Opinions Not Allowed

Recently I expressed my opinion and dissatisfaction with President Obama. It was primarily about Obama care and his perception of reality. I was promptly berated by my friends "wife". She got up in my face and said "you can't come in here and bash the president".
When did we lose our right to speak freely and express our feelings?

November 4, 2008

Recently I expressed my opinion and dissatisfaction with President Obama. It was primarily about Obama care and his perception of reality. I was promptly berated by my friends "wife". She got up in my face and said "you can't come in here and bash the president".
When did we lose our right to speak freely and express our feelings?

November 4, 2008

(tu)

That has been happening for a while. Its a side affect of our idiocricy.

I guess it all depends on the audience you're speaking to. Did you ever try and show displeasure at the previous regime's supreme leader in front of the FauxNews crowd or at a US troops rally? You'd probably feel disappointed with the reaction then, as well.

At a certain point, you just become the heckler harassing every opponent team's batter. Also see: exercising your right to free speech about the benefits of FSM [beer volcanoes?!] or strict Islamic beliefs [assuming you're male] at a Baptist retreat.

Know your audience in politics and religion, and unless looking for the fight, just talk about movies or something simpler instead.

People get so mad about different opinions. It's funny. Everybody is often wrong about a lot of things and a lot of thinvs are hardly important.

It depends for me. If someone is in my living room, there are topics I will ask not to be discussed in my home. Politics is one. But in a public space it is not my right to request that.

These forums are not public space, btw. You're sitting in The Moving Center's living room. 😉

A better response form this person would have been something like: " I really don't appreciate your comments about the president so let's change the subject". Not bite my friggin head off in public and make me want to tell her where to go and what the hell to do to herself when she got there. Out of respect for my friend I didn't. But it was close.

hahahahahahahaha, you are kidding right? We lost the right of free speech to criticize the President when Pres. Obama was elected. I'm very surprised you weren't called a racist, which is usually the knee jerk reaction of the left wingers when their Golden Boy Oooooops, not politically correct (Golden Man) was elected. I don't know what she got so upset about, at least a shoe wasn't thrown at him like a past President.

hahahahahahahaha, you are kidding right? We lost the right of free speech to criticize the President when Pres. Obama was elected. I'm very surprised you weren't called a racist, which is usually the knee jerk reaction of the left wingers when their Golden Boy Oooooops, not politically correct (Golden Man) was elected. I don't know what she got so upset about, at least a shoe wasn't thrown at him like a past President.

Let me caveat my upcoming comment by saying that I am not an ardent Democrat, no do I see Obama as the "Golden Boy." I think there are a lot of problems with the current administration.

That said, the reason the race card comes into play so often is so many of the criticisms of Obama ARE racist. Many of them are a more insidious form of racism, but they are still there.

During my time in the VI I've really come to see how amazingly hypocritical most white Americans are in insisting they aren't racist, while they blatantly are, they just don't realize it because it is acceptable. One of my closest friends constantly insists he isn't racist even though everyone keeps telling him he is. I say, friend, you ARE a racist, despite your denials. This is the worst kind of racism - the insidious whitewashed kind.

So I say criticize our leadership and administration all you want. It's your right. But when people wander into insane conspiracy theories or religious slurs or racism, I walk away. Hate is way too rampant and acceptable these days, and I refuse to listen it.

A better response form this person would have been something like: " I really don't appreciate your comments about the president so let's change the subject". Not bite my friggin head off in public and make me want to tell her where to go and what the hell to do to herself when she got there. Out of respect for my friend I didn't. But it was close.

That's because for some stupid reason it's socially acceptable for women to behave badly with out consequence. I'll bet if it were a man it may have resulted in a push fight or worse. At the very least a "go F yourself".

A better response form this person would have been something like: " I really don't appreciate your comments about the president so let's change the subject". Not bite my friggin head off in public and make me want to tell her where to go and what the hell to do to herself when she got there. Out of respect for my friend I didn't. But it was close.

That's because for some stupid reason it's socially acceptable for women to behave badly with out consequence. I'll bet if it were a man it may have resulted in a push fight or worse. At the very least a "go F yourself".

I agree with this. Women don't know how to be ladies any more. I teach my daughter "don't be trashy. Any woman can be trashy. But it takes work to have class."

During my time in the VI I've really come to see how amazingly hypocritical most white Americans are in insisting they aren't racist, while they blatantly are, they just don't realize it because it is acceptable. One of my closest friends constantly insists he isn't racist even though everyone keeps telling him he is. I say, friend, you ARE a racist, despite your denials. This is the worst kind of racism - the insidious whitewashed kind.

(tu) (tu) (tu)

A better response form this person would have been something like: " I really don't appreciate your comments about the president so let's change the subject". Not bite my friggin head off in public and make me want to tell her where to go and what the hell to do to herself when she got there. Out of respect for my friend I didn't. But it was close.

That's because for some stupid reason it's socially acceptable for women to behave badly with out consequence. I'll bet if it were a man it may have resulted in a push fight or worse. At the very least a "go F yourself".

I agree with this. Women don't know how to be ladies any more. I teach my daughter "don't be trashy. Any woman can be trashy. But it takes work to have class."

Over the last few months I've seen women in the news doing outrageous things. One in particular was the assault on a bus driver. This woman kicked, punched, and spit on this poor guy until he wouldn't take it anymore. He introduced her to the bus floor and I'll bet she thinks twice before she puts her hands on another man.

People get so mad about different opinions. It's funny. Everybody is often wrong about a lot of things and a lot of thinvs are hardly important.

Ideological Divide and Conquer, we battle ourselves when the "two sides" we argue over are basically the exact same thing with very minor differences.

That said, the reason the race card comes into play so often is so many of the criticisms of Obama ARE racist.

Please show us one example.

this is such a BS line based on zero fact or logical conclusions.

next your going to tell me that the Tea party is racist and Democrats are looking out for the good of the poor (both false).

It is all politics all of the time now. Politics have always encouraged lies, hate and anger. After all, the war between the states, our most horrific was fought over politics.

Our social media and 24 hour partisan tv news fan the flames. In my opinion it started getting uglier about the time of the Clinton administration. History will show that President Obama was a light weight compared to people like Cheney and GW Bush in terms of bad governing and over control.

People are encouraged to make wild unsubstantiated comments about the President in an attempt to discredit him. Most of it is lies. If you watch Fox News and MSNBC you will get both sides of the extremist coin. They are the worst and most divisiive. Most intelligent people try to get their news and form their opinions from more reliable sources.

Yes, a large component of the Obama haters motivation is seated in racism. Not to say that everyone who hates the President is a racist, but it is a big factor.

But back to the original concern about free speech. You can say what ever you want (as long as you are not threatening) but you must be prepared to hear from someone who doesn't agree with you. Nothing new there.

I don't agree with most of the anti Obama rhetoric I have read here today. That doesn't stop you from saying it.

People get so mad about different opinions. It's funny. Everybody is often wrong about a lot of things and a lot of thinvs are hardly important.

Ideological Divide and Conquer, we battle ourselves when the "two sides" we argue over are basically the exact same thing with very minor differences.

That said, the reason the race card comes into play so often is so many of the criticisms of Obama ARE racist.

Please show us one example.

this is such a BS line based on zero fact or logical conclusions.

Obviously you've never been on Facebook.

a lot of people think if you do not like him you are a racist. that really burns me

i think most of the criticisms have to do with how he is governing the country and nothing else

It is all politics all of the time now. Politics have always encouraged lies, hate and anger. After all, the war between the states, our most horrific was fought over politics.

Our social media and 24 hour partisan tv news fan the flames. In my opinion it started getting uglier about the time of the Clinton administration. History will show that President Obama was a light weight compared to people like Cheney and GW Bush in terms of bad governing and over control.

People are encouraged to make wild unsubstantiated comments about the President in an attempt to discredit him. Most of it is lies. If you watch Fox News and MSNBC you will get both sides of the extremist coin. They are the worst and most divisiive. Most intelligent people try to get their news and form their opinions from more reliable sources.

Yes, a large component of the Obama haters motivation is seated in racism. Not to say that everyone who hates the President is a racist, but it is a big factor.

But back to the original concern about free speech. You can say what ever you want (as long as you are not threatening) but you must be prepared to hear from someone who doesn't agree with you. Nothing new there.

I don't agree with most of the anti Obama rhetoric I have read here today. That doesn't stop you from saying it.

#1. I don't hate the President and I sure wouldn't hate him because he's black. I just disagree with his policies and have ever since he was running for President.

#2. There were a lot of black people who disliked President Bush, but NO ONE accused them of being racist, so where's the two sided coin here.

#3. I listen to both Fox and MSNBC, because I'm aware there are two sides to every story, but to honestly think you are going to get open and honest reporting from any of the major news networks like ABC, NBC, CBS or CNN, you must be living a dream. None of them will report anything negative about President Obama, if anything they have touted him as the second coming example: Chris Matthews statement " I felt a thrill going up my leg from Obama because I love my Country". Talk about a love affair, hide the hand lotion.

People get so mad about different opinions. It's funny. Everybody is often wrong about a lot of things and a lot of thinvs are hardly important.

Ideological Divide and Conquer, we battle ourselves when the "two sides" we argue over are basically the exact same thing with very minor differences.

That said, the reason the race card comes into play so often is so many of the criticisms of Obama ARE racist.

Please show us one example.

this is such a BS line based on zero fact or logical conclusions.

Obviously you've never been on Facebook.

No, I'm an old man and have no use for Tweeter, Facebook or none of that stuff. I'm also a Tea Partier at heart (smaller government ideas, if I wanted bigger government, I would move to Cuba, Russia, China or some other communist country) and classify myself more of a moderate republican

Obviously you've never been on Facebook.

Yes, I choose not to support the corporate/fascist government and its information/psychological profile gathering efforts when I can.

People get so mad about different opinions. It's funny. Everybody is often wrong about a lot of things and a lot of thinvs are hardly important.

Ideological Divide and Conquer, we battle ourselves when the "two sides" we argue over are basically the exact same thing with very minor differences.

That said, the reason the race card comes into play so often is so many of the criticisms of Obama ARE racist.

Please show us one example.

this is such a BS line based on zero fact or logical conclusions.

Obviously you've never been on Facebook.

No, I'm an old man and have no use for Tweeter, Facebook or none of that stuff. I'm also a Tea Partier at heart (smaller government ideas, if I wanted bigger government, I would move to Cuba, Russia, China or some other communist country) and classify myself more of a moderate republican

And this is why both you an and LF don't see most of the racist stuff. There is a LOT of it on social media - I have a link but unfortunately it is on Facebook and you won't be able to see it.

I can respect both of your opinions because they are thoughtful criticism of policy, unlike most of the hate-filled arguments I read these days. I would call you two exceptions though, not the rule. You're in a really small pond here.

FYI I used to align with a lot of the Tea Party too until they went just insane, especially with patriotic religious dogma. Now I categorize them in the same vein of extremism as the Westboro Baptist Church. It is very different today from two years ago, even.

ETA: try this link. It MAY work. Not sure.

It is all politics all of the time now. Politics have always encouraged lies, hate and anger. After all, the war between the states, our most horrific was fought over politics.

Our social media and 24 hour partisan tv news fan the flames. In my opinion it started getting uglier about the time of the Clinton administration. History will show that President Obama was a light weight compared to people like Cheney and GW Bush in terms of bad governing and over control.

People are encouraged to make wild unsubstantiated comments about the President in an attempt to discredit him. Most of it is lies. If you watch Fox News and MSNBC you will get both sides of the extremist coin. They are the worst and most divisiive. Most intelligent people try to get their news and form their opinions from more reliable sources.

Yes, a large component of the Obama haters motivation is seated in racism. Not to say that everyone who hates the President is a racist, but it is a big factor.

But back to the original concern about free speech. You can say what ever you want (as long as you are not threatening) but you must be prepared to hear from someone who doesn't agree with you. Nothing new there.

I don't agree with most of the anti Obama rhetoric I have read here today. That doesn't stop you from saying it.

Agree 100%. Very well said. As a nation we have come to value hatred as a form of patriotism. It is disturbing on a visceral level.

Obviously you've never been on Facebook.

Yes, I choose not to support the corporate/fascist government and its information/psychological profile gathering efforts when I can.

Then you better get off the net completely then. If you think social media is all that's tracked you are an eternal optimist.

And please don't toss an accusation at me again of not operating on facts. I am a very logical and critical thinker and trust nothing at face value. I form my own opinions, as you do. Keep your accusations civil.