Got some static about my Kerry/Edwards sticker today...

[vinessa4freedom]

We are having a freakishly warm day-it got to almost 60 today (although storms tonight and blizzard due tomorrow) anyway, being so warm, I had grabbed my Yankees windbreaker, which still has the Kerry/Edwards stronger America sticker on it). I was at school today, waiting to see an advisement councelor. Another student, somewhere near my own age, laughed and said--"I see you got a deal. You have two losers on one jacket". I so wanted to punch this asshole, but I restrained myself. I looked him dead in the eye and responded "Well, there is a big difference. The Yankees lost legitimately, and the Red Sox didn't cheat." There were about 30 people in that room, and you could have heard a pin drop. The conversation that ensued was wonderful. I battled every point calmly, and explained things to the guy in a way that did not give away the fact that I thought he was a "moran." A room full of 30 kids heard the points I made, and they were listening. Thanks for the great advice and for helping me learn to bite my tongue...well sometimes, anyway.


On edit: The conversation was about Kerry, not baseball.

[whometense]

1. Count me impressed!

It's one thing to know you ought to bite your tongue, and quite another to actually do it!

BTW, I had a Kerry-Edwards sticker on my windbreaker too till last weekend, dating from election day. I finally took it off, but my Kerry button's never coming off.

[TayTay]

2. You guys are so sweet

9deleted, off topic.)

That was quite the trick. To get a room full of people's attention is something. To keep it is even more of a something. Kudos to you!

[vinessa4freedom]

4. the kudos go to the group of kids that listened

to a political discussion. It was a beautiful thing. He was defensive at first, and I still don't think I had him, but the questions he was asking were setting me up to inform the younger people. Flip-flopping was specifically mentioned. The whole military service smear thing. At least the people in that room now have one small point of reference other than Fox news. Maybe they'll ask questions. Maybe they'll go digging. I don't know, but it felt a lot more powerful than biting back with a dig that didn't get me anywhere.

[vinessa4freedom]

3. Ginny had a post a while back

where she referred to how John Kerry acts under fire, and how we could take a cue from him. I'm usually a hot head when someone gets in my face.

[WildEyedLiberal]

5. Me too

My first reaction is anger. I do need to take a page from John's book, and just destroy them with a level voice and a smile on my face.

BTW, :yourock:

[vinessa4freedom]

6. You are too cool

I know...it is so hard, especially in person when someone just walks up to you and drops a bomb like that. I still need work, and my blood pressure hasn't gotten the message, but I'm learning. :)

[angrydemocrat]

7. Guilty As Charged

I have to say I let my anger take over when I shouldn't. And It's my own fault but ever since I joined DU my anger is worse than ever along with the language that comes out my mouth. And I need to get back to normal and quit. But it is easier said than done when you get that angry. Its a good that words can't kill anyone because the way I have gotten I would have killed off many by now. But as I said thats my fault for getting to that point to start with.

[WildEyedLiberal]

8. It's hard not to get pissed

And when I do I jus head on back here to the Oasis, or just remove myself from the situation entirely and try to relax. If I'm confronted in public, I try to stay calm, but it's hard not to condescend to the morans. How can you disguise your disgust when you think someone is a complete and total fool?

[vinessa4freedom]

10. This place is great

I found myself thinking of you guys today when I was out in the real world dealing with it. The real beauty was that by letting him go on he made it obvious to everybody else that he was a turkey. That was kind of cool. I didn't have to convince anybody, he did a great job of it all by himself.

I have to tell you though my hands were shaking from the effort of not ripping him a new one. Matt was with me (my hubby) and I think he was a bit disappointed. He gets all excited when I go off on somebody.

[vinessa4freedom]

9. Well, I don't think there's anything wrong with the rants

Sometimes we just need to spew them out, and woman-you do a great job of it. I love to read them. Sometimes, even when an issue is serious and pisses me off, the way you rant about it is so beautifully effective at communicating the way we all feel, that it makes me laugh. That helps me cope. And feel like my feelings don't alienate me. And being able to laugh at the height of pissed is wonderful therapy, and does help to plunge into the issue again with a fresher perspective.

Do you find that ranting helps vent the anger?