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Edited on Wed Aug-23-06 08:58 AM by meganmonkey
to have anger right now, and you gotta get it out. Even if taking it out on this guy isn't the most 'rational' way to get it out, please don't beat yourself up about it - there is nothing rational about killing innocent civilians for no fucking reason and destroying our own country's economy in the process...
I participate in a daily protest in my liberal town, and occasionally we'll get someone who wants to argue. Generally its pretty easy, because there is NO reason for all this so they spew their talking points and we shoot them down, they call us commies and walk away....
Well, one day, we got a live one. All the Limbaugh talking points. He said that no one lied about WMDs and that Katrina wasn't Bush's fault blah blah blah. Okay, so the guy doesn't have his facts straight, big deal. One of our guys started talking with him and it was okay. Then he started talking about Christianity vs. Islam, and how violent Islam is and how "they" hate us and our way of life and how "they" want us all to die. One of our women got a little feisty about that and called him a fundamentalist and that some of the most horrible violent people in the world have been Christians, and torture isn't Christian. And granted she was a little emotional, but she was reasonable, and he started getting an attitude with her (funny how he communicated fine with a male but not a female).
But when this guy announced that there was NO TORTURE I fucking lost it. I asked "What do you mean, no torture?" and he said "Flushing the Koran down the toilet isn't torture!" And I went off - "How about sodomizing INNOCENT TEENAGERS WITH A FUCKING BROOMSTICK? Huh? Is THAT torture? If you don't think THAT is torture than YOU ARE A SICK FUCK and YOU should be LOCKED UP!!!"
I lost it on the guy. It wasn't pretty. Then he told me that we were in the minority in this country and I started blathering about 33% approval and you live in a dream world and if you want to stay deluded go right the fuck ahead it sure makes it easier doesn't it? I hope your Ambien helps you sleep at night go home and listen to Rush Limbaugh and let him tuck you in you are happily supporting the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people and babies being born deformed in ways you can't imagine....
I felt AWFUL that night. I cried the whole way home, I couldn't believe I lost my shit like that, not only because I am usually a level-headed person, but mainly because, like you, I felt like a horrible representative of the anti-war movement.
But I posted about it on another message board I hang out at, and this is what some people told me, and it made me feel MUCH better:
---Remember Jesus in the temple with the money changers? He got ANGRY and overturned all the tables and LOST IT!!!
Feel better now? noone is perfect!! Don't you think you deserve a break? You said you've stood outside now for how many days holding the signs and talking to how many people? And ONE time you lost it with a guy who has an attitude and most likely disrespect for most everyone but (well I won't go there) and doesn't think that torture is an issue?
Holes are for vermin. You aren't a critter or vermin, so STOP IT! Stop beating yourself up.
Unconditional love. Always remember that love bares all things (even though this isn't an example of needing to bare anything, IMHumbleO).
---You were angry for a reason and I'll give a giant hug for choosing truth over violence.
As to the tone you used for expressing this truth? I honestly don't know if polite expression spoken with passion is more effective or less effective than truth expressed in anger. Until I know the answer to that I have no right to scold you.
I suppose somewhere between lies the balance
---Are you sure you didn't "find it"? The guy deserved everything you sent his way and more. Why do protesters think they must be polite and controlled? No fucking way. The guy deserved to be hounded, berated and belittled. Of course it would be nice to be nice and calmly discuss the facts, and with some you can, but with idiots like the one you so rightly confronted only a board to the head will do.
Geez I hope one day we'll hold signs together. I'm not into the passively allow someone to abuse me stuff. Anger is a virtue.
---Thank you for taking the time to stand with others against the insanity which is Iraq. Thank you for standing on the side of children and women who have no control over what is happening to them.
Thank you for standing in my place. I can't do what you do for fear of what I would do to such an asshole. I can't look into the face of such stupidity and ignorance without becoming enraged. It is truly best that I not stand with brave and courageous people like you. I've tried but I do not have your self control.
Thank you for not hurting this fool.
---You weren't a poor representative at all and I just want to thank you for expressing my thoughts to that buffoon.
For every idiot who tells you to play nice, there are 10 of us cheering you on and joining you. It's time to stob being silent.
I want to thank you and other posters here for letting me know I'm not alone. When it comes time to choose between the silent co-dependent enablers and brave people, I'll be standing next to you.
Don't be ashamed of how you reacted. It was just pent up anger at having been told to shut up and play ball for so long. If you crawl in a hole, I'll crawl right in next to you.
You'll get no spanking from this grandma, just a thank you.
So there is a sampling of the wise words I got when I got pissed and freaked on someone. I take them to heart. I try to stay centered, but there is no reason to apologize for speaking truth and being passionate.
I copied and pasted most of this stuff from the other board, so I hope it flows okay...Bottom line - you are not alone and you should not be sorry.
:hug:
Solidarity!
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