I confess--I'm finding myself dehumanizing Deplorables and conservatives more and more...

[First Speaker]

...and it sickens me. In another thread today, I compared Republicans to a "crazed mutant horde" in a Mad Max film, and also to cockroaches. How far a distance is this from calling Jews "subhuman vermin"? Or using the N-word against a whole race of people, to deliberately degrade and dehumanize them? Or any of the other words--Kulak, Dago, Gook...? Using derogatory terms like that, or comparing human beings to animals and/or insects...that's how it starts. But *knowing* all this, I still can't bring myself to really regret my own use of such terms. If I feel--as I do--that "conservatives", as a group, want to destroy liberal democracy, and are committed to domination over others by class, gender, and--of course!--race...and that the Deplorables are their ultimate Useful Idiots, people willing to destroy their own lives in order to get back at Them--however one defines "Them"... Well, I know now how things like revolutions, reigns of terror, purges, terrorism, get started. I am going to make a conscious effort to root out this kind of thinking from my consciousness, and strongly urge the rest of DU to do likewise. But when things inevitably get worse these next four years...the effort will get tougher and tougher...

[guillaumeb]

1. Recommended. Well said.

But anger is understandable, and given how toxic the current version of the GOP is, it is difficult sometimes to focus on the positive things.

[safeinOhio]

2. Simple......

But not easy.

[ismnotwasm]

3. The humanness of Trump voters is not in doubt.

All too human in fact. I just remember don't have to give bigotry a chance.

[caroldansen]

4. I think we all should continue to use the colorful metaphors regarding trump and

the republicans.

[BannonsLiver]

5. Meh this is kids stuff

I'm of the belief that their brains are genetically different than ours and they deserve to be treated horribly. I don't have conservative friends and am proud of that fact. They are vile, filthy people (often literally).

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/new-studies-show-liberals-and-conservatives-have-different-brain-structures

[RoadhogRidesAgain]

6. Exactly.

From what I'm reading, these people started cheering just now that trump suggested breaking up the federal courts and started chanting "lock her up" for literally no reason.

They are fucking troglodytes.

[Freedomofspeech]

7. I live in PA trump country...

Perfect description.

[Wounded Bear]

12. Trumplodytes...

[kerry-is-my-prez]

8. To be honest, I've never been around the type of people who would vote for Trump. I grew up

in a Republican area where there was some wealth and that was the reason for that totally - not the social issues that the Repubs now use. Only about 3 of my high school friends voted for Trump and the rest of us are all attacking him left and right. My cousins and I all also grew up in Republican houses but we are all liberals now. I think if you went to a halfway decent college, you pretty much get the Republican knocked out of you. The 3 friends who voted Trump went to the same crappy "party college" that you could into with D's.

I think that is part of of the problem with the Democratic Party with not being able to understand these people and to win them over. Most of us just don't "get" them. We don't know how to speak their "language." We would have to twist ourselves into a pretzel and put on a big act.

[RedWedge]

13. Get help.

[BannonsLiver]

15. Hmmmm

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/new-studies-show-liberals-and-conservatives-have-different-brain-structures

Now, GFY

[RedWedge]

18. Treating people "horribly" for their genetic variations?

Hm, where on earth have I heard that before?

I'll say it again: Get help. Hatred is a killer.

[BannonsLiver]

20. Uh huh

[Leith]

9. Don't Feel Too Bad

Would you say the same if you yelled about someone who liked to kick puppies? Of course not.

There is a difference between disliking someone for their ethnicity (bigotry) and disliking someone who does bad or stupid things (quite a normal reaction). And, to tell the truth, deplorables deliberately made bad decisions that we all have to live with now. I won't accept ignorance or apathy as an excuse because they had ways of finding out the truth and they just didn't bother.

Edited to add: if you want to see real dehumanizing of the political opposition, go to discussionist.com and read what the conthugs post there.

[ProudLib72]

10. So you are saying that your behavior is on par with

HRC labeling them "deplorables"?

Just think about it this way and you'll start to feel better.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. I have the same feelings as you do.

I do rail against Trump humpers (see, I did it again). I am to the point that I can barely look at people who I know voted for him. But I have found that posting my disgust in safe places helps me to be more civil when faced with actual people. I can get the anger out, then I can sound more rational when discussing the issues. We have to let our fear and anger out somewhere, but we also do no good to degrade them when we are encountered with them.

I keep telling myself that most of the conservatives were just as angry as I am now, and wanted to believe that change will help them. They were no more in favor of what we are getting now than I am, or at least they will not be in favor of it when it bites them in the ass. We need to do more to educate them, and that is the only thing that keeps me from going over the edge with them.

[RedWedge]

14. I wish more people thought like you.

[Kimchijeon]

16. It's ok. You are aware of this in yourself, and are reflecting.

You're gonna be fine.

[Panich52]

17. Act like a disgusting excuse f/ human being, get treated

like disgusting excuse f/ human being. Their insistence on reveling in their willful ignorance brings disdain on themselves.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. There is a difference...

There is a difference between hating glbtq people, Jews, Hispanics, women, African Americans and Muslims and hating someone because he or she hates Jews, Hispanics, women, African Americans and Muslims .

[VOX]

21. This might assuage your conscience a bit...

These are actual, genuine and very recent Facebook postings by Deplorables made to an account titled, quite unimaginatively, "Conservative Patriots." Have a spit-bucket handy while you read these:

(On Rachel Maddow) You dumb bitch you are in the same class as obama hillary and bill all a waste of sperm u all support abortion to bad all of u werent aborted
- - - - - -
God bless mr Trump Pay attention all you anti Trump liberals. This country is going to get back on the right. Hate the man all you want It's the best thing that's happen to this country. In years. People are going back to work. Poverty will go down a whole bunch Taxes will go down Maybe when the swamp is drained there may a lot of liberals on food stamps. You think.
- - - - - -
God Bless President Trump. All you Republicans better think before going against what President Trump wants to do. Trump Supporters have your names and you will be gone.
- - - - - -
Do you believe in coincidence. I don't. Funny thing Odumbo goes to Hawaii and shortly afterwards their court puts a stop to President Trumps travel ban. No coincidence. He is fucking with our nations security. STOP THIS MOSLEM POS. WE ARE ALL GOING TO REGRET IGNORING WHAT HES DOING
- - - - - -
(On Hillary Clinton) She should have to pay for her wrongs if it were a regular citizen we would be in jail. Trump your have to investigate this and put her in jail or death penalty. She committed treason against this country and you know it.
- - - - -
__________________
Sadly, this is a street fight. It goes against my grain as well to get ugly and wish upon others something negative. But they are pushing hard, and would have NO qualms about doing worse to us. Theirs is the same mentality that, unchecked, some 70+ years ago in Europe, enabled certain human beings to herd other innocent men, women and children onto cattle cars that hastened them to their death.
Sometimes doing the right thing for the greater good doesn't sit well in one's soul, but there are no other viable options but to fight back with all you've got.

[dalton99a]

22. I don't think about them. I have no problem with them dying off without heirs.

[xor]

23. I have little tolerance for many of them these days.

I always enjoyed getting "dirty" and going at with them, but it's almost impossible to have a any sort conversation with any of them. I never liked calling people sheep, but they are just sheep with no independent thought. I don't remember feeling like this when Bush was president, at least not to this extent. These people are moving further and further away from what "Americans" are supposed to be about, and they don't even realize it.

But on the flip side, i worry that liberals and progressives can also become victims to similar outside influence and manipulations.