Pseudonyms, Avatars and Super PACs

It takes a long time to build a building like a skyscraper. It also takes a lot of money. A design must be created, permits acquired, contractors and workers hired, machinery directed, electrical and plumbing resources supplied and years of blood sweat and toil to create something to reach the sky and fulfill a purpose. Once built, this skyscraper can house and employ hundreds or thousands of people. Services can be rendered and profits made. The original investor can make a return on his investment.

And it can all be destroyed in minutes as witnessed on 9-11.

Those who build things are the heroes in this world. Those who create and produce are to be heralded and held up as inspirations to all others. Those who do it honestly should be regarded as saints. Whether it is building a family, a business, a community or a nation, we need to support them. Those who destroy them are the scum of the earth. Osama Bin Laden got his just rewards and eternal justice is now his fate. It took millions of dollars to build the World Trade Center. It would take billions to replace it today. Yet it only took a few thousand dollars to destroy it.

That’s the unfortunate balance of power wielded by those who create vs. those who destroy. It is far easier and cheaper to destroy than create.

In our technologically wonderful society are we using such power to do any good today? Have you ever tried to express your ideas on a website, forum, Facebook or Twitter? What comments did you receive from those of an opposing view?

I submit that going to an online forum to express your opinion is like going into a minefield. The comments made by those who hide behind a fake name and cutesy avatars are ruthless and cruel with no sense of decency or humanity. They say things they would never say to a person face-to-face. As they hide behind such cover, their small minds are running wild with the basest of thoughts and words, most commonly 4-letter ones with unusual variations and all in the guise of being “clever.” There is little humanity, let alone decency. The boundaries have been removed as they feel they have a voice for the world and want to be seen as sharp-witted while skewering their opponents with fiendish delight.

The power of a mask can be most damaging.

Where is the good-natured intellectual banter that can stimulate an interesting discussion? Why can’t someone with an opposing point of view be allowed to speak without impugning the motives of his own mother? Instead, its cloak and dagger, stab and run, slash and burn. It’s like most violent video games I have seen; the opponent is just expected to vanish after you have blasted them with a hand-held sub atomic pistol.

Now witness the growth of something new: Super PACs

In our politically charged world we now see something never before seen in the history of politics with Super PACs. These were at first announced as a first amendment victory for anyone of any income to say as they wish and not be stopped. Now it appears that not all is as hoped. Since we are in an election year and the only ones vying for first place are Republicans, Super PACs have been formed to be the voice of a contender and say things he cannot say. They skewer the opponent under the guise of freedom of speech, with or without the permission of the one they supposedly support whether they are true or not. The law states that the contender can have no contact or say in what the Superpac says as that would be a violation. Mitt Romney decried them and wished that they could just give the money directly to the campaigns so they could be responsible for what was said in their behalf and could remove or change it as necessary.

And just today (FEB 7, 2012), Obama did a total about-face and decided to support Super PACs, something he vehemently denounced last year. But since he desperately wants to get elected, he told all of his supporters to send money to Super PACs that support him.

People emotions and excitement about the future of politics has never been lower and Super PACs will not help matters, but only make them worse.

It’s a race to the bottom as to who can dig up the most dirt, smear the most mud and cut the legs out from under the other the fastest. Sadly, the candidate is held responsible for the actions of someone they cannot control, let alone even talk to. Lies and innuendo are strewn about with abandon and we are left to pick up the pieces. No wonder it becomes difficult to trust those in power as they misuse their money in such a manner.

The other day I tried to get on a forum to defend something I saw written against Mitt Romney. I had never had so many names and slanderous terms thrown at me in all my life. None of the replies had anything to do with the question. I hadn’t read that many 4-letter words among everything I had read in the entire past year. I might as well have been a fish thrown into a meat grinder as no one cared one minute what I had to say or thought. No one defended my position. No one read anything beyond the name Mitt Ro… I was toast. Yet every one of those detractors used a pseudonym and avatar to hide behind. I was the only one who used my name and actual photo. With wolfish delight they used my name for the rest of the day as one who was off-base and should be shunned. My name became a cliché and a euphemism of derision.

There was no desire to listen to any opposing point of view. Obama is their King and anyone who looked like he supported a contender was nothing more than a bug that needed to be squished, dissected, dismembered and burned. How can anyone live under such conditions?

DOES THE STATUE OF LIBERTY STAND FOR SUPER PACS?

Is there anywhere two people can have a real discussion anymore? Can we find a way to work out our differences and come to a conclusion based on sound principles? Is there any hope left for the future of America? Is there any humanity left outside of helping your own friend?

I believe there is. I hope there is and I invite everyone to quit hiding behind a mask and ignore those who do. Quit hiring or supporting those whose only desire is to hit and run. Show who you are and stand up for truth and what you believe in. Be open to opposing points of view. Act like a human and treat others humanely.

Lets build an America that will last, one that will survive and head in a positive direction, founded on the principles of our founding fathers. Of course we have to stand up to falsehood and not compromise on principle, but just because the opposition is doing the exact opposite of what we want, does that make them someone that needs to be hung because of their opinion? Do we still need to tar and feather those who are different? Do we still need to crucify those who may be better than we are because we are jealous of what they are or say? Let’s stand up for what is right and with understanding, listening and kindness, win over those with opposing points of view.

You can’t build and destroy at the same time.

Thats also true with Super PACs.