"Friends don't let friends vote Democratic"...

[Blue_Roses]

While in line tonight at McDonalds, my seven year-old read this bumper sticker off the car in front of us. She had trouble pronouncing the word Democratic, and as I helped her with it she immediately asked what is a Democratic. I said, "somebody who gives a damn about the poor people--us--in other words." I also told her remember the word republican. It stands for those who don't care for the poor nor do they help them. She was with me at a rally for Edwards during the election and she knew I supported Kerry, 'cause that's all I talked about and the sign in my front yard.

As I thought about this later, I thought that my bias and anger toward Bush is affecting my ability to be objective with her about politics.
Maybe I should back off when they're around. Any thoughts?

OB EDIT: This car also had the bumper sticker: I love cats. They taste just like chicken.

Now as the owner of two cats, this REALLY pissed me off. I wanted to ram the moron's car. Turns out he's just a college kid. Sad. He's so stupid.

[Jim Sagle]

1. You're doin' fine.

:toast:

[lvx35]

2. You shouldn't back off at all!

Consider the opposition, who wouldn't let the friends vote democrat. Are you going to let you kids vote republican? ;)

[Jade Fox]

3. Once again the Right, unable to think up their own jokes, rips us off....

That was a joke during Clinton's first bid for the White House. Only then
it read: Friends don't let friends vote Republican.

I used to have the button.

[PatrioticLeftie]

5. Yeah, FDLFVR has been around much longer n/t

[PatrioticLeftie]

4. I think it's okay if

You're teaching her how Bush is screwing all of us, but I'd lay off the weight on stereotypes about political parties.

There are some good Republicans, somewhere out there.

[mcctatas]

6. I don't see anything wrong with what you said...

it isn't as if any of it was a lie. :evilgrin:

[yankeeinlouisiana]

7. I wouldn't back off.

If she gets tired of you talking about politics, she'll tell you. That's what my children do.

:evilgrin:

[BamaLefty]

8. Not at all.

Anyone with an objective mind will be anti-Bush. Afterall, what does he have going for him? Positive, that is.

[Blue_Roses]

9. It's really hard to know what the "right thing to say is

when you're so passionate about how you feel on something. I just want my kids to grow up knowing that they are here for a reason--to help others in some way.

[flamin lib]

10. Explain the differences in words she can understand and try to

expunge the anger. Anger isn't a good thing for youngsters.

Be sweet and have nice lilt in your voice as you talk about what others believe are the ways to run our country.

It may be difficult when, in your heart, you believe that the Republicans really are the anti-Christ and that most of them are a waste of oxygen and that they should burn in hell and that the #$)(@&$ers should have their bowels spilled on the ground and then #)(&)*#&$)(8 done to their kin----- breathe, breathe, relax, think nice thoughts. Ah, that's better.

As I said, anger isn't a good thing for youngsters. It should be reserved for us grownups like porn and recreational drugs and all the other stuff that makes us feel so good.

[Blue_Roses]

11. LOL

thanks and I agree :toast:

[rwenos]

12. KIds' Questions

There are all kinds of ways to present it. My kid, very smart, 12 years old, knows I hate Bushie's guts for sending all those boys and girls off to war. But it's a bigger choice than that.

I tell my kid the Republicans are the party of Big Business, Big Oil, guns, the Christian Right, and gunboat diplomacy. The Democrats, modernly (post Civil Rights Movement), stand for regulation of big business, the rule of law, religious toleration, civil rights, free speech, environmental stewardship, and a balanced approach to international issues.

In short, the party of the little guy (Dem's) and the party of the Big Battalions (Pubs).

[Eloriel]

13. Why back off from the truth?

I have been mulling over the FACT that the GOP stands mostly for repression of everyone who isn't wealthy, and especially for institutionalizing greed as something honorable -- and other Orwellian feats.

[flamin lib]

15. In all seriousness, my earlier post notwithstanding, when dealing

with the young we must approach critical issues gently. It is one thing to give guidance and shape their values, it is entirely another thing to inject anger and invective into the lesson.

It is far better to teach them to think, to evaluate what everyone says and what is observable in the world than to hand them a set of propositions.

My own daughter, now 30+ years old and carrying my second grand child, still doesn't know exactly where my arguments lead until she exhausts her own beliefs and justifies her own position. What makes her crazy is when we finish and I take the other side and make her see that argument.

Teach them to think, it's no more difficult than teaching them to hate.

[Eloriel]

30. Not sure why you thought I needed that lecture

Or why you thought I needed to be told, specifically, not to teach children to hate. Hell, *I* didn't hate myself, until George Bush taught me how.

But you're right, of course, about teaching children to think.

But forgive me if I don't do the crazy-making, exhausting routine you suggest on any of my offspring (which would have to be grandchildren now).

[seabeyond]

14. we have repugs in our family we love. my boys 7 and 10

know so much. they even do research, especially my oldest. we learn and insist on being respectful to all people, and we bring it to our politics too. i dont just give one side. i tell the good and bad on both. we talk out events that are happening in this world. they are adopting the mess that we are creating for them. i tell my boys they have a responsibility to be informed so they will be able to help this world heal as they grow older

i guess the difference being, are you manipulating a child to mold her into your beliefs, or are you open in discussion allowing all points of view and discussion.

if we ever get too bothered we just remember the ones we love that vote repug

the cat sticker, and not being a cat lover, is the one that would have received disdain from me. actually we would have had a problem with the dem sticker too. we dont have anti stickers. we have liberal ideas we share with people with our stickers on the car, like; diversity is our strength. a positive message. no attacks on fellow man

[flamin lib]

16. Yeah, I like that. Sea and I are on the same song sheet which is

even closer than being in the same hymnal.

Teach your children well.

You can't avoid giving them your values and beliefs, that's a given. The hard part is giving them rational thought and letting them come to truth in their own way.

[Blue_Roses]

17. thanks

and I do agree

[flamin lib]

18. Recommended. Dealing with the way we teach our children the

values and critical thinking is important.

Somebody else kick this thing.

[thecrow]

19. I used to ask my kids what church their friends attended...

Now I tell my sons not to date republicans...

[VPStoltz]

20. I wouldn't it "bias."

When dealing with truth, sometimes parents have to be very pointed and direct - and speak in the simplest and most effective manner possible. I work with a woman who LOVES The Chimp, refuses to let her kids go to public schools, exported her daughter to Arizona because the state U. here in Wa. was too liberal. She has her children endoctrinated. As a parent, you must counter that shit.

[Blue_Roses]

21. well, for what it's worth

Arizona isn't doing so well academically. This site has them rated pretty low

http://www.morganquitno.com/edrank.htm

[VPStoltz]

24. There you have it.

They would rather have their daughter pay out of state in a dumb red state than get her a good education in a smart blue state. I think that says it all about Repugs.

[Peter Frank]

22. I Think Your Answer Lies in...

...teaching your child the value of your signature line:

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."---Aristotle

[Blue_Roses]

25. thanks

simply thanks. :thumbsup:


how true

[Peter Frank]

29. Thank you n/t

[kitkat65]

23. I had a boss that told his kids to stop being Republicans when they

were being selfish.

[Lindacooks]

26. If he had parked, you should have put an enlistment form under

his windshield wipers.

[smurfygirl]

27. I think you did the right thing

I mean, you explained that democrats care about people and repukes don't...
That's the truth...That's all you can do is tell her the truth.

[Stephanie]

28. Objective? Doesn't it mean reporting the facts without editorializing?

And isn't that just what you did? You're fine.