I Have A Question For People With Freeper Friends...

[DistressedAmerican]

Is there some reason you continue to hang out with these deluded jack asses?

I do not get all the posts I see here about interactions between DUers and their freep friends. What is up with still having freeps as friends in this day and age?

They will never change you know! There is no point in continuing to associate with freaks that support war, death and wide scale looting of the public coffers.

Be smart and cut these ass hats out of your life. You do not need the frustration and they do not deserve to have you as a friend!

Cut them off and make them crawl back to their freep scum buddies where they belong!

If you need a friend to take their place, there are a lot of great folks here at DU that you can associate with!

[ET Awful]

1. Error . . . question does not compute.

The query is based on an invalid premise. Freepers don't have friends.

[Dem Agog]

2. I know three Freepers...

1. One is my brother. We're estranged.
2. The other is my brother-in-law. He's a sweet unassuming man who is very well off but still drives a 10 y/o Saturn with manual roll windows. We don't talk politics. I prefer to think he is ignorant, because the only other choice is "evil".
3. The third is a woman who heads a project I'm working for. I have to keep her happy to keep my job. I only see her 2 or 3 times a year, and we get along well on the phone. She seems like a nice woman, but she has a "W" sticker on her car. :shrug: I haven't gotten a chance to ask her why, or the guts to ask her why, as I like my paycheck. But again I hope it's merely ignorance. I haven't seen her in 3 mos. I wonder if she's removed that damn sticker yet. I hope so.

[DistressedAmerican]

5. I Think In Most Work Settings Politics Should Just Be Avoided.

You can't choose your co-workers.

Sorry to hear about your Bro. I know it sucks:pals: .

Thank god we have a "Uniter" and not a "Divider" in office!

[Dem Agog]

17. Thanks DistressedAmerican...

It's comforting to hear someone say that they think politics should just be avoided in most situations at work. I agree. I just lose so much faith when I understand the people I work with aren't "blue"... I work in a red state, so I know that most of them probably voted for * but I just can't bring myself to think it.

The only "mean" Republican I know is my brother. He's racist, homophobic and just mean. Thing is, the man adores animals, so he's not all bad. He and I both went through a traumatic childhood with our sister dying (his twin). I was the "angry" one they sent to therapy. (Which didn't go on for very long.) My brother was the "normal" one. He didn't go to therapy. "Why can't you be more like your brother?" was something I got a lot.

Now 25 years later he is so filled with rage, and I'm not. I think what I'm witnessing with him is what bottled up rage and hate will do when you hold it in.

I also suspect something might have happened when he was younger with an adult minister guy who was later outed as gay with some allegations of molestation. We stayed with this man and his wife and kids when we were moved across the country due to my sister's illness. That's the only explanation I have for his beyond utterly irrational hatred of gays.

I miss my brother, from 20 years ago. Not the man today. I feel like I lost both my sister AND brother... (And I only started out with one of each.)

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. Embarrassing them helps prevent spread of propaganda

Believe me I would love to avoid it entirely. On non-political boards, as a rule, I NEVER start a political thread, but these guys are always eager to deliver the latest talking point from Fox or Rush, so I'll jump in.

[SixStrings]

11. Exactly right...

I thought the same thing. I'm a member on a few ATV websites and it is always the same thing. Someone will start a thread and quote Rush, or O'reilly, just trying to stir the shit. You can't help but get annoyed and counter the propoganda. It seems some Freepers are proud to be ignorant - I think it all has to do with being on the 'winning team'. It's the same thing with the Toronto Maple Leafs up here. People like and follow the team because other people do. That's it. They don;t know squat about Hockey but that's "their team". Some weird socio-psychological phenomenon is at foot.

[Lerkfish]

4. well....

you know how sometimes someone will talk to a psychiatrist about problems their "friend" is having, but they're really talking about themselves?

that's an interesting phenomena, don't you think?

[DistressedAmerican]

7. Very True! There Is A Lot Of That!

Especially when they post on how their freep friends are wearing them down with this or that RW talking point!

[titoresque]

hey

you guys are quick......I'm learning a lot here, I thought I was pretty quick but I never thought of that, you're right!! :thumbsup:

[sniffa]

6. but if we cut them off

who's going to hire us as their maids when we're unempLoyed?

[DistressedAmerican]

8. Right! LOL!

:rofl:

[johnnie]

9. Some people I have to work with

And I have very few "freeper" friends. The ones I do talk to have changed their tunes considerably in the last few years.

Even the ones at work now are wondering what kind of idiot they voted for and they seem to be a bit embarrassed around me these days.

[Brewman_Jax]

10. Can't argue that

only at trivia on Tuesday, but he's remnant from the old team. He's got 2 pizza shops he has to keep an eye on, so we rarely see him.

Now that you mention it, I never liked that guy anyway. Even less once I found he was chickenhawk fundie freeper (divorced, of course).

[CascadeTide]

12. Mine are family

I can't cut them off for long periods but right now I have interest in talking to them. I am so angry that they've been slapping Bush on the back over his handling of this. I don't need to talk to them again for awhile.

[sniffa]

14. weLcome to DU

and you'd do the worLd a service by cutting them off.

show them pictures of the dead if you need to keep contact. numbers are just part of the 'game' but decomposing bodies are hard to brush aside.

[DistressedAmerican]

29. Hey CascadeTide! Welcome To DU!

You can find lots of buddies here. Not family. But, buddies. Of course if you marry someone from DU that makes them family.

Just saying!

:toast:

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. Because friendship can go beyond politics and religion and other stuff

I have a couple politically ignorant friends, but they've been friends for 25 years and I know any one of us would sacrifice for the other. We've always had political differences, but that's okay. There's a bond between us that goes beyond the differences.

On the other hand, for the last large number of years, I've not befriended any freeper types; if I meet someone, and think a friendship might be good, then find out they're a rightwing whacko, then that's it. I'm not even willing to explore those possible friendships.

[asjr]

32. One friend passes along RW points to me. She sent me day

before yesterday propaganda about Blanco and Nagin. She asked me if I had passed it on. I told her no because I considered it very one sided. I said I don't pass on things that I am very doubtful about and that would be very irresponsible if I did. I also told her I do think before I act. Actually she was embarrassed about it. But the ones who love Shrub do not think for themselves. We will always have the freepers.

[DistressedAmerican]

34. I Really Do Not Have Any. But, Like You Say I Do Not Befriend Them.

Politics is too much a part of my life to supress the urge to talk about it. Does not lead to lasting friendships with those that (strongly) disagree. Some disagree on certain points. But, if they didn't I would assume they were not thinking...

[Catchawave]

15. I'm married to one !

:cry:

Believe me, if I divorce him over politics, then Bush wins again! This is why I DU.

[mondo joe]

22. I don't understand how a couple can be so at odds on values.

I'm not judging your relationship. But I sincerely don't understand how a couple can be so at odds on values.

[Catchawave]

39. There's more to marriage than politics.....

and we share the same values, he's not a FUNDIE, maybe I misunderstood the Freeper reference? We do have our spirted political discussions, but it sometimes helps me realize that the Dems aren't perfect either.

Sidebar: He supported Edwards during the 2004 Prez primaries, life was good then :) I suppose I learned we do need a Centrist Dem President, then work on achieving the liberal agenda from there?

What I learn in my conservative environment, some of "them" fear us more than we fear them :)

[mondo joe]

91. Sure - but politics are a reflection of values.

My politics reflect my values about life, work, fairness, etc. It's not just a random cosmetic thing.

There is certainly more to marriage than politics, but I think at the core of both is your values.

[DistressedAmerican]

36. Well, To Be Fair Love Should Trump Politics (If You Can Make It Work)!

Best to you and your freep hubby!:loveya:

[Catchawave]

45. Thanks!

36 years ! We survived my McGovern and Carter campaigns too. My kids were teens during the Clinton years, so I didn't have time for politics then, he had an 8 year break :) The Reagan years were a blur, PTA trumped politics in the kids' earlier years!

Fast forward to now, I'm politically menopostal with a gun, any questions? Heh.

We're in a good place now :snort:

[CitrusLib]

69. I'm in a mixed marriage too.

While my husband would not fit the criteria for a 'Freeper', he did vote for Bush twice. This despite taking a political questionnaire before the last election which showed his views more closely aligned to John Edwards than George Bush!

My husband's Republican identification was established at birth. My father-in-law (FREEPER!!!!!) did a good job indoctrinating my husband, not so much as a Republican, but as an anti-Democrat. If that makes any sense.

He cringes when I make disparaging comments about Bush and his entire administration (come on! It's just too easy), but I'm starting to see signs he's coming around. If I ever get my husband to vote for a Democrat for President, it will be a huge moment for me (and us). I keep living the dream.

Welcome to DU

[Catchawave]

73. I hear ya'....

and spoken so much more eloquently than I did, your words:

"He cringes when I make disparaging comments about Bush and his entire administration (come on! It's just too easy), but I'm starting to see signs he's coming around. If I ever get my husband to vote for a Democrat for President, it will be a huge moment for me (and us). I keep living the dream."

My household supported McCain in '00 and Edwards in '04, very telling for the Center :)

Also, the President is my President, no matter who's elected, but the Bush team is pushing that honor of respect!

[theboss]

16. Because they would die for me and me for them

Don't judge my friendships from the outside.

[Balbus]

38. Sadly, now days, people have forgotten what true friendship really is.

I'm glad to see you haven't :)

[More Than A Feeling]

18. One of my best conservative friends realizes that Bush is a fuckup

but his identity as a conservative (he really wants conservative judges) trumps that.

He is possibly the nicest guy on campus, and he tells the most outrageous stories, like about the time his dad shot a monkey.

We don't avoid politics and religion, because we feel like even though we disagree, so many of the people we both know aren't even aware of the big issues in life, and certainly would never talk about them. We are all we have to explore such philosophical topics.

We know where we stand, and that we will never change each other's minds, and we are ok with that. It can be extraorinarily frustrating at times, but we tolerate each other, nonetheless.

[lapislzi]

19. I have to work with them!

One, regrettably, is my direct subordinate...I have tried (gently) to educate her but she remains resolutely and wilfully ignorant. Fortunately she is not one of the obnoxious types...just stupid. She tells me that she prays for me. What do you say to that without making yourself obnoxious? :eyes:

[mondo joe]

24. I'd say "please don't bring such personal matters to my attention" just as

someone said "I think about you when I masturbate".

[lapislzi]

62. LOL, good one...

If I said that, she'd probably cry--and be completely mystified. Like many freeps, her "get it" factor is on the low end.

[mondo joe]

90. Seriously, I think you could say "this isn't the place to address such

personal matters."

[brainshrub]

20. After the Schiavo debacle, I cut off most contact with Republicans.

IMHO, supporters of the Bush administration are small-minded cowards. They should not be trusted with sharp objects, let alone with the levers of power.

Anyone who makes decitions based on talking points instead of science, is not worthy of my attention. Republicans are to be pittied for their slave-mentality.

[maine_raptor]

21. I like my freeper friends

It is sooo much fun watching their heads explode when I fight back with a few facts to their bullshit.

Example:

Last night one came by for a little video golf and just as he was lining up a putt, I said to him "15,000". To which he replied "What's that?" "That's the number of AMERICANS killed by George W. Bush. 3,000 in the 9/11 attacks, 2,00 dead in the illegal war in Iraq, and now 10,000 due to incompetence in New Orleans."

His face turned red and he sputtered as he tried to put the virtual ball in the virtual hole. He missed the putt and lost the match.

BTW: The other two guys in the foursome last night are strong anti-Bush, so this guy was outnumbered to begin with.

[DistressedAmerican]

41. OK! That Is Funny!

Nothing like watching a freep head explosion!

[izzie]

23. Me too. will Chaney come in with is mini-hospital in tow?

Since he seems to always travel with his mini-hospital and doctor I am just wondering if they would know.He also had better not get between Barber and a TV camera. That looks almost as bad as a class 5 storm.

[ArkDem]

25. Yes, you are right. The intelligent thing to do is to stay in an

echo chamber. There is much more to learn in life by only associating with the people we agree with and reading/watching one side of an argument. It takes entirely too much maturity to associate with people different from ourselves, why waste the time? After all isn't that what diversity is all about?

[crispini]

35. LOL!

you forgot this: :sarcasm:

[ArkDem]

59. I like to let the children figure it out for themselves.

[zoids]

83. You know

there's a few people on this board I don't think I'd associate with, to be honest. I'm a bit nervous around those who are way "out there", if you know what I mean.

[Lecky]

105. Ha! Well said...n/t

[PunkPop]

26. Mine could be called "acquaintances" at best.

"Friends"? Nope, can't go there.

[baldingrockwarlord]

27. I'm the only Dem/Liberal in my band

I'm surrounded by bigotted hard core right wingers in my band. They are so far to the right I have to wonder if they all listen to short wave radio. Rush and Hannity seem liberal compared to these guys. After rehearsal last night, they started talking Katrina and politics, and I could never complete a sentence or a thought before they "knew" where I was going and proceeded to team up and yell louder and not allow me to respond or anything. According to them, the reason for those staying and being trapped in NOLA was that "it was the end of the month, and not the 3rd of the month, and they were ALL waiting for their (public aid, welfare or whatever) checks, and that's all they ever do is wait for handouts, etc....

After this next job, I'm not sure I can with good conscience remain in this group, with their hatred. Funny thing is, they voted me to be the leader and musical director, considering me my experience, talent and my resources to be the best in the group. That was before we ever discovered our major differences. It's a damn good band as long as we NEVER discuss politics again. I'm just not sure that's possible.

Nothing worse than being in the middle of a bunch of hard core right wing fire breathing neo con freepslugs who won't let you get a word in edgewise, and prostlytize about who and what liberals are(according to what they've been brainwashed and told) and what our "problem" is.

[MadHound]

28. And who are you to demand such purity in our personal relationships?

I'm sorry, but I'm getting damn sick and tired of people here telling me who I should and should not hang out with. What, are you afraid that we'll somehow be turned to the dark side? Or is it that you're just wanting to spread disunity and disharmony amongst the American public?

I happen to live in an area that is quite red. Most of my neighbors are conservatives, some are old school conservatives, some are neo-cons. Living out in rural America one quickly realizes that in order to survive out there, you have got to get along with your neighbors. They help you out through the rough patches, and you do the same for them. Relationships develop, friends are made. Sure, politics come up and are bandied about. And guess what? People change their minds, opinions are rethought, and if they are found lacking, people change. During the run-up to the '04 election, after having lived in my rural community for a year, I managed to talk four of the neighborhood families into voting Democratic. Gee, eight more votes for Kerry, sure, it didn't mean much in the larger scope of things, but that is eight more votes that weren't there before. And they will more than likely vote Democratic in '06 and '08 also, for their eyes have been opened and they are pissed.

And yet in the misguided notion of political purity, you would have me foregoe these relationships and not speak with my neighbors or try to convince them of the error of their ways. Gee, no wonder the party is losing ground. If the Dems are going to regain ground, especially in red states like mine, we're going to have to have some of those red voters switch, and the most effective way to do this is through interpersonal contact, talking with your neighbors and friends, spreading the truth in the age of Fox news and the MSM.

Then there is the issue of family, where again, I have several conservative family members. You may be willing to burn your familial bridges in your quest for political purity, but for those of us who dwell in the real world that simply isn't possible. So we must deal with these folks and get along with them, otherwise risk subjecting ourselves to some fine familial strife. I don't know about you and your family, but in mine we respect each others' opinions and politics in the sake of getting along.

And as far as DU relationships go, well, with all due respect to the fine folks that are here, 'Net friends simply can't replace friends and relationships in the real world. Now DA, if you will come on over to my place and disc up my back twenty, and I can help you deliver a calf or two, then you might be able to convince otherwise, but until then, no dice. Relationships and friendships are built on many many things, politics being just one of them. Demanding that we have political purity in our real world relations is not only impossible for many of us, quite frankly I find it downright rude and insulting. Perhaps it is due to your lack of real world relationships that you don't see this, and if that is the case, I would suggest that you get off the keyboard and go get involved in some. But in either case, I would kindly ask that you knock off these insulting demands and stop trying to control who we interact with on a daily basis. Thank you.

[DistressedAmerican]

43. It Has Nothing To Do With Notions Of Political Purity.

I just have no tolerance for them. If you do, more power to you! I hope you convert them ALL!

Oh and I have plenty of real world friends. Several I have MET through DU. You should try to actually meet some DUers.

:bounce:

[MadHound]

51. Then why are you coming on here running down my friends and family?

And yes, I do take insults to friends and family personally, so deal. Do you prescreen your relationships for political purity? Then you are depriving yourself of many things that are rewarding, perhaps you should try living outside of an echo chamber sometime, you might lean some things.

And quite frankly I think it is attitudes like yours that are playing right in the hands of the power elite in this country. Divide and conquer is their motto. Afters Bacon's rebellion, the power elite divided the working class along racial lines, and now that that is starting to fail, they are working on dividing it along both religious and political lines, AND NOW YOU ARE DOING THEIR WORK FOR THEM! GOOD FUCKING JOB!!:eyes: Don't you get it? You are helping the power elites in power by continuing to sow this devisive shit amongst the working class. Way to be part of the problem!:eyes:

Oh, and for your information, there are two DUers within one hundred and twenty five miles of myself, and I already knew them long before DU was even in existence.

So please, stop with this stupidity already. You are doing the work that the power elites want you to, and you are insulting lots and lots of good people along the way. And if you don't believe me on this point, go reread your Howard Zinn.

[DistressedAmerican]

56. Why The Hostility?

Take a deep breath and tell me I am wrong if you want. But, I think you are going a bit off of the deep end here.

I made it quite clear in my last post that if you have the tolerance for RWers then, good for you! I think that is great. Convert them all if you can.

Yet you keep slamming away like I just told you to fuck off in response to your post. Not sure what else you would like me to do? Should I ask a mod to delete the thread?

Relax. Like my opinion effects your life. Am I that threatening to your relationships or anyone's? I expressed an opinion. You disagree and said so. That is fine. Why do you have to go on and on like I keep dissing you? I haven't.

Have a nice one...

[MadHound]

61. Well, how would you like having friends and family referred to as

"Deluded jack asses", "freaks that support war, death and wide scale looting of the public coffers." and "ass hats"? Sorry, but I find that grossly insulting, both to myself, since you are insulting me by association, and especially insulting to my friends and family. AND YOU ARE DOING ALL OF THIS INSULTING WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING WHOM YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT! SHEESH DUDE, BUY A FUCKING CLUE! You whine and moan about the callousness and mean spiritedness of conservatives, yet with this single thread, you are displaying the very same traits you decry. Talk about a disconnect and hypocrisy.

And again, I can't emphasize enough how badly you are playing into the power elites' divide and conquer strategy, and yes that pisses me off also. My God man, if the working class of this country would stop fallling for this trap, we could unite together and sweep these bastards out of power. But nooooo, people continue to fall for the same old stupid bullshit year after year. Makes me truly wonder about the intelligence of my fellow man, no matter which side of the political fence they're on.

So I've got a suggestion, why don't you take a break from this kind of BS, and go do some research on this issue. Go pick up a copy of Zinn's "Peoples' History of the United States", along with a copy of this book here <http://www.guilford.com/cgi-bin/cartscript.cgi?page=politics/berlet.htm&cart_id=> Read how the power elite in this country have been playing divide and conquer the working class since this country's inception. Then please, what ever else you do, stop doing their work for them. Cheers.

[DistressedAmerican]

74. More Hostility? Relax. My Opinion Has No Impact On Your Life.

Hang out with whom ever you would like. Last you'll hear from me on this.

I tried to be nice in my replies to you. I made it quite clear that you should do what ever the hell you want. Yet, you keep slamming and slamming.

Bye.

[Name removed]

78. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DistressedAmerican]

80. LA LA LA...

Might you be able to reprhase that hostility just one more time?

[MadHound]

86. Might you take some responsibility for being insulting and devisive?

Might you wake up and realize that such devisive tactics accomplish nothing except to keep the working class from uniting and throwing the bastards out? Might you realize that it is better to win friends than insult them?

Apparently not. Perhaps in the future, one can only hope.

[ret5hd]

89. Do they support the war, death, and wide scale looting...

that this admin is doing? if so, then i submit they ARE deluded jackasses and ass hats, and deserve the insults.

If not, then i submit that the OP wasn't referring to them, and no insult was given.

just sayin...

[leftchick]

30. The only freepers left in my life are my immediate family

I don't communicate with two sisters and their families because of their freeper condition. My mother is indeed a freeper as well but what can I do? Both of my parents are in failing health and I need to be there for them. I never talk politics when I visit them. It is a very difficult situation. When my folks are gone I only have one sister left who is sane enough for me to keep loving relationship with.

As for friends, I dumped the one and only repuke friend on Friday over this when he exposed his true vile freeper self.

[King Coal]

33. I have a sister that is both a freeper and a fundie. We don't keep

touch anymore. They are ashamed of me.

[DistressedAmerican]

46. Sadly, You Can't Pick Your Family!

My parents are old school conservatives. They hate the influence of the neocons and fundies on the repug party. So, I let them slide and we talk quite a bit of politics. In fact, I credit them with my interest in it in the first place. They were always well informed and kept letting me know that politicians serve at OUR PLEASURE.

The rest of the family HATE Bush and we get along great!

Best to you and yours!:grouphug:

[King Coal]

31. You pay an extreme price for keeping yourself informed.

I have to stay quiet to keep my sanity, at times. For example, a co-worker this morning said he was tired of everyone complaining about the government everytime some little thing happened. I'm worn out. I have family members and inlaws that can only focus on the looting. The first time we have a riot in the Astrodome you will have a concentration camp becoming a very possible outcome. It's really a burden to have knowledge.

[dean_dem]

37. I have friends that listen to 50 Cent and watch Reality TV too.

But I don't cut them out my life for their abominable taste in music or television.

[Balbus]

40. And that's what friendship is all about!

Good for you :)

[DistressedAmerican]

47. Yeah. But Music And TV Are Not Killing Tens Of Thousands.

Not really on par in this time of extreme political discord and consequences.

Well, Reality TV may be killing folks by deadening our culture to suffering, making it entertainment even. I will give you that!

[dean_dem]

95. Yeah, but 50 Cent really really sucks.

I think of it more in terms of what people's priorities are. My point is that music is an extremely important part of my life, almost more so than politics. For some people, politics is an all-consuming all-important thing. For some people, art history is an all-important thing, and you should see them get worked up at the mere mention of Anne Geddes.

But for a lot of those people I think you're lumping in with the active Free Republic types, politics is simply not a part of their everyday lives. They just have other priorities. Therefore, they don't spend much time looking critically at everything Fox News spits out. I understand your point, but I think it simply comes down to where people's priorities are, and they're not always with politics, just as they're not always with listening to decent music (even though they maybe should be).

[oasis]

42. DU knee deep in rwing talking points from friends, co-workers, in-laws

and other relatives.

[bryant69]

44. Freep is a bullshit word

I use it too, but it doesn't mean anything.

Is someone who voted for Bush a freeper? Is someone who describes themselves as conservative or libertarian a freeper? Well in some contexts yes and in some contexts no.

I have a close friend who is a libertarian and a Bush supporter - just last night we got into an argument over "what was Bush supposed to do?" But at the same time he's mostly a good guy and he's been there to help me on numerous occaisons. And he's willing to discuss, at any rate.

So I'm not going to cut him off to live up to any bullshit ideological purity.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[DistressedAmerican]

49. TRo Me Freep Means Neocon/Fundie Supporter.

There are a lot of old school conservatives that I can get along with. Of course they reject the hiacking of the repug party by these fascist theocrats.

[bryant69]

50. Is that the standard?

If they support Bush they are freepers?

[theboss]

57. My best friend voted for Bush

Because he thought he would be better for "small businesses." We had quite an argument about that, but, such is life. He owns a small business and I don't.

It's his decision. He's still going to be my best man.

[DistressedAmerican]

64. NEOCON/FUNDIE Supporter. Since Bush Is Both, I Guess So.

[bryant69]

71. So in order to order to be ideologically pure

according to distressed American I have to tell my friend to abandon Bush or fuck off?

[DistressedAmerican]

75. Look Do What Ever The Fuck You Want.

I do not give a shit at this point. I expesssed my opinion. Take it or leave it. That is up to you.

Befriend every freep in the country if that is what you want to do. I won't. But, you go ahead if you want. Just not my bag.

[bryant69]

93. The price of ideological purity

I guess I should be grateful that you are willing to pay such a price - I think it shows your moral superiority. It must feel really good knowing how much better you are than all the rest of us (well, me at any rate).

[dean_dem]

96. For a lot of people on this board...

I think a freeper is someone they simply disagree with.

[slackmaster]

48. I don't judge people by their political affiliations

I care only about how each individual treats others.

Slapping a label on someone and then attributing to them all the worst qualities of the worst people who bear the same label IMO constitutes bigotry. I eschew "isness". Meaningful dialogue can occur only when specific actions rather than broad-brush assumptions about attitudes are up for discussion.

[seabeyond]

52. firstly, i dont dismiss fellow human being so casually

secondly many of these freepers are family i love. friends i love. and yes, i can see the lite and love that they are. even in their mess. as i am perfectly imperfect, so are they

i am mad though. and i never hold my tongue. so there are a few that i have had to step away from now. i am sure i will reconnect in time. and mainly this is more about religion with these friends.

further,..... it is simply ignorance and uninformed, conditioned. like a small child in ignorance.

what does randi rhodes say about military, we are only as good as our weakest

that includes these people

we are not whole until all are grand

jesus word....... i will forsake none

i can go on and on and on. never validating justifying behavior. always loving spirit. the little child in us

[seabeyond]

54. also i live in per red area,..... i am the only democrat.

i dont live in a diverse blue ny. i would be quite lonely and alone

wouldnt be healthy for my children. wouldnt be a good lesson for them to teach exclusive. i could go on and on and on

[B Calm]

106. Same here.. My enjoyment is driving around with my DU bumber

sticker on my car. I enjoy co workers glancing at it when we get off work, but with that said, I still have to live here and work here with these brain dead morans. Sometimes it's better not to inflame them with TRUTH, they can't handle it!

[dogday]

53. I've always said the Republican Mantra was

You are on your own... I just did not realize how much until NO. Now I know. All these years I have put money into federal programs and when it comes time to collect the dividend on those payments, it won't be there. Do I depend on my government for help? No, I depend on the funds I have given over the years to help me. Should I not expect something?

[theboss]

81. That's their government mantra

But when I need to move or am raising money for a charity or am helping put together a community festival or whatever...i go to my "freep" friends first. I've always found my "liberal" friends to have a lot more excuses.

[bertha katzenengel]

55. Please don't presume to tell me who I should or should not

be friends with.

[Beelzebud]

58. I had 1 freep friend. In 2003 I told him to enlist to fight in Iraq.

He stopped calling me soon after that.

He still sits on his 24 year old ass, cheerleading the war he won't fight in.

No great loss.

[CheshireCat]

60. Some do change

"They will never change you know! There is no point in continuing to associate with freaks that support war, death and wide scale looting of the public coffers."
I've always had a hard time tolerating freeper-types, but there are some that I must be be around for the sake of family and professional harmony. Over the years, I have discovered that sometimes freeper-types DO change.

Last weekend was one of those times. I went home for a family funeral and couldn't believe what I encountered. My sister, her husband, and a number of her friends have been big defenders of Bush and the Christian right. They were the type of freepers who do not know what is going on and believe everything that Faux News tells them.

In the aftermath of Katrina, they were appalled by Bush's behavior. They never believed that Republicans would let children and the elderly suffer so. They were sick that they had believed in and voted for him.

My sister couldn't quit crying. She ever asked me if I thought that the lack of help for these poor souls was due to race. (She has never been a racist) She told me that I had been right and asked me to keep her informed on what is happening thru news articles and such.

In the past, I have seen many such changes. I doesn't hurt to try. But I do agree that there are some freeper types who are hopeless cases. You know, the ones who would die rather than admit they are wrong.

Peace.

[seabeyond]

66. my midland texas republican nra card carrying husband for one

voted kerry 2004.

my fundie friend told me day after election, thank you for convincing me to vote kerry. i feel like a weight off my shoulders with what is to come

so i agree. some, a lot do change, will change

[DistressedAmerican]

67. Well, That Is Certainly Positive. Sadly It Takes An Event Like This

to make those with the potential to change get some sense.

You are right. Some do change.

Please keep them informed as best as you can!

:toast:

[meganmonkey]

63. Here's some reasons, off the top of my head:

#1 - You can never change someone's mind or educate them if you cut them out of your life. In the long run, if we want to save our democracy, we will need more people on our side.

#2 - Lead by example. If I judge people and refuse to talk to them because of certain beliefs, I am not a good example of a free-speech-diversity loving liberal, am I?

#3 - Family and other long-term relationships. I live in a red area. My SO was raised here and has a lot of friends that go back to childhood, as well as republican family members. My SO and I are flaming liberals and everyone knows it, no one judges us and cuts us out of their lives. These people would do ANYTHING for us, they are kind and warmhearted. How they can support bushco, I do not understand, I will never understand. They probably don't understand. They are not stupid, but they are often ignorant.

Which brings me back to #1 - I can and do have an influence on these people because they like me and they want to understand me better (having moved out here from a liberal town). As they learn that I lived and worked on a farm for a couple years and other things about me, I become this complicated over-educated hippie/gardener/down-to earth enigma to them. I don't fit into their categories, and they want to know where I am coming from.

So I teach them, and they learn, and I have made some headway, to tell you the truth.

Not to mention I have learned more than I ever wanted to know about Nascar :)

So that's jsut the first few things that popped in my head.

[Ron Mexico]

65. He's not my friend, he's my brother in law, and

I love my wife with all my heart. She's worth any amount of hassle, even the ramblings of her asshole brother. I also have six inches and 50 pounds on him, so he generally doesn't go too far over the line.

[LoZoccolo]

68. Where would we be without you?

There I was, pretty unsure what to do with my personal life.

[goclark]

70. My rethug "friend" is getting to be more than I can stand

The other day I let her have it!

She tries to brag about her "rethug" connections and she doesn't even have a job.

Someone mentioned Arnold, who I knew she voted for and I said,"I told you not to vote for that fool."

She said very quietly ," I didn't vote for him." I looked at her and rolled my eyes.

I have not spoken to her since the hurricane and I'm wondering what to do.

I am so angry that I may cuss her out. We are both African American and I think this is the right time to do it.

If someone can give me the words that will clearly tell her what I think without calling her a ---, it would be appreciated.

[ArkDem]

72. You two sound close.

[goclark]

76. She can be kind in many respects but the hurricane

did it for me.

How can I remain a "friend" with someone who can think that he had no blame and would still vote for him?

I'm just trying to find the words to let her know that I can't be friends with anyone that would go along with the Repthugs, not now.

[gollygee]

77. I have friends who are freepers

There are some things we debate but we know not to take the debate personally. There are some things we know not to talk about.

We mainly just talk about other things. It isn't hard.

[Brightmore]

79. I have some Bush voting friends

I'm secure enough in my political beliefs that I don't need to cut them out of my life. They do not threaten me. And plus, friendship goes beyond simple partisan politics.

[brook]

82. Cutting off Republican friends...

is about the same as sticking your fingers in your ears and wailing. Of course, I distinguish between Republicans and 'freeps'.

[deadparrot]

84. I find that my "freep" friends

are not so much die-hard Bush worshippers, as conservative Catholics. I found that the more we talked, the more ignorant they revealed themselves to be. They saw it; I saw it. And while these people still hover around the center on the political spectrum, they're by no means the bleary-eyed BushBots that do exist in the world. They're anti-abortion, true enough, but they're also against the death penalty and for social justice issues. They think for themselves, they criticize Bush AND Clinton, as do I. We talk, and we debate, and we can keep it friendly. I've been through too much with these people to dump them just because they lean right on certain issues.

Maybe that's not your defnintion of freeper, and I know I do have friends who fall into the freeperish category, but they're by no means my close friends.

[thereismore]

85. mine are brothers in Christ. I challenge their sin all the time. n/t

[izzybeans]

87. Hey I just moved to my wife's hometown and I'm now surrounded. I

have to sit silently most often. I was talking to some friends of my own and we were joking about the Protest Warriors getting pushed around by the right wing lunatics and trying to figure out what to call these people. Are they protestors? What are they protesting? Anyway we decided to call them anti-peace demonstrators for lack of better terms.

When we realized we had grown an audience of local yokals who went to school with my wife we were immediately bombarded with that same face (everyone knows the face), beet red, wild eyes...followed by sounds of people walking of the porch.

Hey what do you do when they surround you at every turn?

Besides some of them just need to get out of the tree stand (or kitchen) for a minute and read the paper occassionally. Most aren't bad people, just terribly ill informed, and if informed at all, only from the misinformation complex of rightwing talk radio and Fox News.

I don't blame them personally. I'll have a drink with them and we can talk about what they want to talk about...it usually never happens to be politics. They all know I'm a flaming liberal. They don't have a problem with me, so why should I them?

If we discount them completely how will we ever engage them in a meaningful dialogue. I just imagination that they've never considered the possibility before and ask questions to try to tease it out of them.

There is one gentlemen however who I just can't associate with. My wife's friend's husband. N'word this and F'word that. Homophobic racists are typically beyond my comprehension and level of tolerance. The rest seem to mean well and believe in pretty much the same things I do, they just don't know how to articulate it. Sometimes this means the other guy (he who must not be associated with above) tends to speak for them. He becomes their stereotype. I guess he must be the freeper you have in mind, as I suspect he's heard of the place. But the rest are of the same mind set, with less of the irrational fears, they just need to read something outside of the range of their normal boundaries. Getting them past the soundbites is difficult but I'm bettig its doable.

[WeRQ4U]

88. Because that would be both difficult and unneccessary.

I met most of my friends quite some time before really becoming politically informed and I never really knew or CARED for that matter, about their respective polical pursuasion. What that tells me is that I chose to associate with and retain them as friends based on things OTHER than political ideology. I've realized that although these people's views may differ from mine, the circumstances surrounding their indoctrination are not clear; it could be a family, religious or community influence different from my own. I also realize that they have not disowned ME for viewing from a perspective different from their own, even though my political viewpoints may be offensive to THEIR sensibilities.

Really, what it all boils down to is that I love ALL my friends and I would do anything for all of them, regardless of their views on abortion or the death penalty. And the fact of the matter is, they would do anything for me as well. A truely good friend is something that takes a lot of hard work, a lot of trust and a lot of luck to creat. I believe the relationships that I have formed are not so fragile that a difference of opinion, politically, would cause them to deteriorate. And I KNOW that they feel the same way... because I had a couple beers with one of them last week.

[Seen the light]

92. I'm a former Freeper

Don't hate me. I'm sorry for the past. :(

[sueh]

94. I have been successsful in converting some of my freeper friends.

Don't know about you, but I live in a heavily resmuglican district, complete with resmuglican congressional rep. I need to get every freeper convert I can to vote for the Democratic challenger in '06. I can't do that if I cut them off.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

97. Might As Well Chime In...

I am a caregiver to my eighty seven year old mom...She's an amputee and has stage three colon cancer... Sometimes I get respite relief from a nice couple who happen to be Republican and stalwart Bush* supporters. My mom and I are old school liberals....Sometimes she gets into heated but polite political debates with them... I just observe and chuckle....

They are salt of the earth though... I just ignore their political views.....

[DemocratSinceBirth]

98. And I Get To Hear First Hand What The Other Side Is Thinking

NT

[SomewhereOutThere424]

99. I had a friend who was a democrat

Who had all the opinions of a republican. "Clean doesn't rub off on dirty" I was once told...I distance myself from people who make me angry or try to push corrupt views on me. It does nothing for me in the long run except slowly dilute my sense of reality. I say, let them go sail on the good ship lollipop themselves.

Now, I also have a republican friend who's been more of a democrat than even a lot of those in office in different issues (this friend also a 9/11 rescue worker). I don't think it's about republican or democrat in the end -- I think that we should distance ourselves from those who'd risk pushing us into bad morals like they are. So far I've never been able to get someone with that kind of attitude to change their mind, and ultimately just lead me to become bitter and angry.

[progmom]

100. Oh yes - anger and exclusion - those are the hallmarks of liberalism

Seriously - this is one of the more fucked up posts I have read in awhile. :eyes:

[Mein Bush]

101. Keep your friends close by and your enemies even closer!

[Lecky]

102. I have some Republican friends...

...most of whom I grew up with, and no I would never cut them out of my life because I disagree with their political ideology...

[NotThatNolan]

103. You would understand

if you've ever played cards with Republicans.

Plenty of pocket cash and transparent bluffing. The best kind of poker buddies.

[Douglas Carpenter]

104. ya, that would do a lot of good

[mwb970]

107. I had a freep "friend" at work.

This was during the Clinton years. He used to stop by my office to chat, mostly because we both like Monty Python. But all he ever ended up talking about was war (Clancy novels, insignia, weapons, more weapons), guns (he said everyone should be armed), God (Christianity is perfect, Islam is evil), and Bill Clinton (he called him "Bubba" and said he was "despicable" - he also mimed machine-gunning a cutout of Hillary in front of his young daughter).

I was actually glad I lost my job there! It is such a relief not to have to listen to this guy any more.