Lunatics, Politicians, And Pundits

Like most sane and reasonable Americans, I have been saddened and distressed by the tragic events that occurred in Arizona. I have read the blogs and newspaper reports, and followed this tragedy on television. The sanest and most reasonable take I have heard on this sad story came from a "comedian." That, in itself, is a sad commentary, but leave it to Jon Stewart to sum up what many Americans are expressing these days.

On the 1/10/11 Daily Show, Stewart stated that the lines have blurred between how the lunatics act and the way politicians and pundits speak:

I do think it’s important for us to watch our rhetoric. I do think it’s a worthwhile goal not to conflate our political opponents with enemies. If for no other reason, than to draw a better distinction between the manifestos of paranoid mad men and what passes for acceptable political and pundit speech.

It would be really nice if the ramblings of crazy people didn’t in any way resemble how we actually talk to each other on TV.

Let’s make troubled individuals easier to spot.