Interesting encounter with a freeper-type

[Cassandra]

I was in Union Square in NYC, looking at political buttons on a table, one of several set up last night. A woman, in her 60's, was passing by and started yelling at us that "you people, if you get your way, we'll be taken over by the UN and we'll be examined by the World Court". I would have preferred to have the presence of mind to ask her why she didn't believe in democracy but I actually said that I hoped Bush would be tried as a war criminal. (My regret was that the other question might have resulted in a more interesting conversation.) She then flipped out and said that if Kerry wins, America will be taken over by Muslims and Communists (an oxymoronic scenario), so I told her to stop watching Fox news, that it was clearly rotting her brain. She was yelling some more things as she kept walking but I really have to wonder what personality type can be so easily convinced that half of the country is unpatriotic and Communist. (Of course, a lot of us believe that the other side is unpatriotic and fascist, but we have more evidence. :-) ). So what are people so scared of that they are willing to see enemies in any deviation from the party line?
I was on my way to see some friends and one of them said that she had heard Michael Savage saying the exact same thing that that woman said. How are we ever going to get our country back from the right wing crazies, no matter who wins?

[XanaDUer]

1. Hmmmm

"you people, if you get your way, we'll be taken over by the UN and we'll be examined by the World Court".

I'm starting to wonder about this myself. This same 'meme' comes up when I attempt to discuss with anyone who drinks the Kool-Aid, why Bush is a disaster all around.

Are they truly saying this on Fox? Limbaugh? They are hearing it from somewhere. :shrug:

[bowens43]

5. If we are afraid of the scrutiny of the world court

then obviously we must being doing something that violates international law. Why do people believe that being an American makes you above the law?

[democratreformed]

7. My thoughts exactly. n/t

[CottonBear]

9. right wing talking points propogated by talk radio hosts

Every morning, right wing callers callers to C-Span parrot these talking points. In addition, they call anyone with another opinion a communist or a socialist. If you have any sort of accent, then you must not be a citizen. This morning, someone called Greg Palast a socialist and questioned his status as a US citizen. He said that he's not aligned with any party and, yes, he is indeed a US citizen. Their zenopohobia and stupidity are beyond belief.

on edit: oops!: xenophobia

[Warpy]

10. They hear it from the tinfoil beanie crowd on talk radio

and some of that stuff is truly hilarious. Or rather it would be if the lunatics weren't suddenly in charge of the asylum while the fox was off guarding the henhouse.

I'm beginning to think the root problem in this country is loneliness, people isolated into their separate spaces with only radio and television to keep them in contact with other human beings. It certainly explains why so many have fallen prey to televangelists, Pox News, and screwball right wing talk radio.

[lawladyprof]

13. You are right

My mom, who lived alone and was quite lonely, listened to TV all day and became deathly afraid of "them" and crime. Now, sadly, I find myself in the same position. I do sometimes turn the TV to have the sound of voices in the house. It does mitigate the loneliness/empty house feeling. I get annoyed because I can't have it on without being subjected to propaganda/distortions/intelligence insulting lies and spin. Sometimes, I watch Animal Planet instead of cable news for that very reason.

[crispini]

14. When I leave the TV turned on for the sake of noise...

I use the Weather Channel. Very soothing. Hurricanes and tornadoes are nothin' compared to world events.

[The Magistrate]

17. An Interesting Observation, Ma'am

To the best of my recollection, there have been studies that found a signifigant correllation between the amount of time people spent watching television and the level of fear concerning crime and other dangers they expressed. It held true even within sub-groups: people living in genuinely crime-ridden neighborhoods who watched less television expressed less fear than their neighbors who watched more.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[lawladyprof]

27. Thank you but

it was so clear that watching television was not good for her. As she grew more infirm and restricted (lost her driver's license) regarding getting out and about, it grew more pernicious. It didn't help that she lived in a metropolitan area (plenty of murders to report on the news).

[mahina]

22. Whoa! You knocked my socks off with that insight-

I feel that you are dead right. Never heard anyone bring those ideas together. Brilliant.
-got to go get my socks....

[KharmaTrain]

28. Core Belief

This goes back to the John Birchers in the 60's...where the UN becomes world government dominated by commies...and the original red scare in the 20's. It's just building the fantasy to the next level

[RubyDuby in GA]

2. I don't think we are going to

Time for a new Nullification Doctrine. I can't believe I'm saying this because I totally hate John C. Calhoun, but desperate times call for drastic measures.

[TransitJohn]

3. Well, it's like this.

xenophobia+jingoism=fucked up shit

[kikiek]

4. This's country is not only divided, but the Savage's and Limbaugh

messages are creating the potential for great violence. The worst part is that there are so many people out there who are incapable of thinking for themselves. It's like they're programmable. I suppose that is how any dictator has risen to power in the past though.

[grace0418]

6. an oxymoronic scenario

from a totally moronic person (or is it moranic? ;))

It's going to take more than a win in November to get the country back from the right-wing crazies, that's why we can't let up.

Ultimately, our fight has to go to the media. They are truly responsible for allowing the kind of garbage that comes out of Savage's mouth to be aired with no counterpoint.

[amber dog democrat]

8. does she honestly believe this?

This is what comes of rampant fear mongering in the media.
I also wonder if her brain is not atrophying from lack of use - this is the part that handles analytical thought.

[nostamj]

11. "repeating everything Rush says...."

To the tune of “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”

(All - in "Ethel Merman" voices)

WE’RE BRAIN DEAD, AND WE’RE PROUD
WE BELIEVE THAT WE’RE RIGHT ‘CAUSE WE’RE LOUD
DITTOHEADS, BLINDLY LED
AND WE’RE REPEATING EVERYTHING RUSH SAYS

NOT ONE FRESH THOUGHT. JUST THE USUAL RANT.
DON’T BE DISTRAUGHT!
RUSH WILL LEAD US IN THE ONSLAUGHT!
CLINTON’S MESS, ON THAT DRESS
IS ONE TOPIC TO KEEP US OBSESSED
RIGHT IS RIGHT. LEFT IS WRONG.
SING IT OUT. IT’S OUR SONG
WE NEED THE TALKING POINTS HE GETS FROM GOD --
SO WE’RE REPEATING EVERYTHING RUSH SAYS
AND THINK YOU SHOULD TOO!

[Cassandra]

15. Another great lyric.

You caption of * reminds me of one of the new buttons I saw yesterday.

I'm proud to be an American
At least I know I'm free.
I wish I were a puppy
And W was a tree!

[nostamj]

16. LOL!

that's great!

[liberal N proud]

12. I told a lady the other day she watched too much CNN!

She jumped all over me about Kerry and the Mary Cheney remark and said is was a terrible thing for anyone to use a child like that.
I tried to talk normally to her, but she would not stop, so I said "you watch too much CNN" and turned around and walked away.

[Warren DeMontague]

19. Yes.' Terrible' to say what everyone already knows.

Unless they are stupid or haven't been paying attention.

[yardwork]

23. Mary Cheney is not a child - last time I looked

she appears to be in her 40s. She's been out for years. We don't hear Mary Cheney complaining that somebody called her {gasp} a lesbian. I never knew that was an insult before Mary Cheney's parents said it was.

[Warren DeMontague]

18. "examined by the world court"?

Like... proctologically, or what?

[MsTryska]

20. Hmm....was she a tourist?

crazy?


from jersey perhaps? (nothing against jersey, i jsut find it hard to belieeve a manhattanite would be ranting like that.)

[Cassandra]

21. It was just after 6pm...

and I think she was coming from work. Didn't seem like a tourist at all. There are certainly Manhattanites who are conservative. Sometimes they are more vociferous about it because they feel in the minority here.

[MsTryska]

24. that's wierd.

i mean i left NYC shortly after giuliani took office, so i'm prolly not in the best position to judge. i'd still feel more comfortable if she was Bridge & Tunnel, tho.

[Cassandra]

25. She might have been headed for a Queens bus.

I think some leave from 14th Street.

[MsTryska]

26. *lol*! i could see that

coming out of queens. it's screams Staten Island, but certain parts of Queens, definitely.