Once again, as I have said on many occasions, Jewish liberals make the Klan proud by allowing hatred of republicans to be considered acceptable. Yet despite the fact that many in my community need to publicly be verbally flogged and shamed into showing humanity towards those that are not socialists, there is hope that when given civility, some liberals might respond in kind. Two experiences this past weekend offered the best and worst of what liberalism can be.
Before getting to that, another fine fellow in cyberworld offers his own tale of ideological bigotry. If you have one, please share it with me.
http://ravinglunatic.multiply.com/journal/item/93/Ideological_Bigotry
As for me, Friday night was a very negative experience, which, shock of all shocks, took place at a Synagogue. Like most Jewish places of worship, this place cannot burn republican figures in effigy due to their tax exempt status, but they can engage in “stealth liberalism.” Evenings dedicated to “social justice,” which is code for political liberalism, are designed to teach Jews that the only way to live an acceptable Jewish life is to vote for liberals. Bringing in Ruth Messinger to speak about Darfur on Memorial Day weekend is a way to marginalize soldiers.
I went to this particular Synagogue because about 1000 people attend once a month, and there are events specifically for young Jewish singles. Yes, it is a cattle call, but some of the meat at this meat market is fine quality ground chuck. Also, it is one block from my home, allowing me to make a cameo, and exit quickly if I am not pleased with the livestock.
I normally avoid politics because ideological bigotry among Jews is out of control. I started talking to a woman, and the conversation was very pleasant. We seemed to be clicking. I told her that I was recently in San Francisco, and met a couple that was gay, Jewish, and republican, in addition to one of them being French. Like others, she was fascinated. It is an odd amalgamation. She said she was less shocked by the gay aspect than by the republican aspect. I knew what she meant, but I decided to ask anyway. She then brazenly stated, “Well I can understand why they would be ridiculed. I don’t like republicans.”
At this point I had several options. I could have played along. I could have berated her until she cried, which sometimes I take joy in doing. Forcing people to justify why they are not hate mongers is a decent sport. If she would have made the same comment about blacks or gays, those that laced into her would be praised. Instead, I just stared at her, not so much a scowl as a look of astonishment. She then realized that she may have placed her foot in her mouth. She asked, “Wait a minute. Are you a republican?”
I icily responded, “Have a good evening,” and proceeded to walk away. I felt her tug at my arm, but I writhed away, and kept on walking. I would like to think she felt bad, but my experience with liberals leads me to believe that she learned nothing from the experience. I genuinely regret that I did not curse her out and make a scene. I had good friends in attendance, and they would have backed me up. She could always have seen the error of her ways, but I simply felt that crushing her into the ground would have been a good release for me.
I started blogging to force liberals, especially Jewish ones, to look in the mirror and ask themselves if they disagree with conservatives, or despise them. If the answer is the latter, I will try to change them one by one, and verbal brickbats are my choice of instruction.
Yet even in the darkest of places, some people have light inside of them. A positive occurrence came to me in the form of a telephone call. A young girl was calling me from the Hillary Clinton campaign, asking if I would be willing to volunteer.
As shocked as I was to receive this call, the young girl, most likely a college student, was very polite and personable. Given that I am always preaching civility, I felt I owed that to her, rather than slamming the phone down and saying, “not interested!”
I asked her how she got my name, and she explained that I had visited one of Hillary’s websites. She was telling the truth. I did go on a Hillary website once, specifically for opposition research. I have to say that this again reminded me that anybody who underestimates Hillary is fooling themselves. One visit to her site, and they were calling me. I was impressed with what is obviously a disciplined campaign, but again one I want to see defeated. It also concerns me that none of the republican candidates have contacted me, and I am on their sites often.
I could have kept this girl on the line by pretending to be interested, but I would have only done that if she was rude. I explained to her that I went on the Hillary website to do opposition research, and that I was voting against Hillary. I also could have bashed Hillary relentlessly, but I did not feel it was my place to crush this young girl’s idealism. Additionally, such an action would most likely have the reverse effect, and push her further towards what may not yet be an entrenched position. I wish college professors would follow my example.
As for her, for a young college student, she was definitely not scripted on the telephone. I expected her to hang up the phone at that point, but instead she asked me why I was against Hillary. I was stunned by this, but I said to her, “Well I do not want to keep you on the telephone. That is not fair to you.”
She then said something that made me laugh, and could not have pleased her bosses. “That’s ok. I’ve been making calls all day. I can take a couple minutes.”
I have to confess that while this does fit into the stereotype of young people as slackers, perhaps she was just bored. Telemarketing is not for everybody. I have been asked to make telephone calls for everything from Jewish organizations to republican candidates, and while I believed in the people I was asked to call for, I simply did not want to be bothered. I do not stuff envelopes either.
I told the girl, ” Well I disagree with her on most issues. I do not hate her, but I disagree with her vision.”
The girl persisted, although again, in a very pleasant manner. She asked for examples of how and why I disagreed with Hillary.
I responded, “Well, I support President Bush. I support the Iraq War. I am a conservative republican, and will be backing the republican nominee. As I said, I do not hate Hillary, but I do disagree with her, and will therefore not be voting for her.”
The girl, again in an incredibly genial manner, said, “Well those are big differences. What I can do is remove your name from our list so that we do not call you any more.”
I thanked her, told her I would appreciate that, and she wished me a good day. She did not slam the phone down, get in a nasty parting shot, or anything of the sort.
Some might say that this girl might be too nice to be a successful telemarketer, but one call is not a representative sample.
Yet her tone was absolutely sincere. She did not get belligerent when I expressed my disagreement with her. She made a couple reasonable attempts to persuade me, and when she realized that would not be possible, ended the conversation in a dignified and classy manner.
She did not freak out at the word “republican.” She saw an opening to persuade someone, and appropriate backed off when she saw there was a stalemate.
I wish the girl at the Temple could have shown similar decency. Yet sometimes people are so far gone that all they know is hatred and bile.
Then again, water is wet, and Jewish liberals are tolerant, depending on what “is,” is, and what “tolerant” means.
eric
Eric, if I am not correct, don’t you believe Hillary is corrupt? Why not tell this nice young lady on the phone that not only are you a Conservative Republican, support the Iraq War and President Bush etc…but that you believe due to your own research that Hillary is corrupt etc…?
It’s just a thought…perhaps it’s just me because I would consider voting Democrat if Mike Hiccup-abee got the nomination…and hence would have to seriously consider some of the Dems etc…
The lady in the synagogue sounds like an average day with my mother.
I have a picture of a moonbat on my fridge. Mom thought it was adorable and wanted the name of the website I copied it from.
“At this point I had several options. I could have played along. I could have berated her until she cried, ”
Out of love I told her I could not remember.
What is all this dislike of Huckabee I keep hearing and reading from the RIght? Where does it come from? This is like the third derision of Huckabee I read on the blogosphere today alone! What am I missing here?
JMJ
I think part of it is because he brought up Romneys faith and then apologized later.
But alot of people saw it as a ploy and that the whole thing was well and intentionally excecuted. And even for cons he seems to make faith an issue too often.
Huh. I wouldn’t have thought that. I thought the GOP was all about the Bible and Christianity and morality and faith and all that. Huckabee is probably the most Christian man running. Romney is part of what most Christians consider a rather dumb, if not incidius, cult. And those who don;t think that, like me, think he’s a pandering pol of the lowest order. Giuliani is a Catholic as I am, and that ain’t sayin’ much. Thompson may be religious, but you’d have to wake him up to find out for sure. McCain is, yeah. He’d be second in Christian religiosity. But then, you conservatives don’t like him either. Are you sure that it isn’t because McCain and Huckabee are truer Christians than most GOPers, in the sense of true compassion and love of more than just money, that puts off GOP voters?
JMJ
I didnt say we dont like the christian element (if I might speak for all) .
You can still be a good Christian and excercise strategy in the interest of what you think is best.
And like I said “I think”. And the only reason I said “I think” is because thats what I’ve heard form others.
To much talk of faith and religion on the right at this time in my opinion, and practically none coming from the left. Even though they all claim to be Christians, its not a comfy subject for them. Its sets the moral high bar at a level they cant handle.
Which is funny , because donkeys supposedly jump better than elephants.
Well, I was teasing a little there, and I’m glad you didn’t get mad at me.
Good points, Micky, funny, and teasing right back.
Just the same, my little dig and your return dig show a little irony. If the moral high bar is so high, then wouldn’t this whole race be between Paul and Kucinich? After all, they are the most ideologically moral – yet disparate in beliefs – candidates.
JMJ
Paul and Kucinich ? They used to be the same guy until the aliens separated them.
Give me a break, they’re both a joke. I wouldnt want to be alone in a room with either one. Ron Paul would cause me to blow my brains out and Kucinich would probably try to perform a mind melt on me.
Both of them have morals. But those morals are based on and apply to ridculous ideoligies. Their morals keep them from even approaching or acknowledging real problems that concern Americans. Terrorism, immigration…
Jersey,
Conservatives like myself aren’t excited about the Huckster because he won a tax raising contest with Bil Clinton, and he basically called those of us who favor border security a bunch of racists.
One of my bloggers at RightNation has a good list of Huckisms:
http://www.rightnation.us/forums/blog/sturm_ruger/index.php?showentry=2212
I had the distinct feeling that was the main reason, Chris. Thanks.
If I recall, Huckabee was a pragmatic governor who refused to fall into the silly and unrealistic ideological lockstep of never-raise-taxes. And I do recall that he said “some” of the anti-illegal-alien movement was racist – which is true.
JMJ
Micky, terrorism shouldn’t even be in the top ten concerns. And the way migration is being handled today is both useless, unrealistic, counter-productive and unethical.
Paul and Kucinich are by far the most honest of all the candidates. I guess honesty, as opposed to lying and pandering, is such an alien concept today that people confuse it with radical ideological insanity.
JMJ
Lunacy , complete lunacy on the part of Jersey.
Politics has and always will be played the way it is played.
Were just more aware of the inside sordid details today with the internet and 24 hour cable.
Call it what you want , but Kucinich and Paul are idiots to think they can function on the hill as truthful saints. Its a game for big boys and its low down and dirty.
May the best hustler win.
Sounds bad ? Too bad! Get with the program !
Only a delusional fool would expect honest Abe to get anywhere on the hill as much as he believes terrorism shouldnt even be in the top ten.
Not only does it sound like you had that drink last night , it sounds like you’re still buzzed.
Screw it right ? Lets just leave the borders the way they are and maybe some your terrorist “unruly children” will slip in too seeing as how they’re not a problem.Sometimes you say some really remarkable things , and sometimes I swear you’re a couple of quarts low.
And Chris, Huckabee did try to raise taxes on a couple of instances. There was no contest with Bill.
And yea, he does pander to the race card on the immigration thing.
Ron Paul and Kucinich may be honest, it doesnt mean they know what they are doing
Micky,
I didn’t pull that Bill Clinton line out of nowhere: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316496,00.html
As for Paul, I’d like to know how you come to the conclusion that he doesn’t know what he’s doing. The guy is a ten term congressman and very astute on economics. I disagree with his foreign policy ideas, but that doesn’t mean he’s a lunatic. In fact, I don’t think his foreign policy is dangerous for the simple fact that his non-interventionism includes a rejection of internaionalism. When leftists like Kucinich preach pacifism, they do so from an internationalist point of view. That’s dangerous.
Paul is also a doctor, while Bush is the retarded sleazy by-product of Blue Bloods from Connecticut.
JMJ
Paul is an apologist, he doesnt know what hes doing. First reason would be the hissy fit he threw at a debate a couple months back, the guy is not in control.
The subject was our relations in the middle east , and the veins in his forehead were bulging, it was a Howard Dean moment. Paul is irrelevant.
And Jersey , so what if hes a doctor? He lives in wonderland.
Chris, my apologies. Didnt catch that one on Huckabee.
500 Million is not a lot considering its been 16 plus years since Bill governed Arkansas. Cost of living man.
But hey , lets get one thing straight. I’m not crazy about Huckabee. I believe in the separation of church and state, Huckabee scares me in that department.
I believe in God and I would like my president to have some Christian values instilled.
I just think he’s over the top in that department.
Chris. I also should of mentioned that I am familiar with Huckabees willingness to raise tobacco taxes. Myself and everyone else has probably seen that clip by now where he says twice that he would have no problem with that.
Well I have a problem with it because it sounded just like the option most libs go for when they need a buck. They just did that with the SCHIP. How you going to pay for it ? Well… we’ll just tax tobacco, again and some more. Its very similar to the Danish luxury tax. In Denmark it might be justified because they have socialized health care, so all the tax payers must foot the bill for a few who contract smoking related illnesses.
But here in America I pay for my own health insurance.
And at the same time these idiots want to outlaw the one thing that was suppoose to pay for their SCHIP