The views of many millions of Americans have boiled down to the point where simply everything is political. Fueled by distrust and hate, the demonization of the other side has taken its toll to the point where “they” – whoever “they” may be – are seen as evil personified and the cause of every problem in our complex society. Prepackaged political philosophy now instantly dominates every subject in the public arena and the attacks are so vicious it’s hard to remain unaffected or stand on the sidelines. I guess that’s the object, just stir up your base no matter the consequences.
The immediate and inappropriate political arguments surrounding the deaths of 19 members of the Prescott Fire Department’s Granite Mountain Hotshots who perished on June 30, 2013 while fighting a growing 2,000-acre wildfire northwest of Phoenix are the latest example. As hard as it may be to believe, this tragedy turned into a hate filled political blame game on some comment boards only one day later.
The wildfire that took those lives was ignited by a lightning strike, but the parade of partisan idiocy was ignited by seemingly harmless opinions about where people want to live and why. While most Americas were saying things like, “that’s terrible,” the hard-bitten just shifted their never-ending inane sniping to new futile ground; who is to blame, who should be allowed to live in dangerous or in rural areas, who should pay for it, and eventually – as always – who is getting the short end of the stick.
At this time I say, who cares?
As they worked the fire lines, do you think the Hotshots were dividing their fellow firefighters or the persons and property they were trying to protect along political lines? That’s not the way things happen in the real world. It makes me wonder about the life experience of the harpies, haven’t ever done anything nonpolitical? I cannot remember a moment in my 20-plus years of military service when I conceived of my duties along political lines.
There will be an investigation in due time and, hopefully, we will get some answers and there will be plenty of opportunities for blame when the facts are in, but to belittle this tragedy by bringing it down to base political arguments before we know anything at all is an insult to the lives lost.
As always, both sides will accuse the other of starting this battle. However, it did not start on this subject, during this term, this administration, or even this decade. It’s been going on for a long time and getting steadily worse. No one can possibly pin down who started it and who was merely getting even after all the years of dissension and accusations. You can’t get any truth from fanatics.
I am not against a good political fight – or even a bad one, on occasion – but take a little timeout before drawing your sword. Not every problem we face can be solved by the clash of ironclad political philosophies. If history is any guide the opposite is true, merely adhering to a one-size-fits-all political philosophy is a formula for disaster.
Before using these deaths as political hand grenades, we should just say “thanks” to the departed and “we are sorry for your terrible loss” to their friends, loved ones, and families.
Marty Richman is a Hollister resident.
