This is an exchange with a friend who I knew in the Coast Guard and recently reconnected with through Facebook. I frustrated her and her husband (both of whom I served and palled around with when I was station in Alaska) when I made a FB comment regarding the 2000 supreme court decision to swear in George Bush Jr. as POTUS. It was a two word comment:
'Bush fiasco.'
That was all it took...but I felt like I was being a little antagonistic so I decicded to express my views should have been left private and that their friendship meant much more than the nation's politics...
Please read this exchange if you are interested in how NOT to solve these sort of differences...
Aaron
ME:
I want to first apologize if my flippant political remarks have
offended you in any way; that is not my intention at all.
Although the majority of my friends lean more liberal I value all
my friends equally. I recognize that I invite political banter
with my remarks and appreciate your points of view. I should
have left my political opinions off this public forum unless I
want to debate publicly...which I do not want to do.
Privately? I would love to have a discussion about the details
and nuances of our political differences with an overtone of
separation between our views and who we are as people.
Secondly, I am American to the bone. I would fight and die for
this country. I served my country as well my mother and
father, grandfathers and my brother currently serves in a air
combat role. I have a love for this country that is very deep. I
represent this country with integrity and pride. I also value
our political system very much. I also appreciate our
differences, all viewpoints, all races and all demographics. I do
not want to get into an attack method of political discussion
with you at all; I cannot think of a reason that either of us
would be swayed. However, there are many more issues, as
of course you know, that are outside of presidential and party
differences; I welcome and appreciate different points of view
and often am able to rethink and reroute my thoughts.
Most importantly to me though is rekindling an old friendship
and if that means keeping my political views a little more
private...that is probably a good thing for me anyway! I, as I
am sure you will to, am looking forward to celebrating the
beautiful ceremony of a peaceful transfer of power...an
American tradition I am deeply proud of.
All the best, with much caring,
Aaron
Not me:
What is infuriating is the fact that you and your fellow liberal
cohorts are a bunch of bomb throwers. You make accusations
and regurgitate hateful (and often untruthful) liberal
propaganda without any sort of inquiry, examination, or
individual thought about what you are saying. The truly sad
part is that most liberals hide under the shroud of "respecting
everyones opinions" and "valuing the democratic process" until
someone disagrees with them or the political process doesn't
work in their favor, i.e. the riots and liberal uproar over
democratically defeated gay marriage bill in California, the
2000 election, the ongoing Democratic effort to SILENCE
conservitive talk radio hosts (Fairness Doctrine)...just to name
a few of a zillion examples.
Think about how ridiculous this is...in one message you are
saying that "the peaceful transfer of power" is wonderful and
is what makes this country great, yet earlier you were bitching
about the democratic process of transferring power (Bush
fiasco) because it didn't go your way.
If Obama is truly trying to model himself after Lincoln, then he
and his liberal friends (and followers) should consider stopping
the Bush (and conservative) bashing. As I'm sure you know,
one of Lincoln's greatest legacies is that he held (and ordered)
no ill will toward the defeated south to help the country heal
and move forward as one. I'm telling you right now...if the
Democratic leadership and their followers continue down the
divisive path that they are moving it is going to make it
impossible for myself and other conservatives to even speak
to liberals. I fear that this country will be divided forever.
Two quick points to consider that go unmentioned by liberals
and in most History books now...(1) Lincoln was a Republican
and therefore it was Republicans who freed the slaves (and
Democrats who held them). (2) it was Kennedy (a Democrat)
who started the Vietnam War...and Nixon (a Republican) who
got us out. Just a couple of exampes to demonstrate how
Liberals have mislead the public and rewritten history.
You should actually try looking into some of the crap that the
liberal press and politicians are spewing before you go
spewing it yourself...you might be amazed at what you find.
Me:
it is unfortunate that you would attack me personally with
knowing very little about my views outside of status updates
in Facebook. You imply that I am righteous and ignorant to the
world and politics particularly yet I have at no point attacked
your personal points of view. I find it frustrating that you
criticize my points of view so easily and with reckless regard to
me as a person, friend or fellow American. I argue that just
because you don't agree with the direction of the country, the
country isn't necessarily going in the wrong direction.
But really, what is the ultimate goal of implying my ignorance
or lack of education in regards to this subject? Are you aware
of my personal knowledge of the situation? How many political
science lectures I have attended? What media I read or listen
to? How on earth could you know the extent of details of my
political opinions and viewpoints? I can hardly be bundled into
a far-left talk radio hosts camp and don't run around reciting
bumper stickers as my basis of knowledge. Implying that is the
case, as you have done multiple times, is saddening.
I am confused about the anger in your note to me; how do I
warrant such harsh attacks? I am an old friend from over a
decade ago who doesn't share your political opinions; does
that alone disqualify me from a friendship with you? To imply
that the two references to politics you have ever seen from
me are proof enough to shape your opinion of me is mind
numbing.
So to respect the time you put into writing this detailed and
pointed note I reply:
I argue that as many hate filled and ignorant liberals there are
in the world there are an equal number of hate filled and
ignorant conservatives in the world. Riots are not exclusive to
people who are liberal in political opinion. I do value the
democratic process but to even suggest that the controversy
surrounding the 2000 presidential election would have panned
out any different in your eyes had the situation be flip-flopped
is downright ridiculous. Imagine if the supreme court of
California decided how the state's votes were to be counted?
Although it may be hard to consider you would be upset and
frustrated with the system, I doubt any conservative would
not be upset still. To think that exercising the right to protest,
a constitutional right (amendment#1), is anything but patriotic
shows a level of ignorance hard to comprehend. Because
some don't agree with the 'type' of protest (of course
excluding any violent acts or rioting), does not make that
protest wrong...or right for that matter...it is just a
constitutionally allowed protest written as "the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
Government for a redress of grievances"
In regards to my personal message about the peaceful
transfer of power vs. my point about the supreme court
decided election of 2000 ). The peaceful transfer of power
was appreciated as much then as it will be appreciated
tomorrow. The foundation of my opinion of the USA and our
constitution hasn't changed, then or now. I don't like Barack
Obama because he is liberal or a democrat...that is, to me,
like rooting for a sports team (e.g. I am a Seahawks fan and
YOU are a New England or Arizona fan)...I don't think like
that...I am able to separate my political viewpoints from my
emotion...unlike my psychotic fanaticism for the Seattle
Seahawks NFL team. It isn't about 'going my way' Becca, its
that I felt (through consuming all sort of media...balanced
media in my opinion) the American people were shrouded in a
controversy that minimized the power of our democracy. The
controversy was solved with bitter bitter hatred from the
extremes on both sides (your use of the word hatred in
reference to me or any liberal is chilling) but, for me, the
controversy still sits uneasy. I felt that we rushed through the
judicial process and that it was handled by people that were
not even elected as representatives of the American people.
The details are outlined well on wikipeida
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_president
ial_election,_2000#Florida).
I am not aware of Obama bashing the conservative party in
any way...or any members of his cabinet; do you have
examples? I argue that he has done everything in his power
through the election and since to NOT bash or allow bashing
on his behalf. His followers and liberal friends? I just don't
know, I cannot speak for any of them...nor can he. What I do
know for sure is that he has not requested, asked or even
implied that the 'liberal' Americans should be up in arms
towards 'conservative' Americans. Have you heard different
from him? I am also unable to speak to Barack's desire to mimic
Abraham Lincolns presidency; I have yet to read any article
that implies that Lincoln is Barack's sole presidential role model.
And as far as President Lincoln being a republican? Ok, cool
with me...but he was an American first...like me...like you. No
one has the exclusive rights to how much one cares for fellow
man...democrat or republican.
Your points on the 'failures' of liberals and 'successes' of
republicans is a bit elementary. For starters:
Abe Lincoln was a republican therefore the republicans freed
the slaves...hence...democrats were fighting to maintain a
slave ownership society (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln).
Doesn't that just seem odd to say? Howmany people do you know who
think black people are inferiorin any way? IF you know any, how many
of those are 'liberals'or 'Democrats'? I would argue that most (maintained) hatred
towards race centers around a less educated sub culture of
our society both democrat and republican. A historical note on
Abraham Lincoln: he was apart of many political parties Whig,
Free Soil, Liberty and Democratic...after which he was
instrumental in forming the republican party. Ultimately Lincoln
formed the National Union Party, a blend of the (then)
republican and democratic parties. However, during his time in
office as POTUS he was both republican and NUP. A note on
the NUP:
The National Union Party was a political party in the United
States from 1864 to 1868. It was an alliance between
members of the Republican Party who backed incumbent
President Abraham Lincoln and Northern Democrats (plus a
few anti-Confederate Southerners such as Andrew Johnson)
during and after the Civil War. Thus, for a brief period, the
Republican Party ceased to exist.
Sheesh, the Vietnam War...that war spanned a long long time
and implying that a 'democrat' started the war is a bit trivial in
the full scope of the war. I don't have a one liner to try and
debunk what you wrote in regards to the war...I encourage
you to start here though:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War#During_John
_F._Kennedy.27s_administration.2C_1960.E2.80.931963
I think that this statement/accusation towards me was totally
uncalled for an unprovoked:
"You should actually try looking into some of the crap that the
liberal press and politicians are spewing before you go
spewing it yourself...you might be amazed at what you find."
I read SO much...I watch SO much...I study SO much that
implying that I gather my views from what some ignorant
liberal pundit is spewing is...well...deeply and personally
insulting. Becca, how could you possibly know what my
sources are? You only know my political views through a
website and a couple of antagonistic comments! Please know
that I do not feel the same way about the things I disagree
with you on; you opinion is as valid as mine however, I argue
they are both just opinions.
I beg you, if you desire to converse about our core beliefs
and political affiliations...lets remove the personal attacks.
May I just be your token liberal friend you make fun of but still
enjoy who I am? Please.
your friend,
Aaron
Not Me:
Funny how we are "all Americans" now that Bush is leaving
office...the liberal rhetoric was quite different over the past 8
years.
I'm not going to waste my time picking your e-mail apart,
because frankly I have better things to do.
I've tried (with little success) to be friends with liberals on
many occasions. It's always the same thing that I can't take,
and you said it yourself - the antagonistic comments. My
personal experience with liberals is that few have the
discipline or class to keep their mouth shut - most are
antagonistic by nature.
Please don't reply, I'm done.
Becca
sad.
