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Originally Posted by A264172  I have a father in law who is as sweet a guy to his grandchildren, as they could ever wish for. He is also a hard headed verbal racist in the presence of his family, particularly in this time of a black Presidential candidate. I will still go (yesterday) to his home for Easter dinner. And when he says -(when "have you ever tried collard greens" becomes part of a conversation)- "If Obama gets elected you'll have to eat those all the time"... then I will disagree with him as politely as I can. Whether it's through a doubtful look and tilt of the head, or a "there are good and bad people of every sort" remark.
What I think about 'black' people and 'white' people being no different than star-bellied Sneeches vs. those that have none ~in all that matters most~ in the end, won't change 'his' thinking on the matter. But his grandkids get indoctrinated by me on that, and they know without a doubt how I feel about judging people based on their race.
As a grandfather to them he does the yeoman's work quite well as Byrd and Thurmond did perhaps for their constituencies, but I only get to have my say on Pennsylvanian politicians.
I do believe, that when confronted with offensive thoughts, "I disagree" is a better start than "go to hell". And even if I can't change him, I know there is someone in some circumstance that can. Though that day may never come, it can't kill us to prepare for it.
Hope that's not too incoherent. |
Makes good sense on a personal level. Perhaps we also agree that there maybe a different standard for elected office or appointed office. In those particular cases the individual *must* exhibit a higher standard or threshold, in my opinion.
Concerning Obama, I wouldn't vote for him because he is a socialist and I think socialism is anti-liberty. I think Clinton is no difference in any meaningful way. At least McCain is not a socialist, but he is a big gov Republican of the Nelson Rockefeller, Richard Nixon, George HW & George W Bush. Not much value in my book.
Over the next 6-8 months I have no doubt that more and uglier revelations, both true and false, will work its way into the media. Obama's peculiar public embrace of his spiritual advisor, a bigot, is a tough hurdle to overcome. Clinton's indefensible assertion of danger in the Balkans and McCain's shaky cognition is going to result in a contest of pygmies. F**k'em all.
B