(06-28-2018 08:43 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 08:10 AM)WKUYG Wrote:  The difference between today and those in the past.....

today we are instantly connected world wide

Which is EXACTLY why I'm more pessimistic that many of the others on here seem to be.

Sure, the instant connection would make it appear that there's large numbers of people on the fringe. Sure, many of us dismiss that as being just a small number of very vocal people.

The opposite is true as well. That instant connection allows people who, in the past, might have kept their thoughts and beliefs to themselves, to be part of the "group". One reads something others believe to be garbage and they think to themselves, "hey, that's how I feel" and next thing you know, people who would have never known of let alone joined a movement, become part of it.

It's the pedophile argument. Do we have more pedos now or are we just hearing about in more? I tend to think that access to sites on the web has brought people out of the wood work that wouldn't have acted on their urges int he past. I think the same applies here.

I think it's a combination of both....

Back when I grew up (born 1960)people tended to keep things close to the family and not talk about abuse or sexual assaults. Today people see others talking about it and it makes them feel like they can.

That also leads to judging people in different frames of time. Laws change. Rules change. People change. You can't put todays ideals on things that took place 30+ years ago.

At some points in our history people married at the age of 13 or 14


The Internet allows sexual perverts a way to connect with their pleasures. It also gives victims information to understand whats not right. So I really don't think it's happening more often. We are just hearing about it more.

Another point I want to make, I'm white but have a ton of black friends. Very close friends. Why is it you dont hear about as many sex crimes in the black families? Honestly if you think about it...there's not a lot. Most of my friends say it happens but isn't talked about or reported as often. About like it was 20, 230, 40, 50 years ago for most of America.

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

"Equal rights for all".....

Unless you happen to be....

White
Male
Straight
Christian
A gun owner


The common heritage you speak of for Republicans can be boiled down to a belief that while we're a melting pot, anyone who comes here should accept America as their home and embrace what it is to be American. It's fine to remember and celebrate your history, but not LIVE IT. Coming here and refusing to assimilate to our way of life, our laws, our language, etc IS UnAmerican.

There in lies the difference. If being from "there" was so great, you'd still be there. If you come here, it's because you recognize that here is better. Accept it and live it. That's what it is to be American.

(06-28-2018 07:50 AM)Crebman Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 06:15 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I'm old enough that we've "pivoted" several times in my life. Each time, we survived. Politics are not what make us. We make the most out of whatever situation politics present. When Richard Nixon gave us the 55 mph speed limit, we learned how to use CB radios. We will survive.

We are very divided now. We have been before. We survived. I could see the differences becoming so great that we split and decide to go separate ways. We would survive that, too. As long as the Mississippi/Missouri River system continues to flow through the richest farm land on earth, we really can't screw it up.

Owl's right. It seems worse because the information age gives every loony in the country a platform to spew whatever garbage they think.

But honestly, do any of us really take some of the lunacy we hear and see as "well, that's what everyone thinks" or do we read it and chuckle and say "Oh great, another loony fringe person".........and forget about it and go on with our day.

In the grand scheme - the vast majority of this stuff is no more than silly background noise........................

This.

Exactly.

Ive got a wife and kids, and I do 90% of the cooking and grocery shopping (yes, getting my cuck on).

But, I rather enjoy it. By now, after many years over to the Kroger, I’ve gotten on first name basis with a number of the good folks there.

Hucklebuck Wayne

Very gay, great guy Walter

My main squeeze Tamika

Straight off the hog farm Shaniqua


None of us give a schit about all this noise when interacting with one another. We exchange our pleasantries, may chat about kids, husband, wife or what’s on the menu for the coming weekend.

Never a cross word or nary a stink eye.

I’ll venture a bet that for 88.7% of folks out there that is their day to day experience as well.

I get on here to throw some cat poo from the sandbox with my plastic shovel from time to time, but I’d also venture to guess I could bend an elbow with most any of the others here.

I’d bet that’s true for most of us.

We’re Aaaaallll in this together, even if only for a fleeting time.

What’s the point in spending half that time angry?

Shaka brah ?

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

And who do you think established, fought for and died in the 100’s of thousands, if not millions, to preserve those rights for as many people of all races, colors, creeds in the history of the world?

Equal rights... Hunh.

Welcome to America.

(06-28-2018 09:10 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

"Equal rights for all".....

Unless you happen to be....

White
Male
Straight
Christian
A gun owner


The common heritage you speak of for Republicans can be boiled down to a belief that while we're a melting pot, anyone who comes here should accept America as their home and embrace what it is to be American. It's fine to remember and celebrate your history, but not LIVE IT. Coming here and refusing to assimilate to our way of life, our laws, our language, etc IS UnAmerican.

There in lies the difference. If being from "there" was so great, you'd still be there. If you come here, it's because you recognize that here is better. Accept it and live it. That's what it is to be American.

I was born here. Our history is not just white and Christian and straight and English speaking.

What rights are denied to straight people? LOL.

We will never accept third class citizenship.

Oh, and by the way, were it not for LOUD and obnoxious non-white/straight activists, we'd still have more rigid segregation (if not slavery), more state supported fundamentalist religion, criminalization and torture (castration, conversion therapy) of LGBT persons, and even more abuse of women.

(06-28-2018 08:52 AM)TechRocks Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 08:50 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Jason Whitlock had a tweet yesterday that sums up this thread:

"We're turning our republic, democracy into Twitter. We're just trolling people we disagree with and organizing outrage mobs to bully them. This is really sad. Love is the only answer."

Bullshyte. The extreme left is the enemy of the America our Founding Fathers envisioned and fought and died for.

Whitlock is no fan of the far left.

(06-28-2018 09:13 AM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 07:50 AM)Crebman Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 06:15 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I'm old enough that we've "pivoted" several times in my life. Each time, we survived. Politics are not what make us. We make the most out of whatever situation politics present. When Richard Nixon gave us the 55 mph speed limit, we learned how to use CB radios. We will survive.

We are very divided now. We have been before. We survived. I could see the differences becoming so great that we split and decide to go separate ways. We would survive that, too. As long as the Mississippi/Missouri River system continues to flow through the richest farm land on earth, we really can't screw it up.

Owl's right. It seems worse because the information age gives every loony in the country a platform to spew whatever garbage they think.

But honestly, do any of us really take some of the lunacy we hear and see as "well, that's what everyone thinks" or do we read it and chuckle and say "Oh great, another loony fringe person".........and forget about it and go on with our day.

In the grand scheme - the vast majority of this stuff is no more than silly background noise........................

This.

Exactly.

Ive got a wife and kids, and I do 90% of the cooking and grocery shopping (yes, getting my cuck on).

But, I rather enjoy it. By now, after many years over to the Kroger, I’ve gotten on first name basis with a number of the good folks there.

Hucklebuck Wayne

Very gay, great guy Walter

My main squeeze Tamika

Straight off the hog farm Shaniqua


None of us give a schit about all this noise when interacting with one another. We exchange our pleasantries, may chat about kids, husband, wife or what’s on the menu for the coming weekend.

Never a cross word or nary a stink eye.

I’ll venture a bet that for 88.7% of folks out there that is their day to day experience as well.

I get on here to throw some cat poo from the sandbox with my plastic shovel from time to time, but I’d also venture to guess I could bend an elbow with most any of the others here.

I’d bet that’s true for most of us.

We’re Aaaaallll in this together, even if only for a fleeting time.

What’s the point in spending half that time angry?

Shaka brah ?

I agree. I'd venture to say that I could be good friends with anyone on this site in real life. It's why I've been here for 10 years.

(06-28-2018 09:30 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 08:52 AM)TechRocks Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 08:50 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Jason Whitlock had a tweet yesterday that sums up this thread:

"We're turning our republic, democracy into Twitter. We're just trolling people we disagree with and organizing outrage mobs to bully them. This is really sad. Love is the only answer."

Bullshyte. The extreme left is the enemy of the America our Founding Fathers envisioned and fought and died for.

Whitlock is no fan of the far left.

He has surprised me with that.

(06-28-2018 09:33 AM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  I agree. I'd venture to say that I could be good friends with anyone on this site in real life. It's why I've been here for 10 years.

Of course you could, because most everyone here is good people.

I post on another site, a hobby site, that also has a political forum. We tear each other up over there, but when we meet at national conventions, we all have dinner together, make fun of each other, laugh our asses off, then shake hands and go home.

Back on the forum, we tear each other up again.

(06-28-2018 09:21 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 09:10 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

"Equal rights for all".....

Unless you happen to be....

White
Male
Straight
Christian
A gun owner


The common heritage you speak of for Republicans can be boiled down to a belief that while we're a melting pot, anyone who comes here should accept America as their home and embrace what it is to be American. It's fine to remember and celebrate your history, but not LIVE IT. Coming here and refusing to assimilate to our way of life, our laws, our language, etc IS UnAmerican.

There in lies the difference. If being from "there" was so great, you'd still be there. If you come here, it's because you recognize that here is better. Accept it and live it. That's what it is to be American.

I was born here. Our history is not just white and Christian and straight and English speaking.

What rights are denied to straight people? LOL.

We will never accept third class citizenship.

Oh, and by the way, were it not for LOUD and obnoxious non-white/straight activists, we'd still have more rigid segregation (if not slavery), more state supported fundamentalist religion, criminalization and torture (castration, conversion therapy) of LGBT persons, and even more abuse of women.

The people who fought in 1776, established the country, and wrote what is perhaps the most important document in history were all white, christian and english speaking (straight, who knows).

If you want to know what rights are being denied, try asking a straight white male who happens to be looking for a promotion in the public sector, ESPECIALLY in the world of academia. You'd be shocked at the overt discrimination. I know, I have several relatives who went thru it.

I think you forget which party was in favor of slavery, segregation, the KKK, etc and which party was behind civil rights.

(06-28-2018 09:21 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 09:10 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

"Equal rights for all".....

Unless you happen to be....

White
Male
Straight
Christian
A gun owner


The common heritage you speak of for Republicans can be boiled down to a belief that while we're a melting pot, anyone who comes here should accept America as their home and embrace what it is to be American. It's fine to remember and celebrate your history, but not LIVE IT. Coming here and refusing to assimilate to our way of life, our laws, our language, etc IS UnAmerican.

There in lies the difference. If being from "there" was so great, you'd still be there. If you come here, it's because you recognize that here is better. Accept it and live it. That's what it is to be American.

I was born here. Our history is not just white and Christian and straight and English speaking.

What rights are denied to straight people? LOL.

We will never accept third class citizenship.

Oh, and by the way, were it not for LOUD and obnoxious non-white/straight activists, we'd still have more rigid segregation (if not slavery), more state supported fundamentalist religion, criminalization and torture (castration, conversion therapy) of LGBT persons, and even more abuse of women.

Then you know very little about the civil rights movement in the south from the days of John Brown to the activists in the Deep South of the 50’s and 60’s.

Who do you think sent in the National Guard? Idi Amin?

You’re a caricature of a cartoon character.

Sad.

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

Then explain the sense of 'American Unity' after WWI, WWII, Gulf War, 9/11, etc.

If people would stop sub-categorizing themselves just embrace the "normal" intent of being an American, much of this BS (including yours) would disappear.

(06-28-2018 08:52 AM)TechRocks Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 08:50 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Jason Whitlock had a tweet yesterday that sums up this thread:

"We're turning our republic, democracy into Twitter. We're just trolling people we disagree with and organizing outrage mobs to bully them. This is really sad. Love is the only answer."

Bullshyte. The extreme left is the enemy of the America our Founding Fathers envisioned and fought and died for.

what you said...

(06-28-2018 09:21 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 09:10 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

"Equal rights for all".....

Unless you happen to be....

White
Male
Straight
Christian
A gun owner


The common heritage you speak of for Republicans can be boiled down to a belief that while we're a melting pot, anyone who comes here should accept America as their home and embrace what it is to be American. It's fine to remember and celebrate your history, but not LIVE IT. Coming here and refusing to assimilate to our way of life, our laws, our language, etc IS UnAmerican.

There in lies the difference. If being from "there" was so great, you'd still be there. If you come here, it's because you recognize that here is better. Accept it and live it. That's what it is to be American.

I was born here. Our history is not just white and Christian and straight and English speaking.

What rights are denied to straight people? LOL.

We will never accept third class citizenship.

Oh, and by the way, were it not for LOUD and obnoxious non-white/straight activists, we'd still have more rigid segregation (if not slavery), more state supported fundamentalist religion, criminalization and torture (castration, conversion therapy) of LGBT persons, and even more abuse of women.

bolded - your perception does not dictate reality.

italicized -

(06-28-2018 09:21 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 09:10 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

"Equal rights for all".....

Unless you happen to be....

White
Male
Straight
Christian
A gun owner


The common heritage you speak of for Republicans can be boiled down to a belief that while we're a melting pot, anyone who comes here should accept America as their home and embrace what it is to be American. It's fine to remember and celebrate your history, but not LIVE IT. Coming here and refusing to assimilate to our way of life, our laws, our language, etc IS UnAmerican.

There in lies the difference. If being from "there" was so great, you'd still be there. If you come here, it's because you recognize that here is better. Accept it and live it. That's what it is to be American.

I was born here. Our history is not just white and Christian and straight and English speaking.

What rights are denied to straight people? LOL.

We will never accept third class citizenship.

Oh, and by the way, were it not for LOUD and obnoxious non-white/straight activists, we'd still have more rigid segregation (if not slavery), more state supported fundamentalist religion, criminalization and torture (castration, conversion therapy) of LGBT persons, and even more abuse of women.

Abuse of women was promoted by the Democrats until a white straight male pointed out their hypocrisy by bringing Bill & Hillary's victims on stage.

(06-28-2018 09:40 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 09:21 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 09:10 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

"Equal rights for all".....

Unless you happen to be....

White
Male
Straight
Christian
A gun owner


The common heritage you speak of for Republicans can be boiled down to a belief that while we're a melting pot, anyone who comes here should accept America as their home and embrace what it is to be American. It's fine to remember and celebrate your history, but not LIVE IT. Coming here and refusing to assimilate to our way of life, our laws, our language, etc IS UnAmerican.

There in lies the difference. If being from "there" was so great, you'd still be there. If you come here, it's because you recognize that here is better. Accept it and live it. That's what it is to be American.

I was born here. Our history is not just white and Christian and straight and English speaking.

What rights are denied to straight people? LOL.

We will never accept third class citizenship.

Oh, and by the way, were it not for LOUD and obnoxious non-white/straight activists, we'd still have more rigid segregation (if not slavery), more state supported fundamentalist religion, criminalization and torture (castration, conversion therapy) of LGBT persons, and even more abuse of women.

The people who fought in 1776, established the country, and wrote what is perhaps the most important document in history were all white, christian and english speaking (straight, who knows).

If you want to know what rights are being denied, try asking a straight white male who happens to be looking for a promotion in the public sector, ESPECIALLY in the world of academia. You'd be shocked at the overt discrimination. I know, I have several relatives who went thru it.

I think you forget which party was in favor of slavery, segregation, the KKK, etc and which party was behind civil rights.

Or anyone over 50? Pretty overt discrimination in hiring and firing. Its extreme in the Democratic liberal dominated tech companies.

Tom,
Your definition of 'equal' is not remotely what many others call equal... and you know it.... You don't admit it or agree with it, but you know that you have a singular objective and it isn't to advance the rights of Muslims or any other minority that doesn't advance your own. You CLAIM to support them, but only to the degree that you can create a common enemy, vilify that enemy... speak in ridiculous hyperbole's about them and 'attack' the straw man you've created.

There are tens of millions of Straight, Muslims, Christians, Republicans whatever that support 'equal' rights for all.... and you alienate us constantly

(06-28-2018 08:56 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(06-27-2018 11:50 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  There Can Be No Unity In America

"The fact is this: a large percentage of people in this the country, and an even larger percentage of my own generation, do not believe in objective truth; they do not believe in objective morality; they do not believe, really, in God — or at least a God that I recognize. They do not believe in scientific realities like the definition of "man" and "woman." They do not believe in the family as the foundation for human civilization. They may even hate the family and consider it a tool of patriarchal oppression. They would look at me, and the way I live my life, and find it all quite weird and foreign. I look at them, and the way they live their lives, and think the same. We have not a single substantial thing in common. That is simply the reality of the situation."

"If a people will not be united by their beliefs or ideas then they must at least have a common heritage, a common tradition, a common language. We have none of those things. In fact, even worse, those things are themselves causes for further division and contention. A Thanksgiving cannot go by without arguments over the alleged atrocities of the pilgrims. A statue of a national hero cannot be erected without a mob clamoring to tear it down.

So I ask all you "unifiers" yet again: where can I find this unity? On what basis can I find it? Even the most superficial sources of unity — sports, movies, literature — have now become sounding boards for political quarrels. What is left? Can we unify around our shared affection for the idea of unifying? I suppose we will try.

I'm not optimistic about the results."

That common heritage that the Trumpers believe in is white, Chrisitan, supremacy.

The common heritage that the non-Trumpers believe in is 'equal rights for all'.

The common heritage of Trump supporters is the belief in traditional American values.

The common heritage of the non-Trump supporters is that they believe America should be like Europe or Canada.