Do you ever have one of those days on this site?

[Bicoastal]

Last night, I spent hours arguing with someone who posted an image critical of America on a thread about "facism in America". Trouble was, it was a Nazi propaganda poster from 1944, complete with "SS" inscribed in the corner, and it had plenty of racist, anti-semetic innuendo that anyone could see if they looked hard enough. The OP couldn't see anything wrong with using Axis propaganda in an anti-war context. Am I nuts here?

Now, I'm arguing with some stubborn people who got offended by a member who dared to post an innocuous "Happy Easter" message on the General Discussion board--because it was exclusionary to atheists and people of other religions. Then they started talking about the Crusades, and all the Muslims who have died in Jesus' name. Is that a nice answer to a heartfelt "Happy Easter"?

I think I need to take a DU break--and I suspect others do as well.

[Omphaloskepsis]

1. You like to argue... I don't.

That can't be good for you. Spending hours fighting to change a mind that won't ever change. Fuck, this is the fucking internet, people give a shit about this crap?

[Droopy]

2. Well

The only parallel I see with Nazi Germany and modern America is that we have both started wars of aggression. Some people argue that the invasion of Iraq was self defense, but I don't buy that. But I don't think that Bush=Hitler or Republicans=Nazis. America is not fascist. There are plenty of non-fascist countries that have started wars.

I don't have any strong feelings about Easter, but there are a lot of people who consider Christianity to be oppressive. But Christian holidays do not elicit strong emotions from me and people who wish me "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Easter" are received with similar well wishes from me. I see no harm in it.

I see you are kind of new. The kind of stuff you are talking about has been around DU for a long time. If it is really bothering you, just take a break or hang out with us here in the lounge. I took a long break from DU and it helped me to put things into perspective. Now disagreements on here don't bother me as much as they used to.

[Bicoastal]

4. Thanks.

You seem pretty level-headed. I dunno, as a Jew I took immediate offense and couldn't calm down. Call Bush another Hitler or America a police state if you must, but don't use the Nazis' own (un-altered) propaganda to do so. (The poster was ABOUT the US, BY the Nazis--the Jewish star was foolishly reinterpreted to be anti-Israel, when we all know what it meant back then--maybe you had to be there.) And then the Easter thing might have been a continuation of that adrenaline/rage.

I'm already liking the lounge a lot better, though. Thanx!

:hi:

[Redstone]

3. Feh. Ignore assholes, unless you're in the mood for a fight, and you'll feel better.

It's always good to know that if I'm in the mood for a fight, there will be somebody coming along in GD to piss me off. If not, I can always taunt the rightwingers and go see what they say.

Redstone