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talkpolitics2010-04-21 09:50 pm
readherring.livejournal.com) wrote in talkpolitics2010-04-21 09:50 pm
Bigotry at the Tea Party Protest
Given some of the discussions generated from my last post, I wanted to share with you one last picture from the April 15 Tea Party protest.
But first, I wanted to thank everyone for all of the positive comments. I was trying very hard to be open minded and fair, and I am genuinely happy that people found my post to be so. I am even more happy that people from "both sides" liked it for that reason. This is an incredibly positive political sentiment - that we have a common preference for fair and balanced presentation. It gives me some hope that this hyper-polarized climate might collapse one day.
I also wanted to apologize for not being on line much after posting - I'm on limited internet these days.
Anyway, I hope this doesn't destroy the fair and balanced vibes, but a lot of the commenters believed that the Tea Party is a bigoted movement. Not only do I insist that this is wrong, but I also believe that making this wrongful accusation needlessly pushes Tea Partiers and their liberal counterparts further away from ever listening to each other, or making any compromise. I therefore wish that I could say that I saw no evidence of bigotry at the Tea Party, but I can't. Here's the last picture:
This is one of the counter-protesters. Her shirt reads "F*ck your God". I didn't intentionally leave this out of the original post because I was embarrassed by it, although I am embarrassed by it. I only left it out because in choosing from my hundred photos to post, this one was just va poor quality shot.
I'm not trying to make liberals look bad with this picture. I'm just trying to show that while there are people with ugly beliefs on both sides, these ugly beliefs don't define those sides. The Anti-Tea-Party movement (or Coffee Party, or whatever) isn't an anti religion movement, even if some members of the Atheist Takfiri show up in the crowd. The same goes for racists (of which I saw none) or anti-abortionists (of which I saw the nutter truck driver - his rear billboard was all about fetuses) who show up for an anti-tax movement. The movement isn't about those other things, even if some of the participants go way off message.
Sorry if this post doesn't offer much new information over the last one, but given that there was such a strong belief in Tea Party racism in the first set of comments, I felt that I had done everyone a disservice by leaving this picture out.
But first, I wanted to thank everyone for all of the positive comments. I was trying very hard to be open minded and fair, and I am genuinely happy that people found my post to be so. I am even more happy that people from "both sides" liked it for that reason. This is an incredibly positive political sentiment - that we have a common preference for fair and balanced presentation. It gives me some hope that this hyper-polarized climate might collapse one day.
I also wanted to apologize for not being on line much after posting - I'm on limited internet these days.
Anyway, I hope this doesn't destroy the fair and balanced vibes, but a lot of the commenters believed that the Tea Party is a bigoted movement. Not only do I insist that this is wrong, but I also believe that making this wrongful accusation needlessly pushes Tea Partiers and their liberal counterparts further away from ever listening to each other, or making any compromise. I therefore wish that I could say that I saw no evidence of bigotry at the Tea Party, but I can't. Here's the last picture:
This is one of the counter-protesters. Her shirt reads "F*ck your God". I didn't intentionally leave this out of the original post because I was embarrassed by it, although I am embarrassed by it. I only left it out because in choosing from my hundred photos to post, this one was just va poor quality shot.
I'm not trying to make liberals look bad with this picture. I'm just trying to show that while there are people with ugly beliefs on both sides, these ugly beliefs don't define those sides. The Anti-Tea-Party movement (or Coffee Party, or whatever) isn't an anti religion movement, even if some members of the Atheist Takfiri show up in the crowd. The same goes for racists (of which I saw none) or anti-abortionists (of which I saw the nutter truck driver - his rear billboard was all about fetuses) who show up for an anti-tax movement. The movement isn't about those other things, even if some of the participants go way off message.
Sorry if this post doesn't offer much new information over the last one, but given that there was such a strong belief in Tea Party racism in the first set of comments, I felt that I had done everyone a disservice by leaving this picture out.
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Did manson or hitler torture people in a lake of fire for eternity?
Anyway, I support the death penalty. After that, its just your imagination.
Did you spend your time as a little kid killing kittens? I'm just curious..
You are the rudest person I've interacted with in some time on LJ. No, I did not kill kittens. Did you? You were the one publicly fantasizing about muslims hurting atheists just a couple of posts ago. Maybe you're the psycho violent one?
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Manson killed people and took pleasure in it. Hitler tortured and killed millions in the name of ethnic cleansing. I think so. But then again, if you're an Atheist, you don't believe in any of that, so why do you give a shit what I think? My opinion isn't going to condemn them. As a Christian, my belief is that they're condemned by their words and their actions. It's in the guidebook. :)
Anyway, I support the death penalty.
So far, one redeeming quality in your favor. Kudos!
You are the rudest person I've interacted with in some time on LJ.
Thank you! If you think that way, it obviously proves that I'm getting under your skin. Maybe something will sink in...
You were the one publicly fantasizing about muslims hurting atheists just a couple of posts ago.
Oh please, point out where I said that. Wait, let me do it. My exact words were:
Why is it always Christians that Atheists target? Just once, I'd like to see an Atheist get in the face of a Muslim. It'd be like some PETA clown throwing paint on a biker in a leather jacket!
Not once did I say, "Hey, I'd like to see a Muslim kick some Atheists ass for attacking their beliefs". People assume that the majority of bikers are big tough bad-asses. That's why you never see people from PETA throwing paint on bikers wearing leather jackets. Instead, they throw it on old ladies wearing fur coats. They attack people they think are weak. That's why Atheists have a tendency to go after Christians more than Muslims or any other religion.
Maybe you're the psycho violent one?
Like I said, I don't get violent unless I'm physically provoked. If you're ever in upstate NY, maybe you'd like to test that. Considering your weak nature, you don't seem like the type who would last too long in a fight. That's not a threat; just an invitation.
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Actually, Manson killed no one himself, but he ordered and masterminded killings. So, he gets life or the death penalty, either way is fine by me, but I prefer the latter.
Hitler tortured and killed millions in the name of ethnic cleansing.
The Nazi's he led did yes. Still, even if he served 100 years in hell for every lifetime, eternity is longer and therefore not eye for an eye.
He's dead now so the point is moot, eh?
if you're an Atheist, you don't believe in any of that
WTF? Did your IQ just drop? Being an atheist means I don't believe in deities and the supernatural. That's all it means. a-theist. Geez.
so why do you give a shit what I think?
Good question, I don't, however you posed the original question, right?
You are the rudest person I've interacted with in some time on LJ.
Thank you! If you think that way, it obviously proves that I'm getting under your skin.
You are not getting under my skin. You are however losing my interest and willingness to communicate with you by being rude. And you are making yourself look bad to others who read your uselessly rude comments.
Wait, let me do it. My exact words were:
Why is it always Christians that Atheists target? Just once, I'd like to see an Atheist get in the face of a Muslim. It'd be like some PETA clown throwing paint on a biker in a leather jacket!
Not once did I say, "Hey, I'd like to see a Muslim kick some Atheists ass for attacking their beliefs".
You are pretty transparently lying now. Sorry, you were caught, own up to it. Why would you pick a muslim, cause you know they try to kill people who insult them. You implied you wanted to see that. You are now pathetically lying about it.
That's why Atheists have a tendency to go after Christians more than Muslims or any other religion.
I am the dick in Mohammed's ass. There, satisfied?
Like I said, I don't get violent unless I'm physically provoked. If you're ever in upstate NY, maybe you'd like to test that. Considering your weak nature, you don't seem like the type who would last too long in a fight. That's not a threat; just an invitation.
Now you are just acting crazy and immature. You write shit that you would never say to someones face. Wow, what a piece of work. Grow up.
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The point was that if you're an Atheist, you don't believe in Heaven or Hell. Atheists are skeptical of the supernatural. That would include Heaven and Hell. Duh!
Why would you pick a muslim, cause you know they try to kill people who insult them.
No shit! You catch on so quickly. However, never did I once say that I wanted that to turn into violence. Your point is moot.
I am the dick in Mohammed's ass. There, satisfied?
Not entirely. It's "Mohammad", not "Mohammed". I'm aware that you don't believe in deities, but the least you could do is know who the fuck you're talking about.
You write shit that you would never say to someones face.
I know several people around LJ that will dispute your claims.
Wow, what a piece of work. Grow up.
You first. :)
no subject
Okay. I misunderstood your meaning because when you use pronouns such as "that" they reference to your most recent subjects, which if you read were Hitler and Manson, not heaven and hell. You're correct, I don't believe in heaven or hell.
Why would you pick a muslim, cause you know they try to kill people who insult them.
No shit! You catch on so quickly. However, never did I once say that I wanted that to turn into violence
You didn't have to say it, its inherently implied.
am the dick in Mohammed's ass. There, satisfied?
Not entirely. It's "Mohammad", not "Mohammed".
Arabic words have no exact english spelling, its phonetic.
the least you could do is know who the fuck you're talking about.
You are aware arabic uses a different script right? Its called Arabic abjad. Look it up. There is no direct way to translate it into english so its done phonetically.
Its just as valid to write Al-Kayda as it is to write Al-Qiada.
Learn something new every day, doncha young lady?
You write shit that you would never say to someones face.
I know several people around LJ that will dispute your claims.
Says you. But if you want to brag about going around talking shit and picking fights, that's up to you.
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Its just as valid to write Al-Kayda as it is to write Al-Qiada.
Your second spelling is correct, but not even the USCFR spells it the first way.
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Your second spelling is correct, but not even the USCFR spells it the first way.
Sure, there are established conventions, however there is no strict correct spelling, persay, because arabic uses a different alphabet.
Its phonetic.
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Kinda like it's inherently implied that you're a weak-ass who can't stand up to his aunt? Okay. Got it."
Well, that was rude and uncalled for... First of all, you know nothing of my life. Second, I do stand up to religious oppression, but when I do, you claim I am oppressing religion.
If I call her on her shit, you'd accuse me of not respecting her religious beliefs.
Oh well. Rest assured that I do call her on her shit, just as I've called you out on yours despite your thinly veiled threating tone.
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Telling your aunt to mind her own business and quit bugging you about your beliefs is NOT, in any way, a sign of disrespect toward her beliefs. It's simply telling her to bugger off. Know the difference.
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