America the Ugly

By Ros Prynn

Do you remember this picture? Do you remember the circumstances that led to it being draped down the building? I do remember. Hard on the heels of 9/11, Americans were united as Americans, citizens united in a common grief, and common goals.

One of the common goals, it seemed to me from where I sat outside America - a foreigner - was extending a hand to each other and working together to rebuild that great country. Beaten but unbowed, Americans stood tall, and asked "What can I do for my country? How can we as Americans help each other?" America the beautiful was shining brightly through the rubble of the terrorist acts that affected all of America. The America I know and love was a beacon of unity as her citizens determined to rebuild from the ashes of that terrible day.

The White House/Paul Morse

No more, it seems to me. During this current election campaign, I have watched with growing disbelief from the sidelines, as the absolute worst of America has bubbled to the surface. Everybody seems to expect/accept lies and innuendos during any race for the White House, (why is that?) and this campaign has proved no different.

No different, except in one significant aspect, at least from where I sit. As I have watched the campaigns, I have been appalled and saddened at the disgusting level obscenities being broadcast from coast to coast, apparently unchallenged. America the ugly has been on show for all to see.

Forget about the issues for a minute. And yes, would be really easy to forget about the critical issues facing America, altogether, given the depth of the rhetoric and slime bombarding all of the media on a minute by minute basis. However, the whole tone of this campaigning has outraged me and yes, those Americans I know and love.

We all saw the digs at Hillary Clinton during the primaries. Sexism runs amok. Once Obama's troops had dispensed with her, the Democratic forces gained confidence. Enter Sarah Palin, and the Obama crew, aided and abetted by the mainstream media, set their sights on her. No matter what you think of Sarah Palin and her candidacy, the attacks on her have been enough to make any of us sick to our stomach. Sure, initially there were mildly amusing cartoons which took jabs at her:

Same old rhetoric ScottThong WordPress

Shades of what Hillary Clinton faced and such OLD news. As Sarah Palin, long time married mother of five, stood before America with her family, some Democrats couldn't stand it. The barbs got sharper, as every minute of Palin's life and her family values were put under the microscope. As Palin calls her Downs Syndrome baby a "blessing," depraved minds revved into high gear. Disgraceful comments about abortion (Palin proves she is adamantly pro-life. She walks the walk), and absurd assertions that - in fact - that beautiful baby is Palin's teenage daughter's child after all. NOT!

The All-American family? Media File Photo

And then - gasp - we find out that Brooke is actually pregnant. The insanity continues apace. Slurs about Brooke, and the family values Sarah and "Dude" have raised their kids with. Obviously to be mocked, since of COURSE Brooke had been running around. Again debunked, as the world is introduced to Levi, who is Brooke's fiancée. No scandal here folks, move along. However, not content to focus on real issues, the rabid anti- all things Republican supporters (well one at least that I heard about) offered Brooke the money for an abortion. Along the same lines, Democratic supporters made gross placards with disgusting abortion suggestions relating to Sarah Palin herself. This is democracy, and America, at its ugliest.

None of this seems to stick to the McCain/Palin ticket, so the frenzy gets wilder. Sarah Bernhard, supposedly a comedian, does a public performance and almost salivates as she tells how Palin would be raped in certain neighbourhoods. Excuuuuuuse me? Not much outcry from either the mainstream media or the feminists on this one, but a women's' shelter where Bernard was scheduled to perform cancelled the gig. Hmmmm.. And where have the feminists "we support all women's' choices" been? Ah yes. Mostly they have been very quiet in condemning the gutter level attacks on Palin and her family. Guess she doesn't fit the mould, huh? According to the feminists, women CAN have it all, but only if they toe the feminist party line. "F"eminism may have finally become a dirty word, thanks to the leading feminists' not decrying these attacks on Palin.

ScottThong WordPress

On another site, which link I erased from my brain cells, I also found a proud lesbian describing in graphic details (and I do mean graphic!) what she would like to do to Mrs. Palin. On Obama's own site, I find a blogger making fun of someone praying:

"lol.... I'm laughing to keep from crying... Who prays to God that way?" And yes - that IS a direct quote. As is this:

"You guys are so right... I'm thinking that the nuts may turn on McCain and possibly attack him for not continuing his attacks on Obama.... That would be sad, but I wouldn't mind seeing it. I know that's mean but McCain created this monster!!"

But Sarah Palin continues her journey, telling hecklers "Bless your heart, sir". Sarah is a busy woman, on a mission, and I hope she is unaware of ALL the disgusting stuff being written about her. She and her family, and the McCain people have to have seen and heard of the negative tactics being used against her; love her or hate her, she is not deterred. And for her attitude alone, I applaud her. I may not agree with all her campaign stands for, but I despise the disgraceful behaviour of the rabid anti-Republicans. I also deplore that the mainstream media never reports any of this. Oh, they reported that she got booed in Philly yesterday, but they haven't reported on a story that is on the blogs, the new media.

Just when I thought the insults and depraved language could sink no deeper into the sewer, I found this:

Aren't they special? NOT! Wake Up America

I don't know about you, but this is beyond the pale for ANYwhere, never mind a political campaign. Just as civilised folks would never use the *n* word to describe the Democratic candidate, so no civilised person would EVER use the *c* word. Not acceptable. But where is the mainstream media outcry? (As Wake Up America heads their piece on this here: [link: http://wwwwakeupamericans-spree.blogspot.com/2008/10/obama-supporters-call-sarah-palin-cnt.html] Where is the Obama campaign condemning such behaviour? Hmmmmm.. The silence is deafening, isn't it? And you know the saying that goes something like" ...silence is condoning." 'Nuff said.

It really has not surprised me that the Obama crew has not sincerely - and LOUDLY! - denounced such "freedom of expression."

Such abhorrent tactics demean the political process. Such base ugliness not only sets a very bad precedent, but also overshadows the "America the beautiful" that the rest of us have come to admire, respect and value.

Will "America the beautiful" ever be allowed to shine brightly on the world stage again after November 4th? Can "America the beautiful" recover the civility, dignity, respect I have come to know and love, or have the depths of depravity, unleashed in this current election campaign, taken too firm a hold? Only time will tell.

Ros Prynn is a NewsBlaze investigative reporter and editor, who writes on a range of topics. Contact her by writing to NewsBlaze.