Everyone wants a fight

Revolution.

That is a word that has been thrown around quite a bit lately and through which I have found something very interesting. I finally agree with Glenn Beck.

The other evening I was channel surfing and came across the replay of Beck's nightly program on Fox News.  This time he was discussing the concept of revolution (which was the word of the day on his famous chalkboard) and his own definition of the word.  After a bit of pandering, he finally uttered something that made my jaw drop (and I'm paraphrasing here): regardless as to which side it is coming from, anyone calling for a revolution is not the type of people we want leading this country. 

He followed this up by saying it does not matter if that call comes from a communist or some sort of tea-party, both are still wrong.

Bingo.  Finally something the two of us agree on.

That has been one of my biggest criticisms of the factions that have arisen since last fall's general election.  It seems like everyone wants to have a revolution.  Sure, there is no real guideline or objective to secure, but they want a revolution and they want it now. 

Thankfully, I'm not the only one that has trouble with this idea.

Sure, there are several of us who disagree on issues.  Like Beck said at the CPAC Conference, "there are three hundred million of us here, we're not all going to agree on everything" – but just because we disagree on issues is no reason for us to take up arms and become violent with one another.  The truly sad part about all of this is that sometimes I feel as though civil political discourse in our society has gone the way of unbiased journalism: something you hear about in museums or when talking to a great-grandparent. 

Likewise, I have trouble with people calling for blood when they do not get their way.  OK, I think we all get it, your guy didn't win the election; but that does not give you, or anyone else, a right to start rattling sabers and talking about overthrowing the government.  One of the most beautiful and unique concepts about our American experiment is that we have a bloodless transition of power.

In America we have elections, and regardless of which faction wins that election, the other steps aside.  It is done in a peaceful, usually respectful, manner that has been the same for over two-hundred years. 

We have learned how to solve problems without violence.  This has been done time and time again by working with each other, compromising on ideological differences, and rejoicing in success instead of become bitter over failure.  Only through working with each other will we ever solve the problems we see in our society today.     

Contact Matt Sowards at Sowards52@marshall.edu.