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So there's a thread out here about how nasty things are getting and another on how there might be unrest before and after the elcetion. But have you had it come to you personally?
I don't want this thread to be a debate on racism, sexism, who's side is getting more, doing more, etc. This is an equal opprotunity share thread in hoping that we can learn from it and move above and beyond it. Maybe even console one another , even if we don't agree on candidates.
What I'm wondering is have you had first hand experiene with this election and how nasty it can get? Has mankind shocked you up front and personally for political reasons alone?
I'll go first, since I'm starting the thread and obviously am doing so to share what happened to me today.
It's no big secret out here that I'm a Republican. That I'm a Catholic. And that I'm Prolife. No shock factor there ;) What you don't know is that I'm a really decent person. I don't lie, steal, cheat...I've rescued more animals (domestic and wild) than I can count on all of my digits, I always give that $1 donation at the food store and pet store checkout lines, I've found cash in the self check out line change dispenser and have always returned it, I say bless you when a stranger sneezes, I pick up random pieces of stray trash in parking lots, I hold doors for people, help people who are obviously sruggling with too many bags, tell someone if their fly is open (yup I've done it) :D I promise I'm not the big bad better than you type, I'm just not. Passionate, yes. Type A, yes. Logical and Fact driven, yes. But not hateful.
I know full well that when we put on our political bumper stickers, tshirt, yard signs, etc we're making a statement. I know we're saying something about ourselves (and sometimes about the "other guy"), so I know I might get a look, glance, etc. I've passed by hundreds of Obama Mama tshirts in my local supermarket without a second thought. My thing is as long as it's not mean spirited and nasty it's just a person proudly saying what they're thing is. We're all at least into the process and the election!! (I never hated a kid at school for wearing a Doors tshirt because I was into Siouxsie at the time). When did the hate become so strong that normally decent people become something else? Today we had to run errands. I threw on jeans, a long sleeved thermal, and one of my 2 political tshirts, neither of which say anything "negative" about anyone else, their slogan, etc...just shrits that say what or who I'm for. We ordered lunch ahead of time and while waiting at the traffic light across from the cafe a table of people outside the cafe took notice of my shirt. The physical expression of pure hate was directed at me like never before in my life. My husband noticed it first and squeezed my hand without saying anything. I glanced over with my eyes alone and one woman proceeded to stare my "being" down as if I was a dog who should have turned it's head in submission (I have dogs and know that game). I wear those reflective sungalsses all the time so my head never had to move from it's original position to keep me in her glare and I was able to see it all without it being a true "stare down". (she couldn't see my eyes if she wanted to is what I mean). Never mind the fact that I'd never get into anything with a random person on the street to begin with, I'm not confrontational in that regard and have never been big into drama or conflict for conflicts sake. As we crossed the road her face twisted into something from a horror fillm as she super obviously muttered something under her breath. I'm guessing it wasn't a prayer for my health! We paid for our to-go lunch and proceeded to have a lovely day in the park...but as we ate I found myself just rethinking the events and wondering. WHEN did the hate, pure HATE..like if looks could kill I should be dead right now hate, take over for stating who you're voting for? I'm all about passion, but when did it go to hate. Will that kind of hate grow over the next 3 days...will it beome physical....are those who would predict unrest so off base right now?
As an added story a friend of my mothers (this woman is an ordained trinitarian in the catholic faith, rescues animals and is just about the nicest most approachable woman in the world) was walking 2 of her dogs in a local park. The dogs are gorgeous and graceful and a woman and her husband walking by noticed this and struck up a conversation. The conversation was about how good the one dog was off leed and then switched to the other dog who was more shy, as a newer rescue. They woman asked what the dogs names were and my mothers friend proceeded to tell them. the first was ____ and the second is Palin. With that the woman, this initially friendly stranger, became something else. She looked at my mothers friend and with all the nastiness she could probably muster litteraly spat (like with spit) out "fitting since their both b's" and walked away. There was zero reason for a basic human connection any more, the nieghborly thing went right out the window. WHAT is wrong with people??!!
Have we lost our basic human kindness during this election... give me an example of the kindness outside of children coming together in song. It's a fact that children are indeed better than us!! Share your personal, it happened to you story....good and not so good. (and it's not that I've been oblivious to this going on, unaware of news reporting of hate...just started the thread because it happened firsthand today and I wanted to see if others had any first hand issues themselves)
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-Binky
Prolife Rebuplican and Proud of It
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I have an Obama sticker and a "Proud to be a Democrat" (at least our version of it here in Minnesota). But just for fun, I dug out an old "Reelect Hubert Humphrey to the Senate" sticker from the 1960's that I had laying around and stuck that on my car too. Nothing like trying to confuse them.
I do have to say that I have had many bad things yelled at me when I was handing out lawn signs. Many bad words, middle fingers, etc. During the Kerry campaign, I had six lawn signs taken. This time, they took one, so I put up three. I have another nine in reserve should they be needed.
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Many of you (most of you!) are too young to remember, but we have been through this all before too. In the early 60's -- Kennedy vs. Nixon -- when the country might (OH MY G**!) elect a CATHOLIC! I remember hearing my preacher say that this would put the Pope in direct charge of the United States Government, the Catholic Church would become the only legal church in the United States and it would get as rich as it took over. Only Catholics would be appointed to office, etc. etc. Substitute another word for Catholic and you have the same paranoia all over again.Thank God, elections only happen every four years!
I have not heard harsh, hate-filled, or racism used here. I live in Rural Mo. and the most frequent comments come from our "old-schooled"ederly people. In general when the election is brought up, I cannot count the times that these seniors have said" I could never vote for a "JIGABOO", hell I don't even know how to spell that! I do not even know what it means and I am 47 yrs.old. So instead of voting ,they are choosing to not vote, because they do not agree with McCain either. I think this is so sad, in many aspects, what do children think when there are comments made by their own grandparents that spew filth. I think it is what some of this election is about, division and race-baiting.....I hope I live long enough to see small mind-backward, hateful ,thinking ...gone. I definately do not understand parents whom have children that campaign for their candidate, some , if not most should be outside playing kick ball, because they are way too young to understand politics...hell I'm 47 and barely able to understand it! If I could wish for 1 thing today...it would be that......today is Wednesday!:clap:
Prop 8 is probably the most controversial part of the election for CA- the one on marriage. Anyway, some friends of ours who are very conservative put up Yes on 8 signs in their yard and they were graffitied and destroyed. So this week, they put them up in their back yard, well within their property, but visible over the fence...all the tires of thier cars in the driveway were slashed. I get it that people feel passionately, but do really think slashing someone's tires and graffiti on their property is going to make them vote differently? My cousin is, at the same time, very adamantly supporting Prop 8-- I should ask her whether she's had any adverse reaction the other way. On a positive note, I drove yesterday by a very busy street corner, on which there was a group waving "Yes on 8" signs and other people had come with homemade "No on 8" signs. I actually drove through the intersection a few times since I was shopping on different corners right there, and I was heartened to see that each time, the Yes and No people were clearly deeply engaged in what looked like earnest, respectful dialogue, each holding their signs, each listening, each talking in turn. That was cool. I personally don't enjoy arguing poilitics, though J LOVES to. My philosophy is that I declare my position in the ballot box with my vote, and I always vote.
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bakerjw
Although I'd be considered a racist because I have no use for Obama. I lived in Illinois while he was in state government and for a period of time when he was a US? senator. I cannot name one thing that he did in either position. The reason that I am not a racist? My wife and I both voted for Allen Keyes when he ran against Barrack. Also voted for Allen in the primaries for president too. This is not about the color of ones skin, but what they hold the same beliefs and ideals that I do. Unfortunately too many of Barracks supporters consider whites who don't support him to be racists.
MB, I'm sorry that happened to your friend. I agree that it's sad that many are race-motivated in their voting. I've had equally ugly things said (and written to) friends and relatives of mine that had Obama signs on their vehicle or property. I'm also raising black children, and as a parent, it cuts like a knife. Yesterday, on my job, a young (AA) woman came into my office about a personal issue she was having. We'd never before met. I'm CC, BTW. We sat and talked and got to know each other and I said to her "If you hadn't come in here and met me, you'd have seen me as a white woman and I'd have seen you as black woman and we'd have walked past each other knowing nothing about each other. But because you walked in here to talk w/the management and opened yourself up to me and I to you, we're now women who understand each other." I wish more folks understood the value of face-to-face respect. I think we'd be in an entirely different state of mind regarding this election. Wishing for change,Josie
I live in MA and needless to say this is pro Obama territory. My neighbor is a doctor and happened to put a McCain bumper sticker on his car. A very nice car I might add. Got up to go to work the next day only to find his car keyed and the word "racist" carved into the hood.
Gone are the days when you could proudly place a sign in front of your house or a sticker on your car endorsing the candidate of your choice. Now you have to worry about pissing the wrong person/people off and retailiation.
EZ
tanmansmom
I venture to say that there are people who are voting for Obama BECAUSE he is African-American and not for his politics. Are they considered racist?
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zxczxcasdasd
Prop 8 is probably the most controversial part of the election for CA- the one on marriage.
Anyway, some friends of ours who are very conservative put up Yes on 8 signs in their yard and they were graffitied and destroyed. So this week, they put them up in their back yard, well within their property, but visible over the fence...all the tires of thier cars in the driveway were slashed. I get it that people feel passionately, but do really think slashing someone's tires and graffiti on their property is going to make them vote differently? My cousin is, at the same time, very adamantly supporting Prop 8-- I should ask her whether she's had any adverse reaction the other way.
On a positive note, I drove yesterday by a very busy street corner, on which there was a group waving "Yes on 8" signs and other people had come with homemade "No on 8" signs. I actually drove through the intersection a few times since I was shopping on different corners right there, and I was heartened to see that each time, the Yes and No people were clearly deeply engaged in what looked like earnest, respectful dialogue, each holding their signs, each listening, each talking in turn. That was cool.
I personally don't enjoy arguing poilitics, though J LOVES to. My philosophy is that I declare my position in the ballot box with my vote, and I always vote.
joskids
MB, I'm sorry that happened to your friend. I agree that it's sad that many are race-motivated in their voting. I've had equally ugly things said (and written to) friends and relatives of mine that had Obama signs on their vehicle or property. I'm also raising black children, and as a parent, it cuts like a knife.
Yesterday, on my job, a young (AA) woman came into my office about a personal issue she was having. We'd never before met. I'm CC, BTW. We sat and talked and got to know each other and I said to her "If you hadn't come in here and met me, you'd have seen me as a white woman and I'd have seen you as black woman and we'd have walked past each other knowing nothing about each other. But because you walked in here to talk w/the management and opened yourself up to me and I to you, we're now women who understand each other." I wish more folks understood the value of face-to-face respect. I think we'd be in an entirely different state of mind regarding this election.
Wishing for change,
Josie
I can't believe the hatred that is surfacing from both sides during this election. I would never consider someone a racist for NOT voting for Obama. That is just stupid and ignorant. And I am a liberal democrat supporting him. It's almost scary how desparate people are over this. it shows that regardless, we need a new administration and we need immediate actions to make some big changes.
In my neighborhood their was an Obama doll hung in effigy (very similar to the Palin one that got all the press). There was a knife in the dolls neck and blood all over the costume.
The police had it taken down quickly (And quietly) so as not to get the bad publicity the Palin doll received.
I was beyond disgusted. Both with the individual AND with the way it was handled.
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In my neighborhood their was an Obama doll hung in effigy (very similar to the Palin one that got all the press). There was a knife in the dolls neck and blood all over the costume. The police had it taken down quickly (And quietly) so as not to get the bad publicity the Palin doll received. I was beyond disgusted. Both with the individual AND with the way it was handled.
With regard to the effigies: Is it not a violation of federal law to threaten or intimidate a presidential candidate? And if I am correct in that, why are these people not throw into the hoosgow where they belong?
Now, to the original subject: I have not had the first negative encounter with anyone supporting the opposing candidate. No looks. No sneers. No snide remarks. I have had several spirited debates/conversations regarding the merits/demerits of both sides and they have all been conducted with the utmost respect from both sides of the fence. Either I'm living in a Utopian society down here in the deep South or we're all learning to accept each other's differences. I'll take either. :-)