I bet we DU'ers are losing a lot of "friends" over this political turmoil

[PotatoBoy]

One of the nastiest side-effects of this whole political mess is finding out people you've talked to and been buddies with for a few years or more are Bush supporters. Man, it's such a mood killer. There's this guy I've known for a while.. I wouldn't say he's a friend, but we were cool. Now I'm having an argument over chat. He's so fucking arrogant and ignorant, my blood is boiling! He thinks the war in Iraq is justified because we're "planting the seed of democracy in an area of the world that is under tyranny." HOW FUCKING ARROGANT IS THAT? I hate these fuckers who think the US owns the goddamn world!

Oh and he is also against gay marriage, etc. And guess what? He's Christian. Big fucking surprise. No offense to the TRUE Christians who are here on DU. This guy is obviously the Bush flavor of Christianity: impose our values on the rest of the world. Self-righteous bastards.

And damn it, it would be so easy for me to say "screw Christianity" but I know it would be wrong. As wrong as these idiots who hate Muslims because a group of Saudis crashed into the WTC. There are bad Muslims and good Muslims. Bad Christians and good Christians.

He maintains that the Quoran/Koran is filled with hatred. I HIGHLY doubt it. Hell..even the Satanic Bible has minimal hatred in it! I shall have to grab the Quoran somewhere and check it out.

I bailed out of this argument because of something REALLY stupid he said. Oh god, people.. yyou have no idea. Not just stupid or ignorant.. this goes BEYOND ANYTHING I've ever heard out of anyone's mouth (verbally or digitally). I was SHOCKED. OK, get ready to read this, cuz it's gonna piss you off. We were discussing homosexuality, and he said it does not occur in nature. I said bullshit, and dug up proof that it does occur in nature. Gave him a couple links. He says something stupid about how putting two animals in a cage and putting pheromones on them doesn't count. But..that wasn't in the articles I gave him! I asked him DUDE.. why didn't you read the links I gave you? And here is his ultra-shocking response:

"because I don't care what some fool has written on the subject. Anybody who picks that field of study is highly questionable in the first place. Probably a homosexual perverting the sciences. I'm really not interested. A lot of people are also convinced evolution is scientific fact, but that's because they've never heard of all the fabrications behind the science."

Wow. WOW. I am never speaking to this fucktard again. I refuse to waste my time with bible-thumping morons who are not open to the sciences. This guy belongs in another century. He also dislikes gratuitous nudity. Not only all this, but he attended college and they TRIED to teach him the shit I was shoving down his throat tonight, like "there is no right/wrong, it's all relative.." he said, quote, "i heard all that crap when i went to college."

Anyway.. I removed this idiot from my buddy list. He's way too close-minded and black & white for my tastes. I'm going to sleep.. I'm exhausted. I wasted nearly three hours arguing with this mental midget.

Feel free to comment.. and share similar stories.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Look at what he wrote.

Do you really want to be "cool" with someone who carries such bile within him? Those people are nothing but a pox upon your life.

[PotatoBoy]

2. No.. I freaking don't..

Hell no. I USED to be cool with him..but we never spoke of religion or politics at all. Just music. Now I see he's a backwards bible-thumper. I never want to have anything to do with him again.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. Take it from me, bubba:

I learned, the definate hard way, when my life was ripped apart and effectively burned to the ground, that there are people in this world who carry within them something which can only be called, objectively, evil.

I found myself sharing living space with, against my wishes and best instincts, the widow of a serial killer. She too had serious issues. Some of the worst I have ever seen.

She went out of her way to destroy me and I, in my growing clinical depression and self-medication with alcohol, stood meekly by. I lost everything: home, possessions, friends. Luckily, I kept family, quit alcohol and worked on the healing. I'm getting there.

After that, I was robbed of 6-figures in income by a malignant narcissist CEO, money that I have never been able to collect because, in my poverty, I cannot get legal assistance. You see, the civil legal system is not designed for everyone. Just the well-off.

I learned there are simply people best referred to your worst enemy, because they are nothing but ambulatory nightmares.

Simplify your life. Jettison the walking baggage.

[mmonk]

3. Are we losing friends or are they?

[yardwork]

32. Very good point!

I try not to hate, because hatred is self-destructive. You drink poison and hope that the other person dies. Not a good way to live.

Avoid hate, and avoid the people who stimulate the feeling of hatred within. There are lots of wonderful, spiritual people in the world. Seek them out. Don't waste time with the others.

To survive the coming years we need to pull inward, I believe, and nurture the good within.

[Wind Dancer]

4. These people are not Christians.

[jmatthan]

6. Did any of you see the American army man

outside Fallujah waiting to attack refer to the people of that city as "Satan".

Now is that the US Army or is it the Bush Crusade Army?



Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland

[PotatoBoy]

28. wow.. do you have a link to this? n/t

[VivaKerry]

7. I consider ALL bush supporters as enemy combatants,

enemies of the state.

To hell with losing friends. I almost lost my job -- was told to not mention anything political. (I asked, "so, it is against the rules to mention that the US is having an election." "YES." Since when is an election a political tool? Oh, since the rad right took over. It's ALL a political game).

Meanwhile, the fundies in the office are chatting away about their victory. The new firm policy only applies to democrats. I can't wait to quit. Oh, and do I EVER expect to tell my boss that he forgot to do X for Y client? Nah. I will be gone before he knows about it. I am turning into someone I barely like. Is the constitution worth it? sorry, I am depressed.

[The Icon Painter]

18. Your Question

Yes, the Constitution is worth it. Someday, perhaps in another country, the principles upon which this nation was founded will be honoured and respected again. I do not think I will live to see it, but you may.

[VivaKerry]

21. I may not see it in my lifetime,

but I, too, believe that the principles of this republic will reign strong again. But unfortunately, our country has chosen to take the long, dark, and painful path to learn a thing or two about SHAME. Once we fall to our knees in shame (much like the germans after ww2), we might rebuild a nice republic.

[DELUSIONAL]

8. homosexuality does happen in nature -- very common

Most livestock owners will tell you about rams nailing other rams, bucks nailing bucks, bulls to bulls.

Funniest photo -- a conga line of stags (male deer) nailing each other. And yes cows with cows. etc.

These are observations from ordinary people.

Ah then there are domestic pets -- dogs -- cats.

This guy is an ignorant ass -- good thing you found out now before you invested too much time in this friendship.

In a way this election weeds out the dumb asses from the true friends. You can't choose your relatives -- but you can choose your friends.

[Eurobabe]

9. i heard through the grapevine that a neighbor who i really like

down the street was working the BUSHTARD table at polls on tues. it blew my mind. i thought he was one of us, or at least a libertarian.

i have another neighbor who i fear voted for b/c, she's a security mom with a highly allergic son, so i'll never for the life of me figure out why she voted for the worst environmental admin in 50 yrs. they'll get what asked for though.

i find myself looking over my shoulder every where i go now wondering if that person is part of the 'retard mandate.'

i know at present this a stress reaction (ptrmss=post-traumatic retard mandate stress syndrome) and it will fade, but it really gives pause for thought.

i never realized how deep the divide is until now. and here i go moving to a red state from a red state! (small consolation, my current county is blue) ACK!

[pnorman]

10. Here's the sort we'll be dealing with:

http://www.adamyoshida.com/2004/11/four-more-years-aka-take-that-you-sons.html

For all the hypocritical bleatings from the BushCo gang, THAT is what's in the back of their Talibanish minds. Many who voted for that Smirking Chimp, would feel very uneasy with such sentiments. Many wouldn't have the BALLS to raise a murmer of protest. And many of them would heartily APPROVE. Just ask yourself WHICH category is extending the hand of "friendship".

We're the Loyal opposition, and can give the BushCo gang many sleepless moments. They couldn't possibly object if we follow the example of Newt Gingrich, Jim Nussle, Grover Norquist, and all the others ... can they? (heh heh).

pnorman

[itzamirakul]

11. Everything needs to be pruned once in awhile...

trees, "BUSHIES", flowers, your cupboards...everything has to be cleaned out once in awhile to make room for new growth. That friend will be replaced with someone whose thoughts might differ from yours but will be willing to learn and grow WITH you, rather than dispute everything that you say, thus remaining arrogantly ignorant.

From years of experience I can tell you that a few years from now you will not even remember his name.

Good Luck!

[lindashaw]

12. There's an old saying: You can lead a horse to water, but you

can't make him drink. After 66 years on this earth, I've learned that if a person isn't hungry for knowledge -- any kind of knowledge -- they will not listen. Arguing only hardens them. That is one of those times when silence is truly golden. :) Go listen to "What a Fool Believes" and don't blow away all your good T-cells on someone who doesn't matter.

[TomClash]

13. Sister-in-law . . .

. . . with a Limbuagh husband.

She was always pretty cool - apolitical mostly but a Dem. This time she votes Bush because she "doesn't like Kerry" and Bush "protects her family." She also likes the "family values" thing.

We tell her that she's not dating the candidates just choosing the more competent. Shrug. We tell her that she wouldn't get half the things she has without Democrats. She says "government services are local" and "who's President doesn't matter."

Frankly, she drank the Catholic pedophile bishop's Kool aid. I don't know what she gets from her husband, except "my taxes are too high."

Here's the rub: they got a ton of money in a medical malpractice case and he makes a good part of his money off government contracts. And they vote repuke. Go figure.

I think we're pretty much done with them.

[DebJ]

14. My husband appears to have lost his best friend of 19 years

who was also our best man in our wedding 6/20. This is really hard for my husband, because his other really good friend, their mutual friend, died in July.....died a Vet living on welfare seeking SSDI and help from VA hospitials....died waiting....
Both men were participants in my husband's rather strange hobby of painting military miniature figures and re-enacting historical battles. My husband feels he has now lost his hobby as well.
When I first met my husband, I found it almost schizophrenic in him to be such a peacenik, yet working hours on recreating these battles.
He's a history buff/teacher. He hates the reality of war, but loves his little hobby.
Almost all of the other participants in his hobby LOVE everything about war....I can almost see blood drooling out of the corners of their mouths, you know? So the strange thing really I guess is that he made such close friends with people like this, for he is the opposite. We've gone to DC to march in war protests together, etc.
Still, my husband is mourning the loss of his friend, with whom he was able to discuss Alexander the Great and others in great detail.

[Dem Agog]

15. F- Friends. I lost relatives.

My brother and I are estranged. Oddly enough he called me the night before the election. We did not talk politics, as he is a RW pigdog. I don't know when/if we will ever speak again.

My mother is just lucky I choose not to talk to her. She's one of those who voted for * because she's one of the dumbest bitches I know. I sent her info on the Selective Service starting the process of matching up against kids in school for a possible draft - and her response? An airheaded, "Hi sweetie! How are you! I hope you're getting moved in okay.. blah blah blah blah"

Too fucking stupid to live, that woman.

[Divernan]

16. I've drop-kicked a few out of my heart and life, and it felt good!

Basically I can only feel friendship toward someone I respect.
None of these former friends were too stupid to understand the massive damage Bush has done to their own personal interests and those of this country. They were just TOO SELFISH, TOO INTELLECTUALLY LAZY AND/OR TOO HEARTLESS to grasp political reality. It turned out they were all racist, whether they would admit that or not. They did not feel one bit of empathy for the suffering of Iraqi children. To me, anyone who can take pleasure from the murder, maiming or suffering of children is despicable.

[myvotedidntcount]

20. I've voluntarily kicked a few family and friends out of my life over this

These are people I receive, I call them "jesus e-mails" (I'm an atheist and requested that they stop this jesus stuff), from all the time. Their also the ones that send pro-war, and pro-bush e-mails to me, even thought I requested that they stop those too. I knew they were bushies, but I dealt with it because they were my family and friends. After last week, I've decided I don't need family and friends that are so close-minded that they would vote bush. As far as I am concerned, any bush supporters are complete morons - doesn't matter if I've known them my whole life. Sometimes, you just have to do a little mental house cleaning. Now's just that time for me. If what's going on with us all over things like this isn't proof of how divided this country is, I don't know what is. I just keep thinking, all bushies are either old, jesus freaks or rednecks - I don't want anything to do with any of them, even though they may be "friends" (ok, there are some, very few, but some old people who voted for Kerry so I'll keep an open mind for their benefit). Bottom line, bush = hitler, fascist, bigot, war pig, ignorant, arrogant. Don't feel bad about those people being gone from your life. After all, would you want to sit and have a cup of coffee with hitler??

[Lancer]

17. Some random observations

• I don't believe the old adage "you can't have too many friends." In the old days, this was often said to me by those who merely wanted a large network of people from whom to buy pot.

• On the other hand, I don't believe one grows or is enlightened by surrounding him/herself only with philosophical or spiritual clones of themselves.

• Diversity of opinion, preferences and personal tastes of all kinds among friends make life rewarding and meaningful. This can include religious and political differences, but only if there is mutual respect for each other's positions.

• Diversity of morality, ethics and justice can and should separate one from friends or acquaintances whose "values" closely mimic those of the current administration and its adherents.

Just my opinion.

[PA Democrat]

19. We are dreading the holidays

Both my husband and I have mostly RW family members and the holidays will be especially difficult this year. I expect fireworks because the one thing I have noticed with these folks is an arrogant need to gloat. There will be no more politely changing the subject on our part.

My husband has also blocked emails from a couple of his more rabid RW friends.

The only redemption I have found out this entire debacle is that through my work on the Kerry campaign, I have made some wonderful new friends. They have been a wonderful support system this past week. We have hugged and cried and raged against the frustration we feel, but we have vowed to start planning for 2006. Watch out Rick Man-on-Dog Santorum. We're taking no prisoners.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

25. I have been planning how to handle this and came up with a few thoughts

I think I will say, "Let's not discuss politics, you should follow what your conscience and principles tell you and we will follow ours. People have to seek out the truth for themselves."

Of course some of the Rush and O'Reilly llisteners are obnoxious and will persist in attempting to gloat and push our buttons, so then I will keep turning the topic around to religion and ask them to explain their vaunted "morals" and how they fit in with the teachings of Jesus. It would almost be amusing if so many people weren't dying right now.

And one particular Bushbot had better not even try to start with me, because I happen to have accidently discovered some activities on his part that are totally not in sync with his gay-hating fundmentalism. I won't out him, but I'll just mockingly say, "Oh well, as long as we keep people from having gay sex, that's the only thing that matters, right?"

[seabeyond]

22. cant look into some eyes. i have a look in mine i know

one woman friend,.............wanted a hug. the fundie that voted kerry i hugged when leaving. the fundie voted bush, lol lol i couldnt. just couldnt. not physically capable. really uncomfortable. physically i kept space.

[Barney Rocks]

23. hey can you give me

the links to examples of homosexuality occurring in nature? I have heard this before (that homosexuality occurs in nature)--but don't have any links--and I would love to use them in my own fight with a fundie!

I doubt it will work any better for me (these people don't listen and they don't bother to read) but at least it will make me feel good to get the last word in with some solid proof.

Thanks.

[PotatoBoy]

34. Links about homosexuality in nature

http://www.worldpolicy.org/globalrights/sexorient/marine-gay.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0722_040722_gayanimal.html

Do a google search for keywords like homosexuality, nature, mammals, etc.

[prayin4rain]

24. It is sad. I haven't been able to talk to one of my friends since the

election. The night of the election she began telling me the reasons she didn't like Kerry and I was just disgusted. For one she doesn't want the minimum wage raised because if those desperately poor people have more money, she will somehow have less. Oh so gross.

[EstimatedProphet]

26. This is why Michael Moore called them Hatriots

After 9/11 and the Bushgasm that followed, there was definately a subtext to the message put out from the administration that it is OK, maybe even noble, to be racist and bigoted.
There's many on the right that believe in the prinicples of the right. Racism and bigotry aren't really part of them. Eventually they will split from the Repigs.
However, many of the new Reich are there because it is a very ego-gratifying thing for them to believe that they are inherently superior and that the rest of the world should be forced to suck up to them. This is why they are Hatriots. The blog linked in an earlier post is a perfect example of them. All the talk abot "we won and you didn't, so we get to tell you what to do and you have to take it" is clearly from a person who has no self-esteem, and has to get what positive feelings he can by hurting other people whenever possible. You can see in his words how much hate and bigotry he has. He's eager for his chance to hurt people.
We really have to look out for people like this. They're not driven by logic and reason. They think that we have been oppressing them for a long time, and they intend to use this election to start revenge.

[Greylyn58]

27. You Know Europe and Other Countries

suffered through the Dark Ages and I'm beginning to wonder if the US is sliding into its own version. What's next...The Inquisition? Needed to root out all non-Bush believers.

The more these people spout the more frightened I become of what will happen over the next 4 years.

I've become totally convinced that the only thing that will shake these stupid, little people from their massive delusion is for some huge, monumental event to happen that will show Bush for the liar and murderer he is.

:eyes:

[Toucano]

29. I'm suprised you're only finding out after the election.

I talked to every living soul I know to get them registered and on our side.

[mitchum]

30. No, all of my friends are teachers, musicians, artists

I haven't lost any friends over this. They are disgusted and angry

[bicentennial_baby]

31. Same here

If anything, I've gained friends and compatriots from this.

[Geek_Girl]

33. I work at with a Bunch of them

But the really fucked up part is Bush's policies are directly threatening their employment and they know it. I live in a red state and work for a government run agency that provides energy throughout the southeast. And they know there jobs are on the line but they' re so fucked up in the head about the abortion and gay marriage issues they can't vote for a liberal so they vote for Bush. How fucking dumb can a person be?