My Best Friend is a Republican!?!

[JayB]

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/04/05/my_best_friend_is_a_republican

[Hugh Conway]

Jay reads Salon?

[billcoe]

And yet, I think having a Republican friend is making me a better liberal. We need friends who differ from us. It's easy to watch Republican extremism and think, "Wow, they're crazy." But when someone is sitting face to face with us, when someone we admire and respect is telling us they believe differently, it is at this fine point that we find nuance, and we begin to understand exactly how we got to this point in history. We lose something critical when we surround ourselves with people who agree with us all the time. We lose out on the wisdom of seeing the other side.

 

It's why I like having your posts handy Jay. Too many idiots, perhaps the majority, in this corner of the site think that if you say something different than what they believe, all they have to do is start name calling and the conversation will end. It does end, but although they consider themselves the "winner", is not resolved, nor is anything learned. Only stupidity and childishness is exhibited. We do agree on plenty of things I'd suspect. BTW, I'm not calling you an extremist either:-)

 

Thanks again

[Hugh Conway]

too many idiots, bill, think that labeling themselves as some political party in America actually means something. There's nothing wrong with Conservatism as a belief system; as practiced in America currently the policies and politicians they advocate are shills who produce a weakened impotent country that works against their ideas and produces something directly contra to their ideals

[KaskadskyjKozak]

too many idiots, bill, think that labeling themselves as some political party in America actually means something.

 

Agreed. With two parties, the necessary coalitions that result combined with the corrupting influences (money, lobbies, paying off friends and supporters) basically waters down each party to the point of not standing for much.

[marc_leclerc]

You americans and your politics..... I think if I lived a couple hundred kilometers to the south I would be a Liberal.... but all I really know about your government is you have RETARDED drug laws... I pity you all

 

 

[Off_White]

Jay reads Salon?

 

Yeah, and I read Reason, go figure. Reading widely is good for your brain.

[Hugh Conway]

Jay reads Salon?

 

Yeah, and I read Reason, go figure. Reading widely is good for your brain.

 

Reason's a fair bit more literate than post 200-whatever Salon. Same with slate, they died post web bubble. Some great stuff in the last milennium on Salon though

[j_b]

they believe, all they have to do is start name calling and the conversation will end.

 

conversations about grammar or shrill whining or whatever else your pathetic pal feels like trolling about today?

[olyclimber]

Sorry, but Janet is a dumb ass. As is anyone that has respect for Palin.

[Sam Furley]

If you don't think like me, you're just a dumbass. Plain and simple. I can't be friends nor be bothered with anyone who doesn't agree with my superior logic.

[j_b]

My best friend is a sociopath [/twitch]

[prole]

President Trump?

 

 

Morons are people too!

 

 

"Respect my dumbass worldview, it's relatively valid!"

[Sam Furley]

I'm disgusted and threatened by those with opposing views.

[Sam Furley]

If I call my opponents names and degrade them, my views become validated.

 

Besides, they are my views and everyone should agree with them.

[j_b]

Well, let's say that I may have been on friendly terms with a conservative who had dignity and didn't make outlandish claims about others, but "best friend"? Not very likely. My best friends all have some form of egalitarian perspective. People who spend a lot of time together tend to have the same sensibilities toward the world around them. Like people who stay married for example.

[Sam Furley]

I like all my friends to think exactly like I do, that way I don't have to think too much about opposing viewpoints and other nonsense.

 

It's a good thing this country is so homogeneous, because outsiders coming in may have different views and opinions than I do, and well, I think we work a whole lot better as a clique.

[j_b]

generalize much, perhaps?

[Sam Furley]

Generalizing, as in liberals are _____ and conservatives are ____? Is that what you meant?

[Sam Furley]

But you get my point. Or not.

 

Good article.

[prole]

"Take us seriously. If you don't, then you're a bigot or an elitist."

 

LOL.

[j_b]

No, what I said is that I never had a right winger as "best friend" and you keep spewing about "friends", whatever the hell that means. I am usually quite intolerant of bigots, racists, and warmongers yet you'll hardly find anybody who interacts as much with the opposing viewpoint as I do. Ergo your caricatures don't really capture my reality at any rate.

[prole]

The lamestream media is already bending over backwards for the likes of Bachmann, Trump, et al. You gotta compete when the news hour shares a timeslot with Extreme Hoarders, don'tcha know!

[Sam Furley]

Best friend. Friend. Best friend forever. What exactly is the difference?

[j_b]

Good article.

 

I especially like the part about holding hands while her friends tells her all about illegals and welfare queens. So loving