The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Opinion

April 14, 2009

<img src=" http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/blog.gif" border=0> Anson Burlingame blog: DECIBLES

I’m not sure how to accurately measure the “loudness” of American discontent, are you?



Were we louder in 2005 when the Iraq war was headed south, torture became publicized, and whatever else was perceived by some as drastically wrong with the country? Or is it now louder in 2009 with deficits, tea parties, health care and nuclear disarmament? If we had a national decibel meter what would it tell us?



Maybe the overall volume would be about the same but the tone would be recognizably different. In 2005 it would have a very high pitch because all the left wing panty waists (girly men) were yelling. In 2009 it would be a deep throated roar of “real men”.



How do you quell a mob using whatever tone and volume it chooses to use? The technique in most “civilized” countries is to surround them with physical restraints (police, road blocks, fences, etc) and let them yell themselves silly.



Konrad Heid recently published a thoughtful guest column in the Globe asking about the American Spirit. Not a single online comment came close to addressing much less answering the question. Instead everyone commenting formed the all too familiar circular firing squad and took aim at other commenter’s. Mr. Heid and his real point were left in the dust.



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Opinion
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