happened then your views are insane and there is no point whatsoever debating or discussing with you.

If your views are that mass immigration is great then there is little point in debating with you as the moment anyone does you will, if you are so entrenched in your views, call them racists or xenophobes and, as I have discovered, no amount of gentle suggestion at intelligent debate will stop the screeching and rabid bigotry.

I am slowly coming to the conclusion that democratic politics may actually be in it’s death throes at the moment. Recovery is starting to seem unlikely as the polarisation of views is reaching a stage where the actual idea of sensible debate and an exchange of views is becoming increasingly difficult if not impossible.

This, I believe, is due to the increasing bigotry of both left and right. Both sides are determined that their view of the world in general is correct therefore the opposite argument is the spawn of Satan – or something like that.

I will give you an example.

I have, on more than one occasion, ridiculed Trump regarding his wall across the Mexican border. It’s a stupid idea. By the same token I have consistently stated that it is my belief that mass immigration into any nation will always be an unmitigated disaster.

Some seem to have failed to realise the nuances and my opposition to any type of mass immigration makes me the bastard brother of Sarah Palin. Ludicrous.

If I was racist or xenophobic I assume I would be rabidly against anyone coming to Britain who wasn’t born here and was white. I assume I would be a fully paid up member of some far right party.

For some reason, some have pointed to UKIP as said far right party. Firstly, I am not and have never been a member of UKIP. I have voted for them as a protest vote but I have also, in my past, voted both Labour and Conservative. I have also voted for a couple of independent candidates locally. One was particularly keen on protecting the environment.

It seems to me that it is not fashionable to be pragmatic any more. If you do not nail your flag to the pole of either the ‘left’ or the ‘right’ then you get it in the neck from both sides for being a racist, xenophobic, environment hating, capitalist (left) along with being an immigrant lover, traitor to your country, left wing tree hugger, and etc.

Oh well.

I will just carry on being a racist, xenophobic, environment hating, capitalistic, immigrant loving, traitor to my country whilst hugging trees – and did I mention loving animals as well?

What I will never be is a bigot.

I leave that to the far left and far right.

Extremism isn’t my cup of tea.

Democratic politics is under threat. Freedom of speech is under threat. Our right to hold and express an opinion is under threat. The right to express an opinion that may offend someone is under threat.

The above is not under threat from ISIS. It’s under threat from our very own left and right mainly because they don’t like it if you have the audacity to hold an independent view that doesn’t happen to coincide with theirs.

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