How do you RESPOND to this email?

[Maraya1969]

I am shocked about this email I received from a "friend" (a Conservative) who I think knows I am on disability, (why do I feel the need to justify the reason I am on disability right now? - I'm not going to but let me just add that people on disability are also victims of prejudice and scorn from some others with small minds)


I need a response:


==================================================================


A Republican in a wheelchair entered a restaurant one afternoon and asked the waitress for a cup of coffee. The Republican looked across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus sitting over there?" The waitress nodded "yes," so the Republican requested that she give Jesus a cup of coffee on him.



The next patron to come in was a Libertarian with a hunched back. He shuffled over to a booth, painfully sat down, and asked the waitress for a cup of hot tea. He also glanced across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus over there?" The waitress nodded, so the Libertarian asked her to give Jesus a cup of hot tea, "My treat."



The third patron to come into the restaurant was a Democrat on crutches. He hobbled over to a booth, sat down and hollered, "Hey there, honey! How's about getting' me a cold glass of Miller Light!" He, too, looked across the restaurant and asked, "Is that God's boy over there?" The waitress once more nodded, so the Democrat directed her to give Jesus a cold glass of beer. "On my bill," he said.

As Jesus got up to leave, he passed by the Republican, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Republican felt the strength come back into his legs, got up, and danced a jig out the door.

Jesus also passed by the Libertarian, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Libertarian felt his back straightening up, and he raised his hands, praised the Lord and did a series of back flips out the door.

Then Jesus walked towards the Democrat. The Democrat jumped up and yelled,
"Don't touch me. I'm collecting disability!"

[amazona]

1. by blocking the emailer

"Friends" who hate and despise your beliefs are not friends and you need not tolerate their spam nor respond to their mails.

I just block these people and life goes on.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[electropop]

39. Your "friend" decided to become an ex-friend.

I suggest you oblige him.

[Maat]

2. That seems extremely insensitive.

And based on a false belief.

Friend?

[CBGLuthier]

3. By telling them that

Jesus doesn;t heal lepers any more so he would have skipped the republican.

[CBGLuthier]

7. on the other hand

Sorry read too fast and didn't note that you were on disablity,

In that case you should tell them to f*** off and die.

[Demit]

4. That's a terribly hostile thing to send to you. That person is no friend.

[okieinpain]

5. funny, except it would have went like this

repug, "who the hell let the commie, baby killing, homo in". end of story.

[deutsey]

30. The libertarian would be pissed off too with that do-gooder infringing

on his privacy.

[madmom]

6. what I always told my daughter when she was little...

and asked questions about seemingly fit people parking in the handicapped parking spots is "they have the worse handicap of all--no heart.

[Maraya1969]

29. I don't park in a handicap space

my disability is invisible to most people but it is just as valid. I have often times said that people would be more understanding if I WERE in a wheelchair. (Thank God that I am not)

[madmom]

36. I'm talking about people who...

park in the handicapped space,leave their car running, and dash into the store because it's only a moment.

[Maraya1969]

49. Oh OK - didn't understand

:hi:

[Dark]

63. Well if your disability isn't visible, maybe your friend didn't know.

Reply to him that you felt the joke was insensitive regarding your condition. But don't lose a friendship over it. I was in a similar situation.

I'm gay, and while I was in the closet my conservative friends would use the word 'faggot' and affirm their opposition to gay marriage.

Once they knew that I was gay, they stopped using those terms, and became less vocal about gay issues.

Find out if he actually knows before you destroy a friendship. Politics is nothing to sever ties over.

[Tigress DEM]

60. Some handicaps, like MS for instance are intermittent in the

severity. So just because someone doesn't look handicapped, doesn't mean they aren't in pain walking from the car, or short of breath from a condition.

[question everything]

8. My wishes are that you will never be on any kind of disability

or illness and thus will never have to explain to others - strangers and friends - any details about your health.

Please, do not send me any more jokes.

Thanks

[wryter2000]

9. Oh, sheeze

If I were you, I'd write back and ask the person why they felt it was okay to send you something so hurtful.

However, if you do want to address the substance of this hateful screed, I'd tell your "friend" how much money disability pays and ask him/her if he/she would like to live on that. Then, you might want to ask if he/she thinks it's fun to live with pain or limited mobility or whatever your disability is.

If you could find statistics (I doubt you could) you might see if Democrats are more likely to be on disability than repugs or libertarians. Alternatively, you could ask your "friend" for proof that Democrats are more likely than other people to be on disability.

[immoderate]

62. Great point!

I would bet that Dems are no more likely to be on disability. Sorry I can't tell you where the data is.

--IMM

[KurtNYC]

10. How about this

A republican, mentally handicapped (redundant, I know), walked in to the UN. Said 'hey is that Jesus over there?' Kofi Annan said 'no' so the Republican lied his ass off, invaded Iraq and gave billions in no bid contracts to Halliburton. Then the Republican tried to get everyone upset about disabled people who paid into the system and were rightfully using it.

[purji]

16. LOL

lovely post.

[ultraist]

11. Friend?

Apparently that person is incapable of discerning funny from sick, discriminatory, righteous and judgemental.

Yet another, PUNISH those in need, they are unworthy and undeserving, types.

[WLKjr]

12. Easy, Replace the last one with Republican

or Conservative or Christian fundie riech wing facist

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

13. They are not your friend if they think that way about you.

Tell them what you think of them, and then block their e-mail. Cut off all contact. It hurts, and some will tell you you "have to engage them" but they're not going to change their minds.
These people can't be helped or persuaded anymore.

[last1standing]

14. SUBJ: Do you think that Jesus would appreciate that joke?

Dear Friend,

Why do you presume to bring Jesus into a discussion filled with hate? Is this what the Father wants from His children? I am a Democrat and I am disabled. I would give anything to once again be able to function totally as apparently you do. Until that day should come, I have been blessed with the comfort of a disability check to help support me in my need. Do you begrudge me this little amount to feed me and mine?

Dear friend, I am going to listen to Jesus and forgive you as I would any of His children. Please listen to our Father and relinquish the hate in your heart.

Your friend in Jesus,

XXXXXXXX

[electropop]

41. Swweeeett!

If that doesn't have him writhing in shame he has no soul.

[jdj]

15. my Dad is a repuke on disability.

Please remind your gentle friend that many, many of our veterans will be on disability for the rest of their lives thanks to their president.

I think they number somewhere between 10 and 15,000 now. Remind this friend how unpatriotic it is to begrudge our troops support since they have been so gravely injured fighting for our freedoms, (and alla that kinda lingo.)

[madinmaryland]

17. Just swap the words "Republican" and "Democrat" and send it back to him.

That was the way it probably was originally. Even so, it still seems to me insensitive on his part to be sending you this crap.

[readmylips]

18. That is very hurtful and inhumane....

not even a hurt dog should be insulted like this. Gather all the thoughts you have received from people here, and send the jerk a nice thank you note.

[Ms Chicklet]

19. If asswipe sent it from work...

Forward it to the human resources department at his/her place of employment.

Or you could sign their e-mail up for porn mailing lists.

[MadisonProgressive]

20. Just another republican asshole - ignore them - FOREVER

[Ezlivin]

21. Ha, ha! A Republican would NEVER recognize Jesus!

And if they saw him sitting somewhere, they'd probably take him for questioning since he has Middle Eastern features and a thick accent.

Jesus couldn't eat there anyway; he's wearing sandals.

[KissMeKate]

22. knows youre on disability? hes NO friend.

drop him.

[Democrats_win]

23. Don't let them see that you're bothered. Send them some benign

joke. Like one from Steven Wright. Short and funnn.

"How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?"

http://www.weather.net/zarg/ZarPages/stevenWright.html

[Stop_the_War]

24. THAT EMAIL IS SOOOO STUPID.........

[rlpincus]

25. The story is impossibly inaccurate

since a "generous Republican" is an oxymoron.

[crispini]

26. Um, I'd go with a hearty

"Fuck you." And a swift kick in the butt.

But that's just me.

No, honestly? I'd be very honest and say that I felt very hurt by that. Make that person see you as a human being and they maybe she/he will realize what she/he did. :shrug:

That person, btw, is an ass.

[geniph]

27. I love this recycling of old racist jokes

You might point out to your "friend" that this joke was around 50 years ago in a different guise, with the use of racial stereotypes instead of political preferences.

Apparently no "joke," no matter how offensive, stupid, or unfunny, is exempt from recycling.

[prairierose]

28. With "friends" like that who needs enemies?....

Do not let people like that hurt you. If this person can send you something that abusive; you need to protect yourself by NOT communicating with them. Do not give them the opportunity to hurt you anymore. You have enough to deal with your health problems. I know that if you are on disability, you have health problems. My brother has cancer & is on SSI and medicaid. So I get pretty upset by this kind of hate filled communication. I just can not figure out why people think this kind of hatred is funny or why they have the right to abuse you by passing it along.

If you really feel the need to reply to this abuse, I would tell them that you will pray that they never experience a health problem that forces them on to disabilty. And then put them on your ignore list or bounce list. I personally would pick the bounce option and have in a similar situation.

:pals:

[DFLer4edu]

31. by laughing and then attacking

The joke is funny even if I could puke. Tell him it was witty and then explain why you think he's wrong.

[Bridget Burke]

32. Send him a song...

Now some of the people are poor in the purse
They don’t have the cash at the ready
And some of the people are crippled and lame
They can never stand up true and steady
And some of the people are poor in the head
Like the simpleton fools that you see
But most of the people are poor in the heart
It’s the worst kind of poor, it's the worst kind of poor you can be.

Or just tell him "BYEEE" & block his addy.

("The Sun Never Shines On The Poor" by the great Richard Thompson--sarcastic Scottish singer-songwriter & killer guitarist.

www.richardthompson-music.com/song_o_matic.asp?id=61

[bobbobbins]

33. Everyone knows democrats only drink imported beer

stupid republicans

[last1standing]

48. Fat lot you know!

I drink micro-brews! :toast:

[vs the introvore]

34. just re-write the punchline and send it back

"As Jesus got up to leave, he passed by the Republican, discreetly handed him a small package and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Republican felt the strength come back into his legs, got up, and danced a jig out the door.

Jesus also passed by the Libertarian, touched him and said, "For your kindness, here are the rest of limbaugh's oxycontins." The Libertarian felt his back straightening up, and he raised his hands, praised the Lord and did a series of back flips out the door.

Then Jesus walked towards the Democrat. The Democrat courageously got to his feet up and stated softly,
"I bought YOU the beer, jesus. just out of kindness, you can save the eternal salvation and soul-numbing, exorbitantly-priced narcotics for those bitches who pay your bills on sunday too. oh yeah- and peace out jesus."

[Brewman_Jax]

35. Notice the democrat picked the most expensive item

out of all of them.

Had that "joke" been accurate, the republican would have refused, for it's God's will that he be in a wheelchair. The libertarian would have tried to get a 2-for-1 because the republican refused. The democrat would have said, "Thank you, those crutches sure make it hard to get around."

I've concluded that freepers/conservatives are all or any combination of the following: morally bankrupt, mentally crippled, intellectually dishonest, emotionally repressed, and willfully deluded.

Agree with the above posters, this sorry POS is no one you need to be around.

[skypilot]

37. A Republican would buy someone else a cup of coffee?

LOL!!

[raggedcompany]

38. You don't.

Sever relations with the person who sent this. These people should be shunned.

[AmandaRuth]

40. Well, first thoughts

If the repub was in charge, he never would have gotten into the restaurant, because there would have been no access, the libertarian would have spit on the republican, and the democrat would have pushed his wheelchair up and over the curb into the restaurant. The reub would also have forced the libertarian and democrat to accept Jesus right there and then. Oh wait, Jesus wasn't in the old testament, forget that.

If the libertarian was in charge, again the repub would need help getting into the restaurant, except this time, the town would resemble a third world country. And since there are no min wage laws, all three would have to avert their eyes to all the starving begging kids on the streets, not to mention the aged and infirmed. Jesus would be outside the restaurant helping the afflicted, before he struck down both the repub and libertarian for being false Christians.

If the democrat was in charge, Jesus would be having a personal meeting with him/her to thank him and praise him for actually following his message and not just pontificating about it.

[Blue_Tires]

42. i've seen 'black man' used in place of 'democrat'

with this joke before, along with many other nonwhite/nonGOP groups....it's just an unfunny, shitty joke

[Dr Fate]

43. Tell him jokes are kids stuff and that you want to discuss policy.

Tell him to send you intellligent political e-mails with data & links, or save it for someone with more time on his hands for jokes.

[UdoKier]

44. What a disgusting e-mail.

Maybe you should point out that SS Disability is funded by EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS, and that it exists for a reason. Tell him/her that he/she should pray to never know what it's like to be laid up and unable to be productive. And, and after such a rude personal insult, I would let them know the friendship is over.

This person is saying that everybody on disability has no conscience and wouldn't work if they had their druthers. DISGUSTING!

[Seemann For Congress]

45. Simple

Just write back to the guy and tell him that the Republican would have never recognized Jesus because he would have been expecting Jesus to be beating up a gay man in the corner and invading the tables of non-white people.

[yankeedem]

46. Reply all- confront with malice

There are other people on that mail list, many which think this guys an asshole but are too shy to confront. Let all his email "buddies" know what an ass he made of himself.

I did it myself a few weeks ago and 3-4 messages followed belittling the original emailer. Someone who hates the principles who I hold dear is a "friend" no more.

[Negatron]

47. Tell this POS that the next such e-mail will be their last.

You need to make it clear to this person that vicious ideological attacks are inappropriate gestures of "friendship," and that if he or she insists on placing their bigoted views above consideration for your feelings, you can do without this person.

With "friends" like this, who needs enemies? Has this selfish mentality gone so far that people now feel it is acceptable to taunt thier disabled "friends?" They must think that you are just supposed to sit there and eat it, saying "well, yeah, I guess I am a bit of a lazy leech, and that's a pretty funny joke."

I have been on disability for 5 years. Do you know what jokes like this make me want to do? They make me want to buy a 12 pack of Beast Ice and piss all over one of their SUVs. The only reason I don't is because they do not deserve the satisfaction.

If it were me, this person would already be blocked. No explanation, no contact, just a block. They would suddenly stop hearing from me forever. Of course, that's just me, and you may have a better solution. Best of luck, and as a fellow disabled person, I feel for what you are going through with this trash.

[donheld]

50. This person is disrespectfull of you

Do not tolerate it.

[Lisabtrucking]

51. That is not a friend. Please delete that person from your life.

What an insensitive jerk. I hate people like that. The person who sent you that joke knowing your on disability and a Democrat is letting you know how they feel about you. I have republican friends also and they know better. I don't put down their beliefs or misfortunes, and they better not put down mine. We have disagreements and that is fine, but don't attack my beliefs or misfortunes. When they come to my house they have to deal with my Kerry signs and bumper stickers and Ass's of evil pin hanging on my wall. Just like I have to put up with their Bush signs and their television stuck on Fox news, but when it comes to personal attacks like that, thats the end.

[bush_is_wacko]

52. Here's the funny thing about that email. I know EXACTLY two people who

are totally dependent on disability....BOTH of them are REPUBLICANS!

I do believe they both deserve and need that disability, but a guarantee you BOTH of them will find a way to blame it on the Democrats when they start losing the disability payments they have been collecting from the government for a VERY long time!

The bushitler plan is to STOP all government charity. He thinks churches should take care of all that. All you have to do is go back a little over 75 years in American history to see just how "helpful" the churches were. If you don't believe and repent you will be living on the streets. People with disabilities will be treated as lepers that are being punished by God. Children and women will be considered property of their abusive alcoholic husbands and they will be expected to take it because their priests, pastors and ministers tell them they HAVE to...it is their burden for eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden!

bushitler is WORSE than the real thing. And believe me your friend ain't seen NOTHING yet!

[wicket]

53. tell them to FUCK OFF

SO uncalled for!!!!! :grr: :grr: :grr:

[CBHagman]

54. Let us know what happens!

I can't even imagine anyone being so unkind and insensitive as to send that to you. The best thing is not to get revenge but to tell this "friend" how it feels to be treated this way.

[Maraya1969]

57. I replied to ALL

I did not mention anything about myself but kind of compiled some things I saw here. I took advantage of telling him some things about Republicans that I had heretofore not said.


==================================================================



I’ve seen this same joke before with the Blacks, Jews, the Polish, Italian and other people and others who were not white Republicans as its brunt. It was not funny then and it is not funny now.



xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



As I was saying, Democrats are moralists. We believe in helping the underdog, in Christian-like charity, in a strong, healthy society. Very nurturing. Republicans believe in natural selection, might makes right and the heavy hand of government not intervening to level the playing field. Very natural. There isn’t, for instance, a benevolent force to step in and save the family cat from being carried off by a great horned owl. After all, in the animal world the rule is eat or be eaten.



Republican Syndrome: A degenerative disorder characterized by increasingly hysterical outbursts of mind-boggling hypocrisy.


The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists and other subversives. We intend to clean them out, even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.

--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72



When the Nazis arrested the Communists,

I said nothing; after all, I was not a Communist.

When they locked up the Social Democrats,

I said nothing; after all, I was not a Social Democrat.

When they arrested the trade unionists,

I said nothing; after all, I was not a trade unionist.

When they arrested the Jews, I said nothing; after all, I was not a Jew.

When they arrested me, there was no longer anyone who could protest.

Martin Niemöller (1892-1984),

Protestant Pastor and Social Activist

[walldude]

55. Lets see if we can re-write this a little

A Republican in a wheelchair entered a restaurant one afternoon and asked the waitress for a cup of coffee. The Republican looked across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus sitting over there?" The waitress nodded "yes," so the Republican requested that she give Jesus a cup of coffee on him.

The next patron to come in was a Libertarian with a hunched back. He shuffled over to a booth, painfully sat down, and asked the waitress for a cup of hot tea. He also glanced across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus over there?" The waitress nodded, so the Libertarian asked her to give Jesus a cup of hot tea, "My treat."



The third patron to come into the restaurant was a Democrat on crutches. He hobbled over to a booth, sat down and hollered, "Hey there, honey! How's about getting' me a cold glass of Miller Light!" He, too, looked across the restaurant and asked, "Is that God's boy over there?" The waitress once more nodded, so the Democrat directed her to give Jesus a cold glass of beer. "On my bill," he said.

As Jesus got up to leave, he walked towards the Democrat, touched him and said "For your kindness, you are healed." The Democrat replied,
"Please Jesus, there are many more who need your help much more than me, please repay my kindness by helping a child in need."

Jesus also passed by the Libertarian, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Libertarian said, "Lord, God helps those who help themselves, if you must repay this act please help someone who can't help themselves"

Jesus walked towards the Republican touched him and said, "My son, one act of kindness towards one whom you know can save you does not wash the blood of thousands of innocents from your sinful, complacent hands." "There is no spin and there are no lies in my kingdom." "Nice try though, Maybe you can get Bill O'Reilly to help you, just don't let him near your wife or telephone"

Then you can tell them that my 50 year old wife who has Muscular Dystrophy can't get the benefits she has been paying into for years because the Bush administration says she's being treated... For an incurable disease.

[KuTava]

56. A serious answer is

Say it hurt your feelings.
Don't be drawn into an argument.

[Tigress DEM]

58. Bush went to bed one night and was visited by 4 ghosts...

Washington, Jefferson, FDR and Lincoln

He asks each of them...
"What should I do to be remembered as a great President?"


Washington, "Always tell the truth, like I did."
Jefferson, "Defend the Constitution, like I did."
FDR, "Be a champion for the least among us, like I did."
and Lincoln, "Go see a play..... like I did."

[Tigress DEM]

59. A real friend wouldn't find that the least amusing...

much less pass it on to you.

I'd reply, "If you have something to say to me you had better say it straight to my face, because passive/aggressive behavior isn't anything I consider to be a desirable quality in a friend."

[Maraya1969]

61. My TWO replies from my "Reply to all"

This is just the weirdest thing. I sent a "reply to all", (It is listed in the thread) and just tonight I got two message: The first is from a Fundy Republican.


"XXXXX, I also laugh at jokes aimed towards myself, not just those aimed towards people who are different than me in belief, culture, etc. When these jokes go around, they are meant as lighthearted, not as political platforms. Do I really believe a democrat would do that in a bar with Jesus? Of course not. Jokes like that are meant to take a piece of truth (sometimes stereotypical truth) and exaggerate it to the point of absurdity.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT FUNNY. Democrats are absurd, but so are Republicans.
XXXX, you can be very frustrating with the degree of defensive sensitivity you have to things different than you! You are one of my favorite people, no kidding, but I wish you would lighten up a little."


And within 98 minutes, (I checked the times) I got this message from someone who was not on the Reply list so it was obviously forwarded:

"I lost a leg in Vietnam. Thanks for being so sensitive."



So I forwarded the second message to the person who sent me the first!


I know I did the right thing and thanks for all your help! :bounce:

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

65. They always say "lighten up" when you've shamed them into realizing...

they've said something wrong. Don't let up, and don't accept their reply as an apology.
Ask them if they don't believe that a Democrat would do that in a bar with Jesus, why joke about it? Why not follow Jesus' example and his words and be a little more sensitive.

Obviously, the person who sent you the second reply understood why these "jokes" are nothing of the sort. Keep up the fight.

[ultraist]

68. YOU DID GOOD!!! Way to go.

That first reply just goes to show how ignorant and shallow some are. She noted that the joke was FUNNY. NOTHING funny about that joke.

It was very cool of that guy to thank you! I bet that makes every nasty reply more than worth it.

:grouphug:

[JohnLocke]

64. Wow. That's utterly stupid (nt).

[ComerPerro]

66. The Republican walks in

And says to the waitress "Who is that smelly, hippie asshole in my booth?"

the waitress replies, "That's Jesus".

The Republican shrugs, walks over to Jesus, and pushes him to the ground, shouting, "Get out of here, you America-hating communist!"

End of story.

[hvn_nbr_2]

67. Here's my version of what really happened

(the short form)

Jesus was sitting at a table in the restaurant.

Dem comes in in a wheelchair, buys dinner, sees Jesus, buys him dinner. Jesus says, "Thank you, my child. I will tell my Father that I was hungry and you gave me to eat."

Lib comes in on crutches, buys coffee, sees Jesus, buys him coffee. Jesus says, "Thank you, my child. I will tell my Father that I was thirsty and you gave me to drink."

Atheist comes in with a hunched back, sees Jesus, and sits down with him, thinks it will be an interesting talk. Jesus says, "Thank you, my child, I will tell my Father that I was lonely and you came and visited me."

Republican comes in, breaks the crutches, dumps the Dem off the wheelchair onto the floor, picks up the wheelchair and breaks it over the hunchback. Doesn't even recognize Jesus but takes all the food, drink, and money, and gives it to the rich guy at the big table in the corner.

I suggest that you send this version back to your "friend."