What? You know how we keep hearing about these crazies who repeat what other crazies say and maybe actually believe this bullshit? I mean, I keep thinking to myself, “Good thing I don’t live near these backward inbreeders.” I never thought I’d ever meet someone like that.
Don’t get me wrong. I know and care a great deal about several people who are Republicans, conservatives, libertarians (small L), etc. It’s not like anyone could say I only surround myself with people who think like I think. Not that anyone actually accuses me of that very often.
I was talking to a non-liberal today who says he disagrees with Obama’s policies. Okay. I mean, if you’re not going to vote for a man, that’s pretty much the best reason not to vote for him and to vote for someone else. That’s something where, if you’re in the mood and have the time, you can talk, discuss, maybe both come away a little better off.
But I was talking to another guy tonight who commented that we’d have the most “Islamic” country in the world if Obama gets elected. Okay, more “Islamic” than actual Islamic countries I guess? I calmly informed him that Obama is not, in fact, Muslim, ignoring the fact that it wouldn’t matter to me either way. Then he went on to inform me that Obama is not a US citizen, that he made it to the United States Senate without ever having to prove this to anyone, all the way up to top Presidential candidate. I mean, I guess there’s some pro-Muslim conspiracy at work here, to get this to happen.
I let him keep ranting. He was getting upset.
Then he said that Obama was “only” leading by two points in the poll this morning. I corrected him that it was in the double digits last time I checked, that, in fact, Obama was really winning. “But see who bothers to vote,” I offered, in the way of consolation.
He got even more upset. Started saying that you can’t trust Obama, that the answers are all out there. On the internet, where, you know, all the reliable information is. “You should look this up on the internet, boy.”
Ouch. Yes. I’m 29, married, bearded and all. I don’t like to throw my education around, but I’m almost a frikkin doctor.
“Boy.” Ouch again.
Well, he got himself so upset that he didn’t do something he said he’d do before he left, and I wasn’t shy about telling why.
He also asked me, two weeks ago, if a cop in a certain undesirable situation was black. “No, actually he was white. They all were,” was what I was only too glad to tell him.
You can’t argue with people like that. Yes, I’m told, he’s from a different generation. So what? There weren’t any non-racist white people in Southern states until the last few decades? That can explain a lot of things pretty well to me. But not repeating the bullshit this guy repeated. And, for the record, my uncle who passed away last month was completely different that he saw through bullshit and didn’t propound racist attitudes. And he was the same age and fought in the same war.
I’m tired of all the reasons other people like to offer for why people that they like say fucked up things. “He’s not like that.” “She’s a Christian.” “It’s her background.” “He doesn’t have the education you have.” Cuz, you know, education: that‘s the way to erase racism and bullshit spreading.
And why, FUCK ME, why would you, knowing that my wife is black, say these kinds of fucking things to me? I’m serious. Why?
I’ll tell you why he said “boy”, but it sounds like you figured it out. He’s just looking for an excuse to vote for the white guy and not come across racist.
Sometimes the sheer thoughtless disrespect of some people astonishes me.
I feel so sheltered in southern Indiana. Everyone is white. Everyone is a Christian. No one has a PhD in philosophy. No diversity.
That’s why blogs are sweet. Get inside the heads of all these different people.
Well, one can be against Obama’s political attitudes and not be racist. I., for example am Asian ( Indian) , but, will not be voting for McCain, even though like Obama, I graduated from Michigan and HLS.
Just becasue someone opposes Obama’s politics doesnt make them racist, or stupid.
I never said that folks who disagree with Obama are necessarily racist. I said that not agreeing with his policies is the best reason to not vote for him, not sarcastically.
I know plenty of non-racist and non-”stupid” folks who don’t like Obama. The person I was talking about is the exception.
You will “not” be voting for McCain?
Johnny, you got me there. I wont vote for Sen Obama, even at gunpoint. However, as someone who likes to think of himself as a true conservative, I dont like Sen McCain much either. But, I guess, like they say, I held my nose and voted for him on the absentee ballot anyway. :)
BTW, I loved you Pencil Revolution blog. Used to be a fountain pen only kinda guy, but, after reading your blog, I have begun to use o wood-cased pencils again. Actually gave up a couple of other hobbies to concentrate on learning to draw properly with pencils.
“Drawing With The Right Side Of The Brain” by Betty Edwards (latest edition) is the book I am using to teach myself, along with a bunch of 2B & 4B pencils, and a few all graphite 2B & 4B pencils.
Thank you for the kind words about the pencil site. Sometimes I miss running it:)
Johnny, do you / did you draw? Any photos of drawings on your site? I have a 2nd grader that is BIG into drawing. Wonder if she could appreciate the high end pencils out there?
And for the record I “voted” back in April of 2007 by giving $10 to both McCain and Obama campaigns. Both were underdogs then. So I feel like a win-win right now. Just don’t like many items of the Democratic platform. :( But I won’t be sad when Barry takes the oath. :)
Unfortunately, my artistic talents were too limited to draw much, and running PR took up too much time in those days:) For some great pencil drawings, check out the Pencil Revolution Flickr group:
http://flickr.com/groups/pencilrevolution/
(Warning: There are some drawings of light nudity, here and here.)
When I did get to work with high-end pencils, I found everything easier to do. I can’t imagine that budding artist wouldn’t get something out of them. Faber-Castell makes a nice line of art supplies for kids, which you can find at some museum shops and online.
“But I won’t be sad when Barry takes the oath. :)”
I feel the same way:)