Posted on 11/09/2007 7:10:57 PM PST by DogByte6RER
MISS MANNERS
It's best to ignore strangers who shout their prejudices Judith Martin
Miss Manners
November 8, 2007
Dear Miss Manners: This evening I found myself waiting in line with two young men who proceeded loudly to proclaim at least five different countries they would like to bomb, and advocated reintroducing the draft so that everyone else would have to share their "sacrifice."
They then loudly branded several political figures they disapproved of with a crude word.
I bit my tongue and waited quietly. Then the people in front of me joined in and, incredibly, they all complained about how persecuted they were and how they should band together and "rule the world" (their words, not mine).
I live in a small, relatively liberal town in a very red state, and this is not the first time something like this has happened. At least once a week, I hear jokes or comments that if not overtly racist, contain racist, sexist or homophobic assumptions.
A few weeks ago, I saw someone in a public place wearing a T-shirt that said "celebrate diversity" covered with an assortment of brightly colored guns.
What should I do in these situations? When the people are strangers, I bite my tongue for the sake of maintaining a civil society. But what do you do when they are relatives?
I don't want this sort of behavior rubbing off on my nieces and nephews, but whenever I express any kind of disapproval, I am labeled overly sensitive or a knee-jerk liberal. It seems I am expected to hold my tongue politely while they offend anyone and everyone they want.
A friend of mine says I should just keep quiet and let these people talk, that they are only embarrassing themselves.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Ping for later purchase.
Dear Miss Manners,
Everywhere I go I see stoooopid liberal bumper stickers with the most annoying slogans such as “Hillary in 08” or “Impeach Bush”...... I am tempted to ram my Ford F-350 truck into the backsides of some of these little weasel Toyota liberal machines..... would it be too intolerant of me to smash a couple of these morons so hard they don’t know what hit them?
Sincerely,
Pissed Off in Peoria
Don’t talk to the bad people.
My neighbor has a Che Guevara T and he stenciled “Murdering Commie Bastard” underneath the image....just great!
Everywhere I go I see stoooopid liberal bumper stickers with the most annoying slogans such as “Hillary in 08” or “Impeach Bush”...... I am tempted to ram my Ford F-350 truck into the backsides of some of these little weasel Toyota liberal machines..... would it be too intolerant of me to smash a couple of these morons so hard they don’t know what hit them?
Sincerely,
Pissed Off in Peoria
Dear P.O.P.,
I would advise against rear-ending them. Some may enjoy it or misconstrue your intentions as a come on. Besides, picking hybrids out of your grille after a hard day's work is a chore you shouldn't have to perform.
Miss Manners
“I’m getting very tired of showing tolerance to the intolerant.”
Uh, what?
I came of age in the old days of Houston (airline drive) before it mellowed, and the 3rd ward.
Although the country has changed and mellowed, I still know that if a man is cornered and forced to answer a confrontation it can lead to a death to settle it.
I take the modern liberties, but I still know the old rules, don’t push a man into a direct confrontation unless you are ready to face the old rules of dignity and honor.
I’m tacky enough and passionate enough to want to show it to the world, but a part of me remembers that the public space is for everyone, so I try to restrain my worst impulses.
I clearly have mixed feelings about my message T-shirts, like I said I am driven to indulge today’s liberties, but by making them subtle it allows wiggle room for the people that don’t like them to simply ignore them, and I like them complex enough to not be understood by children.
How magnanimous of the friend to “let people” practice their freedom of speech! Gee, it feels like my freakin birthday!
Dear Miss manners,
I was at a local sporting event when I noticed an adult male talking during the national anthem. He was also wearing a hat. After the last note sounded I pulled him aside and explained proper etiquette for showing respect to the flag and then I kicked his ass. Later as I left the stadium I saw three men burning a U.S. flag. So I also kicked their asses.
That evening as I was leaving the VFW I saw a two young punks mocking a disabled vet in a wheelchair. I explained to the punks that, regardless of the rank he held while he served, you should always pay the highest respect to all military veterans. I described to them how these veterans fought for the very freedom they basks in every second. After I enlightened them on the many sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation great I held them down while the vet kicked their asses.
The next day I was walking by a commie, code-pink, antiwar rally. Several hippies looked very sloppy and were improperly wearing uniform items. I approached them and asked them why. They claimed to be Rangers and Seals and started making outrageous claims that they committed war crimes under the illegal orders of their commanders. After engaging them in conversation I quickly discerned their claims were false, so I kicked their asses.
This caused me to work up an appetite. I entered a local diner where two young boys were playing a video game. One boy had lost the game and said to the other boy, “Your mama wears combat boots!” I took the lad aside and explained that if his mother wore combat boots she would most likely be a vet and therefore could easily kick his ass.
So please remember -
“It is the Veteran, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press.
“It is the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.
“It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.
“It is the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.”
Signed,
A. Grizzled Bear
(This post is a variation of an essay I saw here on FR)
I believe I see her problem. She lives in a very red state.
There are plenty of people I agree with politically that are complete and total jerks.
They make us look bad and only serve to drive away people who might otherwise be inclined to listen to our ideas.
I believe I see her problem. She lives in a very red state.
Well of course! How else will she get a decent economy, safe and polite population and clean, family friendly streets? If only everyone there would think like her it would be perfect!
*agrees with this man*
Thank you Constantine XIII, but we have to admit that LH’s post is the funniest post on the thread.
Here is my translation of that sentence into something a bit more honest:
I hear jokes or comments that are neither racist, sexist, nor homophobic, but I choose to interpret them as such, because I love the smug feeling I get when I manage to convince myself that I have been offended.
I ordered one of the t-shirts below through 0cents (see FR homepage: "Pajama Patrol") several years ago and occasionally wear it down the shore on the boardwalk or around town. The subtlety is perfect, because only political junkie nutbags (from both sides) like us recognize the logo or know what Free Republic is about. And every once in awhile another freeper notices the shirt and introduces him/herself like an old friend, all smiles. By the way, it's a good quality t-shirt, very comfortable, and purchases help support Free Republic.
<}B^)
That is a very elegant T-shirt, it looks great, it is intense, but tasteful and refined, it exudes quality.
How much is it?
I sure am learning quite a bit from you..I didn’t know about those shirts & now need one!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.