America’s Burden
Grace’s mom was visiting over the weekend. Her mom’s boyfriend rarely agrees on anything with me. But he started a conversation with me on the American presidential race anyway.
As predicted, this 70-something white male from the Mid-West (who now lives in L.A.) is a hardcore Republican. He’s as far Right as they come. This Bush-loving guy asked what I thought about the candidates and who I preferred. So I let him have it — Obama all the way. And then the Republican rainwashing machine commended.
- Obama hates Jews.
- Obama is the most Liberal senator in the Senate.
- Obama admits his own grandmother feared Black people.
- Obama will increase taxes by 50%.
- Obama’s winning will cause a war between the races.
- Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves; he was a Republican (never mind that was hundreds of years ago).
- Civil Rights movement was actually backed by the Republicans.
- Al Gore Sr. opposed Civil Rights movement; in fact, the Democrats tried to make sure that bill didn’t become a law.
- The average voting age is 60 (or something like that) in America. You think all those old folks will let a Black man become the president?
Added on Apr. 8, 2008
- Being gay/lesbian is a choice (though he claims he has nothing against them; right).
- Hilary Clinton is a lesbian (which he explains why Old Billy had to cheat because he wasn’t getting any from Hilary).
- Black people are lazy. Hence social welfare makes people lazy.
- Socialism makes people lazy.
Gulp.
Related PostsImpeach Bush and Cheney Now Finally, A Republican Senator For Stem Cell Research Kiss Your Baby, Go to Jail Python Explods Trying to Swallow Alligator Baobao in Comfort
April 7th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Maybe my approach is wrong, but I’ve long given up to argue with people like this guy. It’s just not worth it, they sit too tight in their own little world to let doubt come into their way. But maybe you can learn more about the reasons behind this view, the psychology of this man, by talking to him without judging him, or trying to change him?
April 8th, 2008 at 7:48 am
I only try to argue against very stupid (but easy to explain) points from time to time. The problem with trying to argue with someone like that is, he’s spent a life time being indoctrined with those values and beliefs that a couple of strong arguments with a young guy isn’t going to chagne his mind.
I made a couple of strong arguments for socialism, universal healthcare, shortened work hours and other issues. But he would then get into really out of context stuff to swing back to make his points against them. I mean, when someone has to resort to that kind of tactic, there’s really no winning.
April 8th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Chu,
I have long healthy, educated, enlightened and non threatening conversations about religion and politics all the time, but I was still pulled into a heated conversation at a golf outing two weeks ago. One guy at our dinner table used C—, bitch and D— to describe Hillary as well as N—- for Obama. Fools like this guy are hopelessly ignorant and not worth the effort to even argue with. I still had to rise to his challenge though. hahaha
The question is, Is it our duty to call them on their ignorance or realize they will never change? I for one never let the moment pass when they are so blatantly, ridiculously stupid or bigoted, especially in front of others. Maybe they, or the observers of the confrontation will think twice before using those terms in a public place, in front of civilized people again.
This is a good lesson that ignorance is not just in uneducated circles . Post script to the story is that I discovered later that I was the talk of the country club members all week as ” One of THOSE Democrats”. Pretty funny! At least they were thinking about it no matter what context. At my age I can say anything I want within reason and I don’t care what they think of me. It’s liberating! This all happened in Florida while we visited my sister this winter.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
wow…this is awesome.
they can find him to do some comercials like: “hi! I am a republican!” “hi! I am a demecrate” “hey, demecrate, why are you suck?” ” oh? yea, why am i so sucks?” …….. oh wait, somebody else already done it.
April 13th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
People get really passionate about this kind of stuff don’t they?
Can’t say I blame them, really… but it strikes me as funny that their passion blinds them to the stupid things they say. It’s like, a little bit is good - to get you to look stuff up, do research, vote intelligently - but too much just makes you blabber on like an idiot.
Why do people like to live in extremes?
April 13th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
My favorite is the one about Obama starting a war between the races. Classic!
April 13th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
@MomMain: That’s funny. I’ve had someone questioned if I was a Democrat once also. The weird thing was, I was also defending a very sensible, common sense issue that’s very commonly accepted in most developed countries (i.e. EU). Nowadays people just lump all the “non-traditional” or “non-American” ideas into one single noun — Democrat… as if those Democrats actually knew how to get those ideas implemented in the first place!
@yung Lo: Actually I think both parties suck in their own funny ways. But the way I see it, at least Obama, like the newly elected Taiwanese president, gives people hope and a common base to unit and do something different for a change. Other than that, someone like Ralph Nader needs to win once to force the two big parties to make drastic changes for the better.
@spaceJASE & alicia: I think the “extremes” make everyone else normal. And I do believe most people are somewhere in between (more like in the dead middle)… But I could be dead wrong having met quite a few of those “extremists” (wow, did I just use the “E” word on Americans?)… The way he talked about Obama starting a race war sounded more like some kind of “underground” movement… He was telling me how the Fox News analysts and commentators are telling everyone to vote for Hilary so that they can see the race war being waged at one another…
I don’t know… talking to people like that scares me sometimes. But I am sure my views and ideas seem equally scary to someone like him! Ha ha… (”Those damn immigrants trying to spread liberal ideas to destroy America!”)
April 14th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
err…Chu, lighten up, i was just joking. (because you love apple brand~)
But on the other hand, much like some bias commercials, both political parties could release propaganda like that to brainwash people. Only foolish people (or fan boy) would fail to do some research and study, and just believe what they want to believe 100%.
How do you like them apple?
April 14th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
An Apple a day. Keep insanity away….