"Maybe Vidal is just an asshole"

The basic tenet of the right-wing, fundamental Christian and conservatives is "either-or", "Either your for us or you're against us" means that complex matters cannot be understood.

Either you're Christian, or you're not going to be "saved". Period. That sort of thing. (They try to waffle on this in public, but it's fundamental to the system, and a great example of "either-or".) "Either you have a secret police, a secret society, or you tell everyone everything. Do you want to do that, do you want OBL to know what we know?"

That's been posted here, believe it or not. "Either-or", no balance, no moderation, no thought, no understanding. "Either you're for us or you're against us".

Either you agree with me completely, or you're an asshole.

Well, can't we hate terrorists killing your civilians and your military killing other innocents, too? Can't we minimize that?

Nope, either you're for us or you're against us!

When much of the world disagrees with a position, when many of the brightest people in the world disagree, it is comforting to some minds dismiss them all as "assholes". AND THEY MAY BE. So what?

They may have a point which is worth understanding. Maybe not agreeing with, but at least understanding.

And "either-or" precludes that understanding which is important in a complex world.

"Either-or" can only be enforced with force, and when force isn't appropriate, then doesn't work. And force is not always appropriate.

What's the harm in understanding, unless it confuses the "either-or" which is the trademark of conservatives, unless in results in, well, understanding?

Arf