Called Out My Cousin For Being A Hypocrite On FB Tonight

[ChoppinBroccoli]

As some of you may remember, I had a heated discussion about a week ago with my cousin (who is female) over the fact that the Senate Republicans all voted against pay equality for women. Rather than being indignant and offended that she, as a woman, was being discriminated against while the Republicans sat back and enabled it, she was actually PROUD that the Republicans were voting, and I quote, "to keep government the hell out of our business." That argument ended the way MOST arguments with right-wingers end (especially when they can't defend their own illogical beliefs), with her telling me, "I'm done listening to your ranting."

Well, tonight she made another post on her Facebook page. Apparently her "pet issue" is human trafficking and women/girls being brought to this country to be sold into slavery and/or the sex trade. She posted an article from the Dayton Daily News about how a bipartisan bill to end human trafficking in Ohio might be coming up for a vote in the Ohio Senate next week. So I, being the natural instigator and unrepentant smartass that I am, made the following reply: "Naturally, you're hoping this bill goes down in flames. Wouldn't want that pesky government interfering in our business, would we?"

This was her reply to me: "Stop being such an @$$."

Not only did that reply make me laugh out loud, but anyone who knows me well knows that I actually take pride in being an asshole to certain people. I was so proud that I had driven her to that point that I made it my new Facebook status (and told her I was going to do it, too). So if you're my friend on Facebook, you'll see that my status is, "_______ is being an ass." Plus, I don't really like this particular cousin all that much (and never have, even going back to when I was a little kid--my instincts about people are almost never wrong). That entire side of the family, for that matter. And when my wife asked me why I keep antagonizing them, I told her that I simply WON'T REST until I'm unfriended by that entire side of the family.

Somehow, that side of the family (my Mom's side) is a bunch of right-wing religious nuts (how they got that way, I have no idea, because they are about the most f'ed up group you've ever seen in your life--yeah, the aunt who has been divorced three times, and has a child from a man she had a one-night stand with is now a Jesus freak, and her hellraiser kids who all but one, at one time or another, have all had issues with drugs, infidelity, you name it, are too). After my grandparents died, they fought over every little thing, and they even set up little scams to try to get more money than they were entitled to, which was what caused the rift with my Mom, the only sane and honest person on that side of the family, and ironically, now the only one who's not a Bible-basher. But they all live out of State, and I probably will never see any of them again, which is perfectly fine with me. On the other side of that coin, my Dad's side of the family, who I see at Thanksgiving every year (all of them) are SOOOOOO much better. They follow the family tradition of being staunch Democrats, and when the dinner conversation turns to politics, it's the only family gathering I attend where I don't cringe at the idea of some right-wing asshole spewing hatred at the dinner table (my wife's family are all hardcore right-wingers, and none are capable of having a civil conversation about political issues). It actually struck me how refreshing it was to have a political conversation amongst a large gathering of people where nobody got angry and started becoming borderline violent. What a lovely change. Now I'm sad that it only happens once a year.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand, now I wish I'd actually written out my ENTIRE thought on the subject, which would have been something along the lines of, "You're upset about the victimization of women, but only to a certain point. You want the government to step in and save them from being slaves or prostitutes, but to butt the hell out of their business if they want equal pay."

[Toucano]

1. It think the abbreviated version is just fine.

Brevity is the soul of wit, and she obviously got the message.

[ShamelessHussy]

2. you would like to think that showing them the error of their ways would benefit them

however, it apparently just makes them cling even tighter :shakes-head:

thanks for sharing, it made me lol a couple times, too :hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. My son's girlfriend's parents are 'right wing Christian conservative tea party supporters'

That's what his girlfriend calls them. Her exact words.

Her mom watches Nancy Grace daily. And Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck. Her dad doesn't watch these shows but girlfriend tells me he's a racist who hates Obama.

Girlfriend is a liberal and fights with her parents all the time. (Ya think?)

When Girlfriend was 13 or 14, she got caught smoking pot and her parents sent her to rehab. (I honestly think that blew me away more than learning about their politics.)

Now my son tells me he thinks he wants to marry this girl. We just love her. We're thrilled for him. But I really don't look forward to family gatherings with these wingnuts. :scared:

[evlbstrd]

4. He's engaged?

That's so cool! Invite me to the wedding and you'll never be bothered by the in-laws again.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. No not engaged yet

Looks likely though.

And you know you'll be invited to the wedding. :)

[ChoppinBroccoli]

5. I Can Relate, libKansan

My wife was a hardcore right-wing Republican just like her family when I first met her. After being with me a few years and actually hearing the other side of the argument, she decided that what I was telling her made more sense than what she was hearing on the right, and she actually switched. She's a liberal Democrat now. But here's the rub (and you should warn your son about this phenomenon too): her Father now blames me for "corrupting" and/or "brainwashing" his daughter. We get along fine most of the time, just as long as politics is never discussed, but I just know that deep down, he sees me as the interloper who turned his little girl against him. My wife finds this patently offensive, because it's essentially him saying to her, "You're not smart enough to hear an issue and make up your OWN mind, so you MUST have been brainwashed by this guy you're now married to."

So, as I said, just warn your son that if he does marry this girl, there are going to be some disputes with the in-laws. The way I handle it is to just never talk about politics when I'm around him. And if he brings it up, I just don't bite and/or change the subject. We've gotten along well for several years now just by avoiding that topic altogether.

So just be forewarned that your son is going to be the focus of their hatred for a while until he ingratiates himself into the family fully. As far as my parents and her parents getting along, it's usually not a problem at all. Again, the topic usually never comes up, and when it does, it's quickly dismissed. Besides, how often do the two families really intermingle? In our case, it's only at birthday parties for the mutual grandchildren. So I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just tell your son that he might have to swallow his pride and not allow himself to be sucked into arguments for a while, in the interest of fostering good family relations.

[tblue37]

7. Sounds like it will be a running battle, like Archie Bunker's

endless arguments with his liberal son-in-law, whom he always called "Meathead."

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. What worries me most

is that her parents are so different from us. Completely different values. I'm hoping that won't lead to conflict for them as a couple down the road. Girlfriend seems very progressive now but I've seen young adults grow up and take on their parent's values as they have kids and get settled into careers. And I think she's rebelling from her folks now. Eventually she'll want to be friends with them. And maybe go back to church, etc. This could be a recipe for disaster.

That worries me more than talking politics with them at family gatherings. Like you said, that can be avoided. But I still dread it :)

[DiverDave]

9. She's going to do what she is going to do

and nobody can stop her.
Least of all your son.
If she is loving and caring to your son, then he should marry her.
My mom and dad were married 15 times between them so I've seen my share of
problems.
I've been married 2.5 times, a tale too long to get into here.
What I'm trying to say is if anyone can find love in
this fucked up world I say go for it.
And work out everything else later.