The polarization of the country

I was driving when President Obama was speaking to the joint session of the US Congress on 9/10 about the need for the health care reform. The radio reception was not very good and was tuning to different stations to hear what he was saying.

At some point I tuned to a reasonably powerful station from New York City and was treated to a very shocking show. The radio host was broadcasting President's speech while offering his commentary. Actually, commentary is probably a big word what was happening. He was mocking and ridiculing the President as the speech was delivered. Obama's voice would go in and out out of background as the talk show host was spitting out pieces of his drivel.

I did not have any intention to continue to listen to this and tuned to another station, but I am sure that the show has a fair number of followers, who, probably, admire the this man. Considering the political situation, they probably call themselves Conservatives, people who respect the Constitution of this country. Yet, they would not respect the president of the country, who was elected in the free election guaranteed by that same Constitution.

I came home in time to watch the rest of the speech on TV. Thus, I saw rows of disapproving Republicans, and hear Joe Wilson's "liar" scream.

All of this leave a very bad feeling of country divided, people to thinking rationally, not wanting to discuss, but rather blindly push their point. No wonder some are afraid that this situation may turn into a civil war.

I don't think that this will happen - at least not any time soon. But the first thing that we all need to do - start respecting each other.