This past election has changed me.

[wildeyed]

Conservatives typically accuse liberals of being too optimistic about human nature, of seeing too much good in people. Well I don't anymore. I still feel for the poor and the disenfranchised, that hasn't changed. What has changed is I see some people as irredeemably greedy and narrow minded. They can't be helped and I don't like them. I was never like that before. Everyone had an even chance with me. Well they won't have wildeyed to kick around anymore, that is for sure.

I have become a mean spirited, cynical person.

[Robbien]

1. The bigotry and greed have been reinforced by

right wing talk radio. Everyone has a bit of those traits but the majority of people use to overcome them and replace them with caring for humanity. Now a portion of society is being groomed to nurture their greedy hateful traits.

You have not become mean spirited and cynical. You have just become aware that many others have been manipulated to change for the worse.

[Ravenseye]

16. They're un-Christian

Matthew 5:21-22
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. "

Sorry for the Christian points today. I'm reading the bible to better help liberal arguments.

[Jo March]

2. I've become more active than ever

I'm not mean or bitter. I just lost my faith that things will "just work themselves out."

Truth will prevail but we have to work hard to get the truth spread.

It's "hard work"!

[wildeyed]

3. I know arnheim.

And I do work hard. But after this election, I feel like I have lost some of my faith in human nature. So I have become more like 'Them'.

[Jo March]

22. You will never be like "them"

The fact that you are here means that you still want to know what is going on and maybe, just maybe, you still want to fight! :)

:hug: to you!

[intheflow]

4. Me, too.

I was ALL pissed off at the last inaugural protest. This time I'm not feeling particularly po'd (well, no more so than I do anytime I think of BushCo.), but feel more committedd to action.

I am struggling with non-violent resistance, though. Seems like the only way we'll ever get the country to notice our dissent is through violence, which I know in my heart is wrong. I just want the left to be able to pull off something so huge like the Selma march that the MSM can't ignore us. But then, part of the reason the MSM took notice then was because whites were killing the blacks (and others) who protested. Hate to think the only way we'll get coverage is because freepers start picking us off. :(

[wildeyed]

8. The image that sticks with me from that time is when they turned the

fire hoses and German shepards on the school children who were marching.

I'm with MLK, I believe in non-violence. In the long term that is where the real change came from.

[Harry S Truman]

5. Me too.

I agree wildeyed. What saddens me the most is there seems to be no care given to the "common good" anymore. It's almost like this nation seems intent on committing suicide. I blame the meda more than anything else. So many people are uniformed or misinformed that only wholesale cataclysm will change the road we're on.

[wildeyed]

17. It is all Us and Them now.

The Us being the economically well off and who consider themselves morally superior as a result of their economic good fortune. And poor people deserve it, they are morally inferior. Except that allot of the Us's don't get it, they are the economically disadvantaged. Or one illness or emergency away from becoming that.

[DIKB]

6. I don't believe/hope anymore

that's just Praying something happens. Separate your hands, get off your knees and put your hands to work.

No one ever threw themself out of public office

Someone's gotta operate the guillotine when the people revolt

[Taxloss]

7. It's a house of cards.

The higher RWers build it, the more spectacular its fall. The American ideal, which DU demonstrates is still alive and kicking, will survive the fall.

[GOPFighter]

9. I fully believe this!

Bush and political, freedom-hating thugs are setting themselves up for a huge fall. I just hope the Democrats are savvy enough to take full advantage of it!

[wildeyed]

10. I am hoping you are right.

I would like to believe in the American spirit again. That it is more than just greed and me first and that we really do represent freedom.

[Taxloss]

14. The entire world is hoping that.

I think the Neo-Cons thought America's allies would get in line like a bunch of trailer-park rednecks to support their mission. That is not the case. In Europe, the only thing - literally, the only thing - that is stopping a popular economic boycott is a fear that it would hurt ordinary Americans. Still, some people I know have done their best to stop buying American products.

[Just Me]

21. I agree. It's just a matter of time.

The suffering being imposed upon a misinformed/manipulated populace here and abroad may cause me to have moments of despair and cynicism. However, I cannot give in to such moments because then I will be operating from the same space as the RWs.

Moreover, American principles and ideals don't die just because there are those who fail to practice them or support them.

As difficult as these times may be, they are merely a drop in history. The tide will turn.

[Z_I_Peevey]

11. I know exactly what you mean.

I'm a different person too. I think it comes from the natural human tendency to project. In the past, we projected onto others our love of truth, love of country and basic moral code. We thought "just one more outrage, and the good people will rise up." We were wrong.

It's going to take much, much more suffering than we ever imagined before things change. If change comes at all.

You don't sound mean-spirited, just realistic.

And for all my newfound realism, I still think the good people outnumber the bad people. It's just that the good people have been convinced they're in the minority.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. I also feel changed by the last election and I'm pushing onwards to 60!

I feel that greed has consumed the country and themes like 'Ownership Society' really just mean, "Grab all you can get, by any means, and don't give a dime to those who might not have the opportunities you did". It's very prevalent among the younger generation as well. "No need to study liberal arts, just figure out how to get the most money". Here's a snip from a LTTE of a college paper.

<snip> For those of you who feel that Americans are becoming too emotional and irrational, Hong Kong's mentality might be a welcomed change of pace. Hong Kong residents don't waste each others' time with wishy-washy talk. Everyone has the same agenda: be successful and get rich. Since this is so important, time is crucial which is why locals will gladly put aside their manners to save time. Don't be surprised if you're walking towards an elevator and see the person inside rapidly pushing the "close door" button. People may find this to be brutal, but it's almost refreshing to see that people are so frank.

[Taxloss]

15. Yeah, that's why the HK Chinese waste so much time campaigning for

democracy and freedom of speech. Such monumental ignorance.

[wildeyed]

20. I have nothing against success or getting rich.

I strive for those things myself. It is the image of the closing door that is disturbing. I want all children in this country to have a chance at a decent education and economic success. If we bar the door to them, eventually the only leadership we will have to choose from are these prep school punks from rich families. I guess that is their point, but our country will suffer for it.

What is funny, the kid who wrote that envisions himself as one on the inside. The reality is, they likely don't want him either. He won't qualify for the exclusive club. He will find himself on the outside just like the rest of us mere mortals.

[hang a left]

13. It changed me as well.

I am in the camp of those that believe the election was stolen. Pre-election I still had hope. I didn't think there was a way in hell ** would be elected. I figured that the presidential election would be won in a landslide and it would never be close enough for them to steal. Thanks to the media and the bullshit polls telling the population how close it was and in the final days before that ** was ahead by 1 or 2 percentage points depending on which channel you were tuned into. I don't ever believe it was that close nor do I believe that with the voter turn out that was had that ** won. I was a landslide however with the vote skimming in the swing states and the vote suppression and fraud taking place they got away with it again.

I am changed in that I no longer believe in the system. And I am sure in the elections to come that the Repukes will gain more seats ala BBV and we are heading down a trail of destruction. The people don't chose their leaders, don't influence policy or laws, or consent after being informed. I am afraid for my children.

[Guns Aximbo]

18. Join the socialist party

at least they aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe in.

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. The Chimp's a great Uniter.

:eyes:

[smirkymonkey]

23. I feel like I had gone from idealism to bitter cynicism overnight.

I am only now just getting to the point where I can stomach coming back to DU to see what is really going on in the world. I just couldn't face it for a few months and went into a very deep depression.

I am so disgusted with the rich and powerful it makes me want to :puke:

[wildeyed]

24. I am still depressed.

I have been spending most of my time in the non-political groups forums. Only recently have I come back to the GD forum. Even now I get overloaded easily and retreat into Cooking and Baking or Books.

[smirkymonkey]

25. Same here! I can only take so much exposure to what is

going on in this country. I really short-circuited after the election and for the sake of my mental health, I need to limit my emotional involvement in politics.

[wildeyed]

26. I am staying narrowly focused on some local issues

where I think I can have an impact. I scan the headlines on national and international news, but other than that, I have been pretty withdrawn. I think I am just licking my wounds until I feel strong enough to focus on the big picture again.