Okay, I lied. I can’t prove it. I don’t even really think it’s true (so save the hate mail). But as a good Pragmatist/Empiricist, I can offer a small bit of evidence.
Someone I know who watches it and also doesn’t like black people, gay people, Jews, Muslims or evolution loves it. He says stupid things in front of me on a regular basis, knowing what color my wife is. Yes, this guy says racist shit to a man he knows is married to a black woman. So fuck him. I don’t feel the need to bow to him the way a lot of people I know and respect do (and I wish to hell they wouldn’t) and like I fall into doing. Not now.
“I watched it on FOX News. You know, I’ll give it them. I’ll give it to FOX News. When that shooter did that at Fort Hood, they said they had a report of the name, and I’ll give it to them, they said they wouldn’t give it because they weren’t sure.”
Yeah, you know, you have to give it to FOX News. They don’t report things that aren’t true. They have the utmost journalistic integrity. They didn’t give out a name they weren’t sure of (GASP!), so they must be trust-worthy.
Also from this smart guy (and some of this is on here in other places):
“Obama’s Muslim. I don’t care what you say. He’s Muslim. You better wake up, boy.” (Call me “Boy” and tell me to wake up when I’m twice as intelligent and thrice as educated as you are. Nice. I don’t mean to throw my education around, but when dumbasses imply that I’m stupid or clueless, I can and will.)
“A bunch of brothers got Obama elected.” (To which a fellow Republican tried to diffuse the situation with, “No, a bunch of crazy people got him elected.” While I think that’s crazy, I certainly appreciated the effort on this other gent’s part to shield me and everyone else from this guy. And, you know, if white people don’t vote, then fuck them, too.)
“I don’t believe in evolution. I believe in Scripture.” (Johnny, are you really gonna call someone stupid for believing in “Scripture” instead of evolution? Yes. Yes I am. Evolution isn’t something you believe in like you believe in Scripture. It’s something you can prove. You can’t prove Scripture. They’re not in the same arena. Not the same game. And anyone who says they are is as stupid as a jagged rock. Certainly I can understand believing what you believe in the face of what you might feel is a lack of scientific proof of evolution. I have not heard a lot of these folks equate science and religion, though. They seem to prefer one to the other, which is a choice. Not one I’d make, but there you go. But yes, if you think science and religion are the same thing, you are stupid.)
“It’s a BLACK church!” (Oh, shit. Black people. In church. A few blocks from your house. Worshiping their BLACK GOD, with their BLACK KIDS! HOLY SHIT! You’d better move to the County! SERIOUSLY! MOVE! Whenever I hear Old Hampdenites — and you know what I mean — talk about moving because of the F-G-T word and the N-G-R word, I wish to hell they’d all move to Carrol County like they talk about. If you gotta gentrify Hampden all the way, do it.)
“O’Malley got elected by appealing to blacks.” (Well, like I said, white people should get off their asses and vote then, huh? But I guess it’s not white people’s fault that they don’t vote. I mean, there are only old men and Muslims running, right?)
And yes I know people who also know this guy and how I feel will read this and will tell me to “lighten up.” How come when I’m pissed off and someone disagrees with me, I’m always over-reacting? Saying racist shit around kids? Shit, ya’ll are under-reacting. And I’m related to someone who doesn’t give enough of a shit (in my opinion) about any of this and with whom I routinely have pretty bad arguments about something neither of us should really have to deal with. When it comes down to it, racists are lesser people. Yes. That’s right. Lesser people. What, are you going to argue that two identical people, one racist and one not are equally valuable to the human race? Even in the eyes of God or god or etc.?
FOX News: For idiots? I don’t know. I just thought it was a funny post title. I do think it stimulates the same kind of unquestioning people who wear their “faith” on their sleeve — you know what kind of anti-everything people who don’t actually have a faith. They just like a justification for who they hate. “I ain’t no ignert racist hohmohfobe! The Lord says dat ain’t right!”
I can also prove the opposite, that FOX News is NOT for idiots in the same half-assed way because several of the Republicans I know do NOT have their heads up their asses — at least not any further than I do also. I know some smart people that I actually and truly love very much as family and friends who are staunchly Republican and like FOX News. I don’t think they’re idiots — and not racists either. But there’s a difference. You know what they don’t do? Say racist shit around me or tell me to wake up or tell us that FOX is actually the best news venue, that is has a special claim to truth. They just like it and don’t need to justify it.
“I have black friends!” — defense for racism? I mean, I don’t believe for a second that most of these people have actual friends without bastardizing the word and concept of friendship. “I have Republican friends!” I’m certainly not completely biased against people with very different political and social views than I have, right?
I am in fact completely stuck in a position to be around some crazy and backward people in several situations and relations. So I can’t just go away. It’s complicated. I’m waiting for them to either die out or get their lives saved by a gay black Muslim atheist who’s married to a nice Jewish man from France.
Does Nietzsche have a point when he talks about some people just being a drain on the rest of us and poison to Life itself? Were it not for the idea of the weeds among the wheat, hell, I’d wish for a plague to rid the world of these dinosaurs. Nietzsche also talks about having strong enemies. These racist, homophobic, anti-gay/Muslim/Jewish/evolution/thinking/reason pieces of garbage are not the strong enemies we want, are they? I mean, terrorism is hard enough to try and tackle without racism and xenophobia thrown into the mix so that those of us who don’t want to be associated with this blind, ignorant hate leave off the Good Fight.
All this talk, and I never delivered what I promised. No proof. I was totally going for the headline, man. I don’t actually think only idiots watch FOX News. I know enough people to know better. But, you know, I’m just mad at someone right now.
Now THIS is why I come here!
I may only agree to 62.7% of the stuff you say. But I love listening to your arguments and your passion. I love listening to different views that are told in an intelligent and reasoning manner. I like my own concepts of “how things are” to be challenged.
That’s the problem with many of those FOX viewers (and people on the left as well). They only want to listen to what they want to hear.
Nice post, Mr. P. Nice post.
Thanks, Steven! :)
I think you’re right about both extremist types largely. I know people who won’t to Metallica because they don’t like their politics. What? Rock is rock!
It is good to stop and relax before posting. I no longer send out angry email messages when I am worked up about something, cuz, I learnt not to do it the hard way.
That made me think of the Dixie Chicks. People bashing them because they said what they felt about President Bush.
Personally I felt like this…
I don’t agree with what you are saying or feeling. But that doesn’t make it wrong.
I don’t agree that you put your own personal opions out there on a crowd of paying “customers” who are very diverse and only half of them agree with your point of view.
But if you do put yourself out there, be willing to take the outcry. If people don’t want to buy your albums because of what you said that is their right. You have to take the consequenses with your actions.
But NO ONE has the right to treat you like crap for the way you feel. If they don’t want to listen to your music, attend your concerts, or buy your albums, that is their perogative. But that doesn’t give them the right to rip you in public and hate on you and threaten you.
I thought they handled themselves very well.
Which makes me think of another thing. You never talk much about music. Do you not listen to music? What music do you like. Mrs. P?
Oh and can we get a Mrs. P. update? Does she got a big belly?! :)
I listen to most everything (except new rap and new country), including the Dixie Chicks. :) Last night, I was listening to Paul Simon and Marilyn Manson all night, LOL.
Mrs. P. is getting big enough to need the special pants already, at four months. She’s danged STUNNING. :)
I relaxed over night before hitting the “publish” button.