One of the guys who fits this class of friends for me, (He is now deceased) was a huge supporter of Cindy Sheehan. I was going to get into an argument with him and I thought better of it and suggested we instead just find another topic. This turns out to be the smartest move I ever made. He was like a Grandfater to my youngest daughter and a huge aid when she was in real trouble.. and I didn’t know where to turn. And, when I needed to borrow a truck to carry flags to a Patriot Guard function, he handed over his keys without a blink.
This game of burning off friendships because of politics.. not smart.. not smart at all. I never changed his mind or vote but we found much in common outside of this and I don’t regret it at all.
I accept that you can share some common interests with SOME liberals, but those are exceptional cases. Committed liberals would trample you and your family’s liberties in a heartbeat. Again, I harbor no illusions about the left and their designs on our republic. These are not people you can trust.
Four things in particular concern me about the Left:
1) Their inate ability to ignore facts, logic and the lessons of history. You simply cannot hold a rational or constructive conversation with people who have that kind of defensive mindset. Its also toxic being around such intolerant people.
2) Their lust for power and control. They want to control every aspect of our lives; which in fact they already do as their ever expanding government now has its hands in virtually everything we do. We on the other hand want liberty and freedom. You cannot reconcile those differences or ever close that gap.
3) Their disreagrd for civility, rules, our heritage, and indeed the Constitution itself. No more words are necessary here. The danger posed should be self evident.
4) Most liberals view conservatives as demented, inferior, detestable. To them we are objects to be defeated, manipulated and ruled.
The point is liberals do not respect the rights of the individual, which is the very foundation upon which our conservative beliefs rest. It is something we cherish above all else, except our religion (which the Left also generally disparages and marginalizes). I have a hard time accepting the notion that people like this can ever truely be your friends.
I have worked around and have known tons of liberals. Its funny that you never hear any of them say how proud they are to have conservative friends. Its always conservatives justifying their “friendship” with liberals.