I fear what is happening to our country.

[sorrybushisfromtexas]

As I sit and watch tv, read Democratic Underground Posts, read news on Raw Story and the Huffington Post, I really wonder what has happened to our country. What I see is ignorance personified on the right. The right has become a hate filled mob of scared, gullible, and stupid baby boom generation and older idiots (with a few race mongering White Power advocates thrown in.. They fear our black president,they see the end of white always being right and in the majority, they fear almost everything. It sickens me to see people my age, (60) being so filled with vile ignorance. I live in Texas and have been surrounded by a sea of hatred. When the president is mentioned, I actually see the fear and hear the hatred when my brother and sister talk about him.

They believe anything they hear. My sister, was a liberal until she moved to Oklahoma about 8 years ago and was married to a life long Republican. Even though her son is in the middle of three of the issues where you most often hear hate, (he is gay and can not find a full time job and does not have insurance) she blames Obama for bringing the hate on to himself. She has been estranged from both of her kids because of her belief. She cries when I talk to her because I will not listen to the nonsense she spouts without confronting her.

I can not talk to my brother without him blaming Obama for abortion and that the health care bill will take his Medicare away. Even though I live blocks from him, I find myself not calling or going by.

My in laws were told yesterday that Obama was going to take away their social security, medicare, and retired military benefits. They are truly scared that they will have to live on the streets. They are in their 80's and they are now being bombarded by hate.

I have quit going to my church because of the hate I hear about our president.

The hope I see is the younger generations. I teach in a middle school. I envision a country where gay and trans gender will have full rights. I see a time when we do have universal health care. I really believe that quality of character will be seen not color of skin My fear is I will not live long enough to see it.

[FrenchieCat]

1. It's racism, and it's been with us forever.

NOw it is there for all to see,
those who thought it was gone or
not noteworthy enough to comment on.
As for those who say it's not racism...
they are lying. period.

[havocmom]

22. While I know racism exists, I heard all the same dire remarks from the RW

when Clinton was president, so one is short sighted to think this is new or about race. The right has been like this for over 30 years.

[rhett o rick]

26. It's willful ignorance. So much easier than dealing with the truth. nm

[Skittles]

2. you should not stereotype

lots of us DUers are baby boomers

[sorrybushisfromtexas]

7. Skittles and so am I

The people you see are mainly old white farts like me. I fear that some of them marched with me against the Vietnam War and the War in Irag. I do not know what has happened to so many of our generation. It does scare me.

[Skittles]

9. the hatred I hear crosses all ages

yup, in Texas

[rurallib]

11. I be one - now I am considered a radical.

once I was in the middle. The PERCEPTION of where the country is has moved. I still believe I am in the middle of America's views.

[nimvg]

3. Tomorrow's Vote...

I envision a country where gay and trans gender will have full rights.

In Texas? Fat chance.

You need to move the hell out of there.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. The USA has to grow up

It really is like a spoilt child.

[rurallib]

5. HC stands as the first chip in the corporations steel- like grip on the government

and what amazes me is the people who will give away everything because some corporate shill tells them to.
If HC is stopped then don't even bother with reforms for Wall Street or card check or immigration.

[Maccagirl]

6. What a sad story

and not only is it true, it's pervasive and real. I don't have an answer-and I'm frightened and pessimistic, but I don't have experience of being around young people like yourself to bolster my spirits. My niece and nephews are Reagan-era babies and they are pretty conservative and have nothing but contempt for my generation.

:cry:

[RKP5637]

8. I'm around the same age, I agree with you all the way. There is an undercurrent

in this country that is quite hateful and troubling, and outfits like Fox and RW talk are making the most of it for profit. These people are being whipped into a frenzy. I do think people like Beck and the like are trying to orchestrate the eventual collapse of this country. It is an unhealthy country. I don't know if it will ever heal, I hope so, but I have my doubts. Hopefully more and more Americans will wake up to what is happening.

[sorrybushisfromtexas]

12. Our hope is with our youth.

Many of them are not bigots when it comes to sexual orientation and are oblivious to race. I hope I am right.

[RKP5637]

21. So do I! If our youth fails us, then I think this country has a long haul ahead of

it, because the rest of the world is going to walk/run right past the US. My concern is the RW brainwashing that is mounting against our youngsters. And at the same time the notion one should be proud to be ignorant and uneducated. I see us becoming the knuckle-dragger's of the world, far from being the leaders in the 21st century.

When young I used to travel considerably internationally, today I am glad I do not as I am no longer very proud of our country. And I feel saddened to say that. I think we look like fools. Hopefully the international audience sees past the tea baggers, hate mongers and the rest, I just don't know, but I read many unflattering remarks about the NEW US.

[LiberalLoner]

18. I really believe those demagogues will lead us into another civil war. They will destroy

our country, and we won't lift a finger to stop them because we believe in free speech. It's like watching a slow-motion train wreck. You watch it happening, and know what comes next, and each of us is completely powerless to stop it.

I've also stopped talking with some of my older relatives because of politics - they spew all day long about what Rush and Beck told them, and don't talk or think about anything else. They keep their AM radio and Faux News on all day long and simmer with hatred. It really is frightening.

[RKP5637]

27. I get that feeling too, like a slow-motion train wreck. It makes me uneasy

as I had this same feeling in five really major good corporations I worked in and they are all gone now, failed, and they were at the top of the heap. A number of us saw it coming, but at our level we were powerless, we watched it coming, some of us jumped ship and survived. It was very uncomfortable and I'll be damn if I don't have that same exact feeling now with the US. It was easier back then, started sending out resumes... but you can't jump around counties unless you have a ton of money, not me.

I know some people like your relatives you mentioned, they seem hypnotized by the hatred being spewed by RW media. I'm not saying I'm a fortune teller, but I've always had a good sense of a failing corporation and it bothers me now with our country because I am seeing the potential for the right spark for demagogues to lead us into another civil war or something. In fact, some of them are still fighting the last one. It's very concerning what unleashed uninhibited hatred can do. And I am furious with outfits like Fox News and similar working to undermine and destroy the country for their profit.

[Lilyeye]

10. I know how you feel because the same thing has happened with people in my family.

It really is sad and disgusting to see.

[babylonsister]

13. As trying as it might be, is there any possibility of educating anyone

you mentioned, like your in-laws who are too old to live in such fear? That's just ignorance; you could prove to them their fears are unfounded.

I'll start you with this:

Veterans Care to be Unchanged under Health Care Reform

http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3838

[rhett o rick]

24. I am afraid it's willful ignorance. The media has been dumbed down, our education has been dumbed

down and now we have a nation of gullibles. They dont want to learn when it's so much more fun to hate. The truth is always harder to take than a lie.

[blogslut]

14. As falls Witchita, so falls Witchita Falls

I just had to mention that most excellent Metheny/Mays song. Maybe it will cheer you up. After all, it's 21 minutes long:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaLiVaWQD7w">part one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT4v7RPsc4I">part two

I hear your pain. I live in the Panhandle and some days the redness of the place drives me to the brink.

[sorrybushisfromtexas]

15. Thanks, I didn't know the song.

I am really surprised there have been so many songs with Wichita Falls in them. Do you remember Zager and Evans song In the Year 2525. Wichita Falls was on the B side of the single.

[blogslut]

19. Okay. I did not know that

And I owned the freaking 45. I guess I should have turned the darned thing over. :)

[NRaleighLiberal]

23. My guitar hero! Saw him do that live way back in 1979 in Burlington VT

and we've seen him dozens of time since. A real progressive (his interview on the DVD extras of The Way Up is superb..)

[libtodeath]

16. They hate black people

NT

[MisterP]

17. well, the WH HAS been talking about "entitlement reform" in the vein of NCLB-style "education reform

so paragraph 4 doesn't really spring from "Obama-hate" or Faux

[napi21]

20. I don't deny there is racism ihnvolved, but I believe that same hate

would have been thrown at Hillary if she had been the winner. Remember all the hate & lies they tried to spread about Bill Clinton!

The Pubbies HATE the Dems and have for as long as I can remember & I'm 66yo. They are very good at managing to spread their lies and have trained their fellow Pubbies to believe everything they are told. The Dems for what ever reason seem incapable of fighting back with the same hard words. With the exception of Alan Grayson, all I ever hear from our Dems are phrases like "With all due respect..." or "My dguished collegue". Well, their opposers are neither distinguished nor do they deserve respect!

I'm just an old lady in a wheelchair who spends way too much time on the computer keeping up with what's going on and willing to argue with anyone I disagree with. The only things Ive found that I can do to fight the hatred being spewed everywhere is to call and write my congress people, and fact check every emal I get from my Pubby friends & relatives, and respond with a link to Fact Check with how wrong they are.

[NRaleighLiberal]

25. Don't forget the size of the bell curve. Lots of people under that big blob.

And for the most part they don't engage their brain, and feed on fear. It is very depressing...and highly embarrassing.

[nevergiveup]

28. Obama was elected president.

Rush, Beck, Rove and Fox News couldn't stop him. Some would even call it a landslide. Obama's approval ratings have remained remarkably stable during the largest recession since the Great Depression. The crackpots always make the most noise. It has always been that way. The good people often lay low during such turmoil but their power and influence is still present. Tomorrow the good guys will speak and the framework for all future health care progress including real universal health care will be set in stone. The Republicans won't be able to undo it and they know it. It is why you see their desperation in these waining days. The bad guys are never going to go away but this time, just like in 2008, they go down in flames. Keep the faith.