I saved my brother from being a republican

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

Ok, let me explain a bit about my brother. He believes that gay people are evil and need to be shipped of to an island forever. He wants to blast the shit out of the Saudis to teach them "respect' because they're "animals." Right now, I like to consider him a conservative democrat. He is REALLY extreme in his beliefs about people of other races and sexual orientations but is otherwise a democrat. And I guess I'm the one to blame :D.

It all started last year. After getting into politics, I was sure I was a liberal democrat and an extreme one at that. My brother, on the other hand, was an extreme conservative republican. The type that "support the troops" unless it's a democrat in the white house and call us unpatriotic for questioning the war whether the president is republican or democrat. So, my parents, finding out I was a liberal, decided to tell my brother. He decided to be the first person to be an asshole about our political standings and one day walked up to me and said "Why do you hate America?" I nicely responded "I don't hate America; I love it as much as you do but in a different way: I love America the adult way, understanding what America is and loving it for it's positives and negatives. You, on the other hand, love it like a 4-year old loves their mommy; anyone who criticizes mommy is bad even if they are right." (Thank you Al Franken for that comparison.) So, we got in a huge argument about gays and civil rights and I ended up running around the house screaming while he went into his room and watched TV.

We got into more arguments, mostly about Iraq, in which I presented evidence and he presented opinions. Of course, he didn't get it. Example: "bush got a report saying that a terrorist attack was imminent within the US involving planes. why didn't bush stop it?" "Those reports are never true; it's all a bunch of shit." So, things were going nowhere. Or so that's what I thought.

I don't know why or when it happened but eventually my brother told me he was voting Kerry. I asked him why. He told me I was right, and that bush was an irresponsible person that didn't need to be in the white house anymore. While I was amazed, there is more amazement to come.

Recently, my brother became part of the marines. He joined to get out of college and kill middle easterners but now is staying in to serve his country. After boot camp, it obviously changed him because he no longer wanted to kill middle easterners and he wanted a military career, instead of just years in the marines for a resume.

Today (or more accurately, yesterday) we saw Fahrenheit 9/11. That was the final blow. After seeing that, my brother hates everything about republicans and earlier said (after seeing F 9/11). "republicans have to be the most retarded people on the planet. They only care about money and themselves. I can't even think of one good republican president unless you count Reagan and he was just average if you ask me."

It feels so good!!!!

Edit: I have to leave for the weekend so I can't reply to your posts. But send your praises anyways :P

[ablbodyed]

1. What an uplifting post>>>>

It always amazes me that there can be such divergent opinions in the same house. How about your parents: Whom do they agree with? I guess that he in younger than you, so I commend your attempt to challenge him on his views.
BTW , since the first reference was to gay issues, is that a point of contention between you? Is he hot in his uniform? Of course, ALL Marines look hot in their unis!!! That's the point for a good number of them.

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

9. My parents are moderates.

In other words, they dont care.
And heres a picture of my brother


Edit: Crap, it came out blurry. I'll try to get a better one.

[calico1]

2. I am glad your brother has seen the light

Thanks for not giving up on him. Makes me wonder though, how many people are out there that are just as misguided and don't have anyone to help them see the truth.

[radfringe]

3. good job!

a comment on We got into more arguments, mostly about Iraq, in which I presented evidence and he presented opinions. Of course, he didn't get it. Example: "bush got a report saying that a terrorist attack was imminent within the US involving planes. why didn't bush stop it?" "Those reports are never true; it's all a bunch of shit." So, things were going nowhere. Or so that's what I thought.

The reports came from intelligence sources - since then we've been told that the CIA/FBI screwed up on 9-11 and Iraq WMD's - both of which were used as justification to invade Iraq

following the "Those reports are never true; it's all a bunch of shit." statement and coupling it with the recent determination regarding FBI/CIA -- then the justifications for invading Iraq is also a bunch of shit.

meanwhile -- bush* is saying we are safer, state department report (corrected version) indicates that terrorism is on the increase, and Ridge is running around yelling "terror terror terror" based on information from intelligence agencies, and the congressional investigation determined that there was NO connection between Saddam and 9-11

so what do we believe? bush* who says we are safer, the corrected terrorism report, Ridge, intelligence agencies or the congressional investigation?

[Bullshot]

4. I'll give your brother a lot of credit for seeing the movie,

let alone having an open mind and letting the facts in the movie present themselves.

Whenever I talk about F-911 to friends and relatives, all they do is parrot the rhetoric they heard on Limbaugh and the other talking head shows. They have such strong opinions on this movie and they never saw it.

It's getting scary when a pill-popping, bigoted hypocrite who's been divorced three times can be such an opinion leader on what's right and wrong, or what's moral or immoral.

[ralps]

8. This afternoon I told my parents

I had seen Fahrenheit 9/11 3 times since it came out. They said it was lies, propaganda. I told them to me the Fox News channel was propaganda. Sometimes I just get really angry with them. After they said that about F 9/11 I said to myself "wait until the Plame indictments come out. Bush et.al. will be finished." But I need to accept that they are never going to change their minds about *.

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

10. It is scary

and Im surprised that he was open-minded about it too

[Cha]

5. Smart genes run in the family!

You're brother took a circuitious route but eventually got it..thanks to a lot of help from his sibling! I know how happy you must feel.

When I saw my son over July 4th after an absence of 6 years...he told me at the station when I was getting ready to go home that he was going to register to vote and help get bush out..I said..Thank you! And he said he's not doing it for me but for our Country. I said..that's what I'm talkin' about..what do you think I've been doing this for ..for the last for years? :D

[AlFrankenFan]

6. Holy...SHIT!

My mom stood over my shoulder and read it along with me and when we both finished she looked over at me and we were both like, "Oh my god." This is amazing. The power of that movie is beyond the power of God. I thought no one would be able to sway your brother - especially you, but here we are! Your brother, my step-dad (didn't see the movie but had a similar revelation earlier this year) - hell this is workin' so well I think I'll get my father two tickets for F9/11 for his birthday (Clinton's birthday :P) and send you as the courier :P.

[calimary]

7. Doesn't matter. For the record, I want to say - YAY!!!

Good job! And good on your brother. An enlightened man with an OBVIOUSLY open mind. Under those circumstances, I'd guess it'd be kinda hard for ANYBODY to be a republi-CON.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[LiberalManiacfromOC]

13. We're not related.

He was adopted as a matter of fact and has a learning disability. So, his vocabulary sucks. However, that doesn't make him a complete moron. He is able to grasp things better than you would think.

[Robbien]

17. The rules say we should be polite. Calling someone's brother stupid

and a lunkhead is down right rude.

I bet I can guess what side your "extreme" belief is on.

[Outward Bound]

12. Sounds like he has a lot of growing up yet to do..

"He believes that gay people are evil and need to be shipped of to an island forever. He wants to blast the shit out of the Saudis to teach them "respect' because they're "animals."

I hate to buck the tide here; but the USMC helped make a man out of me. I was a very violent, confused and troubled teenager, I joined the Corps to avoid jail. This young man just needs someone to set him down and explain reality; he'll figure things out from there.

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

14. Definatley

although hes not a complete moron, he needs to grasp reality a little better.

[DieboldMustDie]

15. "I can't even think of one good republican president...

unless you count Reagan..."

Well, there was that Lincoln fella; and I can think of some good things to say about Teddy Roosevelt, along with a few bad things. Same goes for Eisenhower. :shrug:

[Zorra]

16. Thanks! There is hope for America. The majority of the people in the US

will eventually understand, before the November election, that Bu$h stands for everything that is against the principles that America was founded on.

The Republican agenda is no longer anything similar to an agenda of individual rights. The Patriot Act is proof of that.

It has become an agenda of corporate BS, and corporate rule.