The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux) - Page 462

Motorboat Cruiser · 09-10-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

All well and good, but, what I can't get my head around is, even before they changed the lesson plan, was it really THAT BAD? It seemed thoroughly innocuous to me, just boilerplate elementary school civics. (Heck, I was assigned to write a letter to President Nixon, along with the rest of my classmates, back in the fist grade. Pretty similar stuff - tell the president what you like best about the country, what you want to see happen in the future - I'm sure we all wrote that we wanted a longer recess and Slurpees in the school cafeteria.) If I've understood correctly, the contentious line, which was changed, was "write a letter to yourself about how you might help the president," and that even in the original version, this, in context with the surrounding material, clearly meant "help the president realize his goal of increasing the number of college graduates." Now, really, what the F is wrong with that?

Absolutely nothing, which is what makes this outrage so silly.

sleepyjeff · 09-11-2009, 11:06 AM

Leo, I am with you in spirit....

Carry on

Prudence · 09-12-2009, 06:32 PM

So, today I got to drive by the usual weekend brunch crowd of people flag-waving on the corner by the library. I realize this particular faction is all about going it alone, with no structured societal support of any kind, but really, the signs need work. If it's in small print - and bad penmanship, no less - people in cars can't read it. All I could read on one guy's sign, because the letters were big enough and it was underlined, was "NO HEALTH CARE". Since I'm pretty sure the group wasn't in favor of government involvement in anything, I'm confident he wasn't protesting any lack of personal health care.

Also, I'm predisposed to turn against any group that encourages honking.

Tref · 09-13-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prudence

Also, I'm predisposed to turn against any group that encourages honking.

What about geese?

scaeagles · 09-13-2009, 05:58 PM

Good Lord, GC....all criticism of Obama is NOT racism, and while that was not the appropriate place to yell it out, it is getting incredibly tiresome.

JWBear · 09-13-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Good Lord, GC....all criticism of Obama is NOT racism, and while that was not the appropriate place to yell it out, it is getting incredibly tiresome.

No, not all... But a large majority of it. That is to say, the people marching and disrupting town halls; the birthers; the pundants on Fox... You know, the nuts.

scaeagles · 09-13-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWBear

No, not all... But a large majority of it.

I completely disagree that a vast majority is racially motivated.

JWBear · 09-13-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I completely disagree that a vast majority is racially motivated.

I (and many others) see them as crowds of angry white people who are frothing because the President is black. Your mileage may vary. <shrug>

Gemini Cricket · 09-14-2009, 09:45 AM

When someone compares someone they disagree with to Hitler, it makes me feel that it waters down how truly reprehensible the man was. It's kind of like the Soup Nazi joke. Yes, the joke is funny but what the Nazis did was not. So, yes, it doesn't matter who is compared to Hitler. If it's Bush or Obama or Clinton... not cool.

Alex · 09-13-2009, 06:46 PM

I would say there is definitely criticism of racism that is fueled or augmented by outright racism or simple disquiet (that is, they'd never overtly do anything particularly racist but have some unconscious tendencies) with having a black president.

Saying that, though, I further say that while it may be true, unless an individual instance of criticism or disrespect can clearly be tied to a racist idea it is politically disadvantageous to bring it up.

09-11-2009, 11:06 AM	#2
sleepyjeff Go Hawks Go! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parkrose Posts: 2,632	Leo, I am with you in spirit.... Carry on __________________ River Guardian-less
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09-12-2009, 06:32 PM	#3
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	So, today I got to drive by the usual weekend brunch crowd of people flag-waving on the corner by the library. I realize this particular faction is all about going it alone, with no structured societal support of any kind, but really, the signs need work. If it's in small print - and bad penmanship, no less - people in cars can't read it. All I could read on one guy's sign, because the letters were big enough and it was underlined, was "NO HEALTH CARE". Since I'm pretty sure the group wasn't in favor of government involvement in anything, I'm confident he wasn't protesting any lack of personal health care. Also, I'm predisposed to turn against any group that encourages honking. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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09-13-2009, 05:58 PM	#5
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	Good Lord, GC....all criticism of Obama is NOT racism, and while that was not the appropriate place to yell it out, it is getting incredibly tiresome.
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09-14-2009, 09:45 AM	#9
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	When someone compares someone they disagree with to Hitler, it makes me feel that it waters down how truly reprehensible the man was. It's kind of like the Soup Nazi joke. Yes, the joke is funny but what the Nazis did was not. So, yes, it doesn't matter who is compared to Hitler. If it's Bush or Obama or Clinton... not cool.
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09-13-2009, 06:46 PM	#10
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I would say there is definitely criticism of racism that is fueled or augmented by outright racism or simple disquiet (that is, they'd never overtly do anything particularly racist but have some unconscious tendencies) with having a black president. Saying that, though, I further say that while it may be true, unless an individual instance of criticism or disrespect can clearly be tied to a racist idea it is politically disadvantageous to bring it up.
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