Political encounters

Grant · Postby **Grant** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 9:35 am

What are some of the more unusual or particularly hostile encounters have you had with strangers about politics?

Yesterday, while I was working, an older Hispanic man came up to me out of the blue and told me to vote for Bush. I asked him why, and he told me that Kerry was a communist or socialist, and how if I lived in other parts of the world, I would see how evil it is, and how Europe is all socialist and bad. Then he called Kerry a big liar, and that the veterans would never vote for him. Then, I told them that I knew many older vets who will vote for him, and that I won't vote for Bush because I am unhappy with his performance in office. Then, he stared angrily at me for a minute and said that if I don't vote for Bush, don't vote at all! I tol;d him it was my constitutional right to vote for whomever I choose, and he stormed off!

Weird. But, that's the way it's getting around here. I live in a conservative/Republican rat hole. You have people saying all these things about Kerry that should apply to Bush...you have all these young pewople who are voting for Bush and they don't even know why. All they are worried about is Iraq. When I point out to them that Bin Laden is still on the loose, and the job situation is in shambles, they get a blank stare, and ramble on about how safe we are because we have Saddam. Geeez! What makes this more crazy is that we all know soldiers over there that are just sitting ducks.

Patrick M · Postby **Patrick M** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 10:15 am

Yesterday, I got flipped off by an idiot redneck with a "Got Jesus?" bumper sticker. True story.

Dob · Postby **Dob** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 3:21 pm

I avoid discussing politics or religion with strangers, especially if they approach me and attempt to initiate a discussion. In my experience, there won't be any intelligent conversations with such people, because their minds are made up and all they care about is "pitching" something to you.

If you don't agree with them, you're (of course) wrong and perhaps even perceived as an enemy. That becomes clear when their parting shot is a derogatory comment about your ethics or morals.

Dob · Postby **Dob** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 3:36 pm

Patrick M wrote:Yesterday, I got flipped off by an idiot redneck with a "Got Jesus?" bumper sticker. True story.

That was you??? Where the f*ck did you learn how to drive??? Beijing?

You're lucky I didn't realize -- instead of just flipping you off, I would've run you right off the road, tough guy.

Patrick M · Postby **Patrick M** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 3:46 pm

What were you doing in Miamisburg?

Postby **lukpac** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 4:01 pm

Dob wrote:I avoid discussing politics or religion with strangers

Agree.

Which is why I, uh, talk about it here.

Dob · Postby **Dob** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 5:18 pm

Patrick M wrote:What were you doing in Miamisburg?

Attending an IRFJ rally (Idiot Rednecks For Jesus), if you must know. Our slogan - "Jesus loves us, eveyone else thinks we're assholes."

I'm joking, of course. But I've flipped the bird to many people in my 30 years of driving...one of them may have been you.

Dob · Postby **Dob** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 5:25 pm

lukpac wrote:Which is why I, uh, talk about it here.

Well, I'd like to think that we have "intelligent conversations" here...and I believe that there is room for disagreement here as well.