A "friend" of mine is an over-the-top freeper

[gristy]

At least, I mistakenly thought he was a friend. When I sent him an email last night with some quotes of Dennis Kucinich (from a DUers sig line):

"Fighting terror with war is like fighting ignorance with lies."
"We are not victims of the world we see, we are victims of the way we see the world."

he replied with a quote of John Stuart Mill:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

So he has offered up a red herring which distorts the position of the left as one that opposes all war under any circumstances, as opposed to one that opposes war in Iraq falsely justified by WMD lies and the stated (and belated) desire to impose "democracy" with death and destruction on a sovereign nation.

In another response to a second email of mine where I directed him to symbolman's new flash video http://www.takebackthemedia.com/condosleeza.html , he accused this flash video of overt racism. I regret now deleting that email as fast as I could, I was so mad.

I am tempted to think that this accusation of racism is one of projection. That he sees in others the (racist) motivations and views that he attempts to suppress in himself. But I'm not sure. I do know that in the year I have spent at DU, I have not seen any instance of outright racism against Rice or any minority. I suspect other DUers will disagree - I remember a thread on this topic not too long ago. I know when I see or think of Rice, I do not see a black person. I see a liar. I don't like Rice because she is a liar and because she is an incompetent ideologue. Plain and simple.

[Gman]

1. Never take a RW'er seriously when they cry "racism"

they don't have a clue what racism is.

As for the JSM quote, he was referring to defending your country. Not invading someone else's country and taking their natural resources by force.

[tedzbear]

2. I have a few myself.

I have to remember not to mention politics with them.
I don't discuss religion either, ever since "The Passion of the Christ."

[Wapsie B]

3. Over half my family

is made up of freeper repugs. People who cheered when JFK was killed.
These people won't come around until something affects them personally, if then. All we can do is be there if any of them come to their senses. Unless you're skilled in deprogramming, I'd just let them alone.

[terisel]

4. Has he enlisted? Is he in Iraq? Is he recruiting family to fight?

If he doesn't want to go, does he have a sister whom he can persuade?

I keep noticing a curious split in many of the people who are pro-war and even rabidly pro-war. Many do not want to fight-they want others, usually strangers, to fight.

I notice it particularly in right wing forums-many individuals are opposed to the draft and insist it will never be necessary-even when our troops are being prevented from returning home when scheduled due to insufficient manpower.


If he is not eligible, I am sure there is a role he can find in Iraq where he can put his personal safety on the line. Possibly he can get work of some sort with a contracting agency in Iraq or Afghanistan to assist in the war effort.

If he believes his freedom depends upon fighting Iraqis, he needs to go fight and stop hiding behind abstract arguments.

[gristy]

5. Oh, boy. I don't think I'll go there...

Though he has lots of time on his hands since he's essentially retired now due to the ton of money on that internet bubble (sold very near the peak).