Extremists and Schizophrenics and Big Bird...Oh My!

Tomorrow, I promise to have an actual position piece, concerning the research which has show having more green spaces in urban environments closes the health gap between those of upper and lower socioeconomic statuses...today, however I would like to give a big shout out to the many loons that seem to be coming out of the wood work at rapid speed.

Those who know me, will know I'm not a fan of extremists, on either side of the political spectrum, and I will be the first to call them out. Extremists in my mind do a grave disservice to our democracy and just waste time. They play on the fears of ignorant people, bombarded with so many mixed messages, it is easier for them to cling to the words of passionate zealots. It is frightening, cult-like, but American. As irritating as they are, the fact that Americans have the freedom of speech to let these crazies show their stripes is better than any other option.

So first I would like to start with Fox News's zealot du jour....Glenn Beck and Senator Lindsey Graham's wonderfully refreshing commentary on him. The best article on this was posted in the (gasp) Huffington Post (and you know it has to be good when I reference the Huffington Post...I'm actually rather ashamed I logged onto their website). Senator Graham nicely discusses the problems with extremists, like Mr. Beck, and echos my thoughts on them exactly.

Next is this nice little explosion from Rep. Grayson of Florida....

And finally....we can end the day with a little clip from Sesame Street....as we see, Big Bird must be spending his downtime watching Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity.....I long for the days of Kermit, a true Reagan Republican!