Stifled

I'm not usually one for serious writing but something has stuck in my craw as it were. So many subjects are simply hijacked by social and mainstream media nowadays its such a shame. I was playing catch up with Media Watch last night (6 episodes in a binge session) and was amazed to see the lack of exposure for the anti gay marriage movement. Don't get me wrong, I am very pro gay marriage but I'm even more pro democratic process and freedom of speech. This same stifling of debate happens on so many fronts. Whether it be refugees from Syria or in fact anywhere else all seems to be in the "you're a bastard if you think differently" bucket. The bandwagon has become more of an band aircraft carrier. I can hear both sides of any argument and make up my own mind logically and without having to take an extreme stance. The number of political tweets being so damning towards the left or right make me sad. Can we not say both sides have merit but I'm swaying this way because of such and such? the recent ABC series on Rudd and Gillards self destruction "The Killing Season" gave me a much greater insight and my resolve towards both softened as a result. It does not change my mind that they were both wrong and that governing in a minority government does nothing to progress the country but hey, maybe they had a little cause for their actions. I want the world to keep talking about both sides and not just accept the most quickly tweeted and populous point of view nor the views of some famous actor that may or may not have a barrow to push. Even here now I am not writing the full extent of thoughts about the refugee or Ice epidemics for fear of incurring the wrath of some of the 6 people that will read this. Even I'm stifled.