Yesterday's Rally

Yesterday, Ravi and I attended a rally in Carson, CA for Governor Sarah Palin. It was interesting... Actually, it really was educational. Republicans seem to truly believe that Democrats really do not care as much about their country, which I, being on the liberal side of things, found upsetting. However, Republicans are just as upset by Democrats' belief that Republicans do not care as much as about the working class. I suppose that there are negative biases on all sides.

Regardless, Sarah Palin spoke well and was somewhat endearing.

Interestingly, there were many liberals disrupting her speech that needed to be continually ushered out by staff and police. (Ravi and I were sitting quietly waving our McCain/Palin poster and trying to blend in.) What point is there in creating such a scene? It certainly does not win people over to their cause. Even more interesting was the noisy and even more disruptive response from the crowd. From their chanting of "USA USA" directed at the protesting liberals, one could not hear Sarah Palin speak.

I had only gone yesterday to accompany Ravi who, as a social psychologist and political scientist, finds these events educational. I quickly realized why I was so hesitant about attending. The noise, the chanting, and the smells of the crowd were intense, but even more than that the "mob mentality" is quite scary. I felt like I was living with Simon Srebnik of Claude Lanzmann's Shoah (1985) during the scene when the crowd of sympathetic people are altered into a mass of angry and defensive people. The speakers did not attack Obama, Biden, or the Democrats to a great extent; however, the crowd was loudly "boo"-ing, and yelling about how bad the Democrats and the press are. (I do not enjoy sporting events either where the drunken crowd starts beating up on the other side.)

Upon leaving, the Republicans (and Ravi) were suddenly feeling not-so-powerful anymore and even scared ("We'll be safe in numbers" said one person) to walk to past the (peaceful) Obama protesters that were outside the rally. Comments such as "Come over to our side" altered to "You have it all wrong" and ended with a loud "Loser" that seemed less than constructive and rather hurtful. Competitiveness can be healthy and is biologically engraved within us. There is always a contest of the limited resources in our lives. I can appreciate this. However, I am bothered by the anger, the aggression, and the negativity that people express and act-out. How can we help people remain calmer and more engaged rather than a hollering, angry mess? One on one, it is easy to say such moderating things as "Oh yes, I see how easy it is for people to feel strongly to take things too far." or "I really enjoy these conversations where we get to know what one another thinks about these issues. or "Yes, the Democrats do believe that. And the Republicans believe this. I guess both sides have some work to do." However, yesterday, I think that my standing in the middle of the rowdy crowd yesterday and asking kindly if everyone could sit down and calm down and listen to the speech might have put me in harm's way.