Observing American politics I can't help noticing that the American Left seems to me to be rather cynical.
Is this a correct observation on my part ?
What could be a possible explanation for this phenomenom ?
What are your thoughts and opinions on this issue ?
EDIT: Serious answers and comments only, please.
Originally posted by ivanhoeCynical? How, exactly, do you come to that conclusion? Because we don't put on our rose colored glasses and pretend everything is alright whenever Bush screws up something else? I deny that the American Left is cynical at all. It's more a case of the American Right being delusional and then expecting everyone else to do likewise.
Observing American politics I can't help noticing that the American Left seems to me to be rather cynical.
Is this a correct observation on my part ?
What could be a possible explanation for this phenomenom ?
What are your thoughts and opinions on this issue ?
EDIT: Serious answers and comments only, please.
Originally posted by ivanhoeI think the more correct observation is that we are a "polarized" culture. The "left" is indeed cynical. But then again so is the "right" in their own way.
Observing American politics I can't help noticing that the American Left seems to me to be rather cynical.
Is this a correct observation on my part ?
What could be a possible explanation for this phenomenom ?
What are your thoughts and opinions on this issue ?
EDIT: Serious answers and comments only, please.
Originally posted by kirksey957We are indeed a polarized culture. You are correct there. But I still fail to see why the left is cynical.
I think the more correct observation is that we are a "polarized" culture. The "left" is indeed cynical. But then again so is the "right" in their own way.
Originally posted by ivanhoePerhaps they are cynical at having to watch Bush destroy whatever good will the US might have had in a large part of the world while being mostly powerless to do anything about it.
Observing American politics I can't help noticing that the American Left seems to me to be rather cynical.
Is this a correct observation on my part ?
What could be a possible explanation for this phenomenom ?
What are your thoughts and opinions on this issue ?
EDIT: Serious answers and comments only, please.
Originally posted by KneverKnightPlease stop repeating that the left is cynical without telling us what behavior it is on their part that you are interpreting as being cynical. I deny that the left is cynical except, perhaps, as it applies to Bush. But this post seems to want to make the case that the left is cynical in a much broader context.
Perhaps they are cynical at having to watch Bush destroy whatever good will the US might have had in a large part of the world while being mostly powerless to do anything about it.
Originally posted by rwingettLearn to read. I said "perhaps".
Please stop repeating that the left is cynical without telling us what behavior it is on their part that you are interpreting as being cynical. I deny that the left is cynical except, perhaps, as it applies to Bush. But this post seems to want to make the case that the left is cynical in a much broader context.
"Is this a correct observation on my part ?"
Yes.
A large part of the American Right (AR) is quite cynical also. As a matter of fact, a large part of humanity in general are cynical.
It's a natural thought process without a moral base, and the American Left (AL) doesn't have one. They are mostly secular in thought and everything becomes relative to how events affect them personally. The leadership of the AL is amoral .. Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy all the way down through one of the main spokesmen .. Michael Moore.
Another reason for the cynicisism is that in the past 10 yrs. the American mainstream Media has been exposed and found to be very biased toward the AL.
People, in general, will project there own selfish motives onto others.
...........
"What could be a possible explanation for this phenomenom ?"
The human condition .. vulnerable, ego-centric, finite and born with a conscience. It's the moral base, or absense of it that will create cynicism.
...............
One entry found for cynical.
Main Entry: cyn·i·cal
Pronunciation: 'si-ni-k&l
Function: adjective
1 : CAPTIOUS, PEEVISH
2 : having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic : as a : contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives <those cynical men who say that democracy cannot be honest and efficient -- F. D. Roosevelt> b : based on or reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest <a cynical ploy to cheat customers>
- cyn·i·cal·ly /-k(&-)lE/ adverb
synonyms CYNICAL, MISANTHROPIC, PESSIMISTIC mean deeply distrustful. CYNICAL implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity <cynical about politicians' motives>. MISANTHROPIC suggests a rooted distrust and dislike of human beings and their society <a solitary and misanthropic artist>. PESSIMISTIC implies having a gloomy, distrustful view of life <pessimistic about the future>.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=cynical&x=14&y=15
One entry found for captious.
Main Entry: cap·tious
Pronunciation: 'kap-sh&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English capcious, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French captieux, from Latin captiosus, from captio
1 : marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections
2 : calculated to confuse, entrap, or entangle in argument
synonym see CRITICAL
- cap·tious·ly adverb
- cap·tious·ness noun
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=captious
One entry found for peevish.
Main Entry: pee·vish
Pronunciation: 'pE-vish
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English pevish spiteful
1 : querulous in temperament or mood : FRETFUL
2 : perversely obstinate
3 : marked by ill temper
- pee·vish·ly adverb
- pee·vish·ness noun
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=peevish
Originally posted by rwingettPerhaps if I offered a few examples it might help facilitate this discussion. I will try to offer an example of a liberal and what I think is cynicism.
We are indeed a polarized culture. You are correct there. But I still fail to see why the left is cynical.
Jesse Jackson likening Bush's evacuation of New Orleans to slave trade.
Cindy Sheehan saying that Bush is the world's worst terrorist.
And earlier today (I guess it has been moderated) The Slow Pawn decrying Bush and asking if there was anyone that would want to help assassinate him.
Let's look at these three examples and see if there is a thread that holds them together. First of all, they all focus on Bush. Secondly, they globalize his actions to compare him to other times in history or other people. Finally, there is an inability or an unwillingness to look at other factors or other sides of an issue. For these people. there is absolutely nothing that Bush could do that was right. He will always be lacking.
So for me cynicism is focusing on negativity or expecting that one will always be a disappointment.
Originally posted by ivanhoeThe American Left is not cynical. They are not contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives. They are contemptuously distrustful of Republican nature and motives. It's a big difference. A cynic would think that no matter who was in power, they'd do a poor job. The American Left only thinks that of conservative Republicans. They think that if they themselves were in power that everything would be much better.
One entry found for cynical.
Main Entry: cyn·i·cal
Pronunciation: 'si-ni-k&l
Function: adjective
1 : CAPTIOUS, PEEVISH
2 : having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic : as a : contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives <those cynical men who say that democracy cannot be honest and efficient -- F. D. Roosevelt> b : based on or re ...[text shortened]... verb
- pee·vish·ness noun
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=peevish