My problem is that by demonizing the 'other', whether it be Democrat (can I strangle Sean Hannity now, please??), Republican, Muslim, whoever, we make them into the enemy. Then it's okay to propagate all manner of hateful actions towards that group. Isn't that what happened with Mathew Shepard? The demonizing of gays led to hateful actions by a few hateful individuals.

I don't consider cultural criticism "demonizing the other". In a lot of cases, it deconstructs demonization of the other, like McCain's views of disability/health care or GLBT issues. I don't believe that disregarding issues like white privilege or straight privilege or WHATEVER in the name of courtesy is really doing anybody any favors.