I was reprimanded for saying "I hate Bush"

[WI_DEM]

I was just chatting the other day in the lunch room with a friend I work with and talking about the country and I uttered, "I hate Bush." Not too loud, but I guess loud enough for somebody I don't really know who works in another department, a nicely dressed middle-aged woman with graying hair to turn away from the magazine she was reading to say to me, "You can dislike him and his policies, but you shouldn't say you hate the President of the United States." I apologized if I offended her but said, "Sorry, but I do."


She just kind of shook her head and went back to reading her magazine. I don't hold it against her, I don't know if she is a republican or what--probably alot of people of her generation may feel we should still respect the office of the president of the USA, but with this guy in the job--I can't even do that.

[tsuki]

1. I respect the Office of the President, but since Bush is not the

President, only the pResident, I hate Bush.

[txindy]

49. Besides, HE works for US.

His cultists never seem to remember that, do they? :crazy:

[KurtNYC]

2. I might have asked how SHE feels about Clinton

[libhill]

23. Me too -

People who constantly bad mouth Clinton should practice what they preach, or shut the hell up. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. I'm sick and tired of this double standard crap, and I won't put up with it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Respecting the office is one things

now personally I don't hate the guy... why? It takes away from MY humanity to hate anybody... I don't respect him one iota, nor what he is doing to the country... but hate... too strong of a word and an emotion... that I cannot afford to have.

[ryan_cats]

26. What you said...

What you said...

I dislike his policies, his appointments pretty much everything he is and stands for but I don't hate him. Of course, there's a couple of years left...

[GrumpyGreg]

28. You're right. I think the use of the word "hate" may be what

annoyed the woman.

[raccoon]

85. I've noticed some people regard the word "hate" as taboo.

As a kid, I wasn't allowed to say I hate anybody. I bet lots of people were raised that way.

[AX10]

4. One word that rhymes with "witch". She's a Republican Gas bag...

who most likely bashed the crap out of Clinton at every turn.

[libhill]

37. Amen to that - do I here a hallelujah?

n/t

[raccoon]

84. Right chere! nt

[FreedomAngel82]

67. YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT, GO BACK AND READ!

The poster DID NOT indicate ANYWHERE this person's political affiliations. For all you damn well know she could've been an independent, socialist, green or hell even a democrat. How dare you. You're NO better than this woman.

[AX10]

83. I have met many people who are right wing/conservative who...

have that same mentality and it only applies to Republican Presidents.
...and don't order me around, i.e: "GO BACK AND READ!"

[Richard D]

5. I'd reprimand you too . . .

"hate" is just so, well, generic. Despise. Detest. Abhor. Disgusted by. Wish to see him burn in eternal hellfire. Well, those approach acceptable.

[BlueEyedSon]

6. even if his policies were benign, there is not much to like about the man

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. I don't think position entitles him to respect.

And neither do a lot of people who claim it does. Certainly I didn't hear "you shouldn't say that!" when Clinton had slurs hurled at him.

[gkhouston]

18. agreed. As far as I'm concerned,

the respect you command is dictated by your actions, not your position. Everyone gets a little for free at the start. Anyone who chooses to squander that will find it's not so easily come by a second time.

[libhill]

38. Indeed -

If the Repukes can't take the heat, they should keep their hoity toity asses the hell out of the kitchen. Or to put it another way, what goes around, comes around - suck it up.

[FreedomAngel82]

68. Please show me where it was stated she was a republican?

Gee can't you read?

[libhill]

76. Oh, pulease -

What else could she have been- it's a typical attitude on the part of repukes, that I run into constantly - they trash Clinton to this day, and the man left office 5 years ago - but criticize Shrub, and you're some how un American. And I'm sick and tired of their hypocrisy - if that woman wasn't a card carrying Rethug, I'll eat my hat. And judging from other replies to this thread, I'm not alone in that assumption. And yes, I can read. I can't spell but I done can read real good. :)

[tnlefty]

81. Don't overlook that other telling trait - telling others how they should

behave, imposing their bullshit standards on others, and actually thinking that somehow they have the right to do this and that you should comply with their bullshit demands and their forgetting that you also have the right to tell them to cram it!

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Quick, Related Story

I'm working in Canada this week. I said to one of the women in the office (i was making copies of the presentation for the seminar i'm giving), "Well, that's what happens when we elect a moron to be president." (I think we were talking about the employment rate or something. I forget.)

Anyway, she says, "Well, i certainly don't disagree with you." So, i was able to say what i wanted and the lady AGREED with me. A little more chit-chat and i said "I hope we americans have learned to no longer vote for a sock puppet." I got her to laugh.
The Professor

[MadMaddie]

9. Once * showed disdain for the American People...

and the constitution....he neither deserves our respect of him or the office of the President!!

Every American has the right to voice their opinion....

You should have asked her if she hated Clinton when he was in office..I have a friend who is a good single mother and she didn't hesitate to say she hated *, no pause no hesitation because he got a BJ...nothing about the fact she was making more money then she ever had...

They want to shut us up and then act as if there is no dissent!!

Speak out, Speak often, Speak Loud!!

[fooj]

10. I would have made myself clear...

I hope that the rat bastard burns in hell.

Peace.

[Rob H.]

11. I wonder if she's forgotten

the eight year orgy of hatemongering from the Right Wing Flying Monkey Brigade (Hannity, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Coulter, Sullivan, Horowitz, et al.) that was going on while Clinton was in office.
From what you wrote, my guess would be that she has. Way to stand your ground! :yourock:

[Jara sang]

12. Tell her to go fuck herself and mind her own fucking business.

[Angry Girl]

14. *big grin* -nt

[nookiemonster]

40. Succinctly put and in total agreement.

:thumbsup:

She must be one of those asshats that accuse us of Bush bashing (they love saying that). In actuality, these dumbasses could care less about Bush, and are more concerned with the way that THEY WILL BE TREATED!

Pussies. The whole lot of them.

[linazelle]

56. That's what I'd say. Screw her! nt

[johnaries]

13. It's difficult to separate the man from his deeds.

If he weren't despicable himself, he would commit so MANY despicable acts.

[Cobalt Violet]

15. Plenty of people in her age group hate Bush too.

I think she was just trying to push you around and silent your opinion.

You said you hate Bush, not "I hate the presidency". Big difference and she knows it.

[libhill]

41. So true -

My dad is elderly, a World War Two / Korea vet and a retired military "lifer". And the man can't stand Bush. Turns his tv off anytime Bush comes on screen. Feelings of repulsion towards Bush and what he's doing to our country is not a generational thing, I assure you.

[Booster]

42. For the life of me I can't understand how any person who is or has

served in the military could possibly back Bush - just don't get that at all.

[libhill]

46. I don't get it either

I know that soldiers are sworn to defend the country against all enemies, foreign or DOMESTIC. And the Bushistas are the most dangerous domestic threat to our freedoms that the country has ever seen, in my opinion.

[FreedomAngel82]

69. My grandfather didn't like him either

He was in the navy and he didn't like Bush at all. He loved FDR and voted for Kerry this past election (the last person he voted for :cry: ).

[libhill]

75. Sorry -

sounds like a good, intelligent man.

[LoveMyCali]

16. Mom!

How long have you been working here? :-)

[EFerrari]

17. Who do you have to be to tell someone else how to feel?

That's just wrong.

[Rex]

19. Bush sr and jr took the office of the POTUS and rubbed it in shit.

Now it ain't worth a warm pitcher of spit.

[Bubba Zanetti]

20. That was a reprimand?

You should see what I have to put up with.

Goodness. Everyone involved needs thicker skins.

[WI_DEM]

22. It was a mild reprimand

nothing to get excited about as I described--it certainly didn't upset me.

[newyawker99]

79. Hi Bubba Zanetti!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[TahitiNut]

21. The Office of the Presidency lost all my respect when DimSon entered it.

People who ignore this can go fuck themselves. :shrug:

[CornField]

24. According to my mother...

Even as a child, I would be reprimanded by my mother: "You might hate someone's ways, but you don't hate anyone." She's right. I don't hate Bush or Cheney or any of the neocons. To do so would be to waste too much energy on them. I do, however, reserve the right to hate their ways and I will work each day for change.

[hfojvt]

66. oooh, baby I love your ways

Bush is such a lame duck anyway. But it is still okay to hate Republican policies and Republican dishonesty, right? They've got to change their evil ways, baby, before I'll stop hating them ...

[Lusted4]

25. Sounds like she and *ush have something in common, eavesdropping n/t

[ismnotwasm]

27. Oh bullshit

"Hate" is just a convenient word anyway. I hate him on some days, and have complete and utter loathing for him others. Some days It's just a total lack of respect for anything he is or does. Some days I wish he hadn't actually bred and added to the gene pool, others, I wish that he was in jail where he belongs. Some days I get physically ill hearing his voice or seeing him on TV. In fact, make that ALL days, he makes me sick. Some days, I think of him when I'm cleaning up my dog shit in the backyard, but I don't want to insult the dog shit, so I quit thinking about him.
All in all, I despise the man, I can't believe he holds the highest office of the country I love, I can't believe anybody still sticks up for him.
The lady was most likely trying to hold some moral high ground, but bush sold that out a long time ago. He's turned the presidency into a very, very, bad joke. Wake me up when it's over.

[July]

30. Righteous rant!

Good work.

[never_get_over_it]

36. I second that emotion

I actually do hate, despise, detest any other word you can think of - and my fondest wish is to see him behind bars where he belongs!!!! And I'm sorry but this whole thing hate his policies and his actions but don't hate him is BS that is EXACTLY what the right wing religious FREAKS say about Gays - hate the sin love the sinner - such complete bull crap I can't stand it.

And by the way for the OP I would have said to her you must have learned not to hate anyone as a child and I learned not to evesdrop and to mind my own damn business.

[ProfessorGAC]

29. Ask Her If She Felt That Way Was Clinton Was President

I'm betting no.
The Professor

[libhill]

47. Bingo -

that's what gets me assed off about these people, the rank hypocrisy of it all. They vilified Clinton for eight years, not even his daughter was above their vitriol and hate. So I'll say it - I hate Bush, and I hate any god damned moron who still supports Bush. He's flushing this country right down the tubes.

[Libby2]

31. Ditto

I think he is the only "human" being I have ever hated.

[FreedomAngel82]

70. Same here

And the feelings are uncomfortable for me too. :\ I don't like them at all but I can't help them because he makes me so mad with his actions.

[Codeblue]

91. I agree

I never hated anyone until now. I said I did, but it was just a convenient and quicker way to say dislike. One day a couple of months ago though, I was staring out the window thinking of all the recent things they've done and how they affect me and suddenly this strange feeling I'd never felt before washed over me. It was the strangest thing, it was so strong I could hardly stand it. I can honestly say, it must have been nothing else but hate. I still feel it from time to time when I think about them. It subsides when they aren't doing anything much up there, but then they go through periods where they furiously fuck up the country...and then that feeling of hate returns. It's scary because it makes me want to literally go and stab them over and over and over. So instead I just beat the fuck out of my pillow.

[July]

32. As soon as someone tells me I "shouldn't" do something, I am annoyed.

It's a free country, or so they say. Hall monitors can bite me.

I truly believe this treatment of the president as some kind of demigod is sick, especially when it only applies under Republican presidencies.

[Rocknrule]

39. Well said!

[raccoon]

87. Me too! If they aren't paying my bills they can STFU. nt

[flyarm]

33. i hate anyone who would attempt to destroy my constitution..since

* has done everything he can to destroy my constitution ..i guess that mena si hate him..and i would hate anyone who was doing what * is doing to my constitution..

it is a constitution that our forefathers fought for and every man in my family fought for...so anyone who would piss on their service to defend my constitution deserves my hate..

* has crapped and pissed on my constitution therefore i hate him!
and he has certainly earned my hate!


i do remember my dad saying i was supposed to never say anything bad about Nixon..my dad fought in WWII..and he thought no one should say bad things about the president...in fact my dad almost disowned me for protesting vietnam..it was very contentious ...between us...

but before my dad died..he finally told me ..i was right and he was wrong..

i believe we all should go with our gut feelings...it may not be popular..and we could be wrong...but in this middle aged lady's life i have always found..i am usually more right than wrong when i listen to my heart and gut!!

trust yourself honey...and never appologize unless you "know" you are wrong...

trust your gut!!

fly

[Texacrat]

34. As you pointed out in defense of the woman

Many elder individuals try to avoid deningrating the Office of the President, be it a Republican or a Democrat. Old school mores I guess.

[iamthebandfanman]

35. i usually

when someone tells me not to hate i usually say
'yeah, you are right, i strongly dislike and dispise him.'

she does have a small point i do believe

we shouldnt hate anyone if we can help it.

love is the answer and all that jazz ;)

[DenaliDemocrat]

43. You should have said

"you're right" I don't hate Bush....I loath the slimy bastard.

[mnhtnbb]

44. Here's my reply

Of course, one never thinks of great lines at the moment...

"Oh, you're right. I don't hate Bush. Hate requires passion and I reserve my passion for positive emotions. However, I do have nothing but contempt for the man, his policies, and those people who refuse to see that Emperor George has no clothes. Do you like naked Emperors?"

[upi402]

45. secret service interrogated a guy on a job i was on for * comment

i didn't hear the comment.

a truck driver who didn't even work there heard it and reported him.
secret service came to the workplace to question him.

[Raine]

48. That's OK

just as long as she gave the same kind of consideration and respect to President Clinton. :patriot: I have found though that most of those people who demand respect for chimp never gave any to President Clinton.:-(

[libhill]

52. Mr. Repukes Neighborhood -

Can you say, "Hypocrite Assholes?"

[mondo joe]

50. Lunch room? I think having loud political chat at work is ill

advised.

Just my opinion.

[Mr_Spock]

51. I despise that ignorant redneck MORON Bush.

So there.

[many a good man]

53. You should've said: I SHIT ON BUSH! I SHIT ON BUSH!

I never have problems with little old ladies when I shout that in public.

[high density]

54. I can't believe how many Bush loving idiots are around still

I still see 2-3 bumper stickers a day for Bush and I'm only on the road for about 30 minutes a day. Tonight I saw a Chevy Blazer with a "Rice '08" sticker on it... I dunno what to think of that one.

I work with a lot of Fox News loving Bushbots so I just keep tight lipped about it all. They're not very well informed about any current events and that obviously works to the GOP's advantage.

[FreedomAngel82]

71. Where did the poster say she was a Bush lover???

[VOX]

55. Thanks to that sawed-off phony Texan, the 1st Amendment is now a memory...

Have a dissenting viewpoint? Sorry, you can't voice it anymore. Well, you can, but you'll be charged with sedition and hauled off to the gulag. :grr:

[FreedomAngel82]

72. Correction

Only the republicans can have that view point against democrats. We're not allowed to.

[mondo joe]

78. Whose free speech was violated here? The OP voiced an opinion, and

so did another person. Sounds like free speech to me.

Bushco has seriously infringed on civil rights in many serious ways. This isn't one of them.

[KingFlorez]

57. I wouldn't have responded

I'd have just looked at her and kept on talking

[dchill]

58. You shouldn't hate Bush?

That is so five years ago.

[fishwax]

59. respect has to be earned, whereas the presidency can be bought

I respect the office, but I hate the guy too ...

[Cleita]

60. Ordinarily I might agree with her. I might even look like her since I

seem to be of her generation. However, today, I would have probably told her that listening to other people's conversations in these times, what with wiretapping invasions of privacy and all, she should be anxious not to fall under suspicion of being one of them. Then I would have said, I don't know how you heard me way over there unless.............

[f-bush]

61. Fuck her, that's how the nazi's got in...

if you don't question, and challenge, then you get trampled. Republicans are nothing but Nazi's in suits and ties!

[Warren DeMontague]

62. You should have asked her about Clinton. nt

[LittleClarkie]

63. How come those rules only seem to apply to REPUBLICAN Presidents?

I remember Clinton being ridiculed pretty quickly after being elected. I'm pretty sure many Republicans hated him while he was in office. But that was okay, I suppose, since he was only a DemocRAT.

Then again, maybe she just thought you were gay. (bad-um-bum)

[JI7]

64. i hate him partly because i do respect the "office of the president"

and what he has done to that.

[FreedomAngel82]

65. You should NEVER apologize for YOUR feelings

I hate him too and if anybody told me that I'd say too bad. They're MY feelings and I can feel however I wanted. I wonder if she said that when the republicans were saying shit about Clinton and Kennedy!

[cynatnite]

73. My fundie mother got on a thing similar to that...

She told me the other day that she didn't like Carter, but respected the office. It was her way of saying that people who criticize bush doesn't respect the office :eyes:

Hell, she couldn't even tell me why she didn't like Carter.

[Kerrytravelers]

74. I can be a bit pissed off when people interrupt a conversation

that didn't include them to tell me what to do. I would have asked to her kindly stay out of the conversation. I have told people this before. I don't yell, get mad or get in their face. I simply look them straight in the face and say:

Excuse me, but I am speaking with someone else. I was not speaking to you or asking you for an opinion.

I then go back about my business. This has worked in the past. Don't get excited, keep your voice down and let them know the boundaries.

[Solly Mack]

77. I don't respect the office of president

I don't respect congress people simply because they're congress people

I don't hold that the lives of those in government are somehow more important than anyone else's. I know the prevailing "wisdom" (cough cough), and certainly an idea that government itself pushes for obvious reasons, is that the world would be nothing if something were to happen to them, but history has proven time and time again that civilization does continue. Assassination doesn't stop the earth on it's axis. Not feeling obligated to respect an "office" hasn't stopped it either.

This isn't to say I'm rude to them - since as humans, people deserve everyday politeness - and I afford that - and until people give me a reason to not treat them politely, I do.

but an "office"(or job title)? An office doesn't really mean anything as it's the person in the office that matters.

I know people are conditioned and indoctrinated to respect government and it's representatives - I just never "took" to the training. My respect is determined by the person and their actions - not by their job title.

[Occulus]

80. Oh, take it further next time:

Walk up to her, slowly, with your hands calmly folded behind your back and, while slowly bending at the waist to bring your head nearer to her eye level, quietly say "My hatred for the current President of the United States burns with the white-hot, stunning brilliance of a thousand exploding suns," and then turn and walk away.

I think she would get the point, don't you? :silly:

[Beelzebud]

82. In the LAND OF FREEDOM, I can say I HATE GEORGE W. BUSH.

Fuck him, and fuck all the zombie sheeple that follow him like spiritual leader.

[coalition_unwilling]

86. You should have given her Clint Eastwood's line . . .

"Freedom of speech is the American way."

[Chiyo-chichi]

88. "I e-hat Bush."

(Everybody Loves Raymond reference.)

WI-DEM, what age would you estimate this "middle-aged" woman to be? Just curious.

--a 44-year-old guy with graying hair who e-hats Bush.

[Bridget Burke]

89. You're talking about My Generation!

I'd have graying hair, too--if it weren't for the henna. My own feelings toward Bush tend toward disgust, distaste & wishing he'd never been born. But I definitely would NOT have reprimanded you for saying "hate."

Remembering the presidencies of Nixon, Reagan & Bush the Smarter has not increased my respect for the office of President.

I agree with many that you should have ascertained her attitude toward President Clinton.

[kitkat65]

90. "Oh, I'm sorry. I really fucking hate B***" n/t

[Roxy66]

92. I ususally wont talk about politics at work..but

I said "I Hate B****" the other day.....and I really dont use that word much