More clueless young Republicans...

[IrateCitizen]

The following is an email that I got from Mike Hoffman, one of the founders (and principle organizer) of Iraq Veterans Against the War. I think it just proves the vapidity of Young Republicans, and how disconnected many of them are from reality. But, it's also a good story!

I just finished my first talk here in western Mass and was protested for the first time. Of course no one was really sure what problem they had with me. There where about ten members of the college republicans holding signs outside the room I was speaking in, one of which read “John Kerry and IVAW are traitors”. Some one approached the person holding that sign and asked what IVAW was to which the republican responded, “I don’t know.”

The talk went incredibly well. I invited the republicans in to hear the talk and have a real honest discussion. To my surprise they took me up on my offer and I made a real impact. Several of them where dumb struck and slack jawed after hearing the real truth about what is happening on the ground. The chair of the college republicans seemed to be in complete shock and I think he might have actually been turned against the war judging by the look on his face. From what I heard one of the protesters walked out in tears. Needless to say I feel damn good right now. Just goes to show that the honest truth can change anyone.

I guess it's a good story in that some of these kids' minds were opened, but it's rather disheartening when you think about how many others just like them that are out there who will never have the opportunity to hear someone like Mike speak.

[sniffa]

1. wow

you're right, good story. i do find it hard to beLieve that they actuaLLy Listened though. :P

[IrateCitizen]

6. Most of the chickenhawks won't get in a combat veteran's face.

That's why groups like IVAW and Operation Truth are so important in getting the truth about this war out to the public. It's easy for the public to write off opposing views if it's just a bunch of pinko liberals. It's another thing entirely when it's combat veterans raising those same criticisms. It gives the criticisms a lot of power and authority that can't easily be discounted.

[trotsky]

2. If we manage to take back this country

it will be because of people like Mike Hoffman. Wow, way to go, Mike. You could have just flipped them off, but by inviting them in to listen (granted, not many of those people are willing to do that) you might just have changed a few minds.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. that is a rock that will make some ripples

but yes Republicans in general are clueless and it will take a draft for them to find out how bad things are

[tanyev]

4. Hmmmmm.

"Some one approached the person holding that sign and asked what IVAW was to which the republican responded, “I don’t know.”

Sounds like these young republicans answered a summons from somebody else to do this protesting. One of KKKarl's minions?

[Warpy]

5. Alas, what he read as shock was probably just outrage

at hearing his faith in the Bush gang challenged.

We're up against a CULT, folks, and factual talks won't sway cultists.

They're about to get hit with a lot of stuff that will, though.

[sui generis]

7. you're on to the heart of the matter

this cultural "civil war" is not about right and wrong. It is an information war, and we often don't manage to get our message out across the aisle, or effectively.

If we want to win back America we need to start thinking in these terms - that a successful "battle" is one in which we have dropped an information bomb that is corroborable, undeniable, and moreover the truth.

[IrateCitizen]

9. The information war comes later. We're in an emotional war now.

The effectiveness of the message put out by people like Mike is not that it is simply information. Any of us can provide information. What Mike is able to do that is important is to talk about the realities on the ground in very emotionally-laden ways. It is IMPOSSIBLE for someone to listen to accounts such as his and simply discount them. You can't help but be MOVED by them.

When you're able to move people emotionally, then you've opened them up to listening to your reason. But until you're able to move them emotionally, you can give them all the information in the world -- it won't make a damned bit of difference.

[sui generis]

11. manipulating people's emotions is a form of information war

I know that sounds cold but it's what republicans do every day, using the same reasoning you just gave, aimed at a certain kind of person who always puts "how they feel" before "what they think".

I'm agreeing - just not differentiating between using emotional manipulation and facts as a means to achieve the end.

(karl rove jr.)

[whistle]

8. The truth will set you free, which is why the Bush administration and....

...the republican congress and the GOP go to such lengths to deny and prevent the truth from being told.

[TwentyFive]

10. The poor kids have listened to Rush, Hannity, Coulter so long they don't..

have a clue about what's actually happening. Just think, if any of us lived on a steady diet of lies and spin, and not question any of it....we'd be clueless too.

[Blue_Tires]

12. Hoffman owned them all!

gj

[Javaman]

13. The lies will die and the truth survives!!!