truth is like a lion, it doesn't need defending, simply set it free and it will defend itself
Posted on 02/11/2017 1:14:15 PM PST by Republicanprofessor
Why all the hate? Why do so many of the liberals so viscerally despise Trump and all Republicans who side with him? Was there ever such hate for Obama? I know there were deep policy disputes with Obama, but conservatives were prevented from expressing the kind of hatred we see today for fear of being called “racist.” And, honestly, I never felt hatred for Obama; disagreement, definitely. But not the hatred we see today on the left. In fact, most of Obama’s presidency was enabled for that very reason: Republicans were terrified of that “racist” label, and they did not resist Obama’s policies while today Trump’s very breath is opposed by all liberals with the deepest hatred I have ever seen in this country.
And thus I wonder: why such vicious hatred? Do liberals see themselves as threatened, and has this led to this loathing? Why are liberals more shocked and hateful nowadays than conservatives were eight years ago?
I think it comes down to self-identity. All human beings want to be safe and comfortable; we want to be fed, housed, educated, and reimbursed for the work we do. When our life-styles are threatened, we react.
I think liberals self-define themselves politically more so than conservatives. A liberal friend recently sent me a long list of causes that he supports, over fifteen causes, from abortion to immigration, as if that list defined and defended who he is. “On election day,” he says, “I didn't cry because I hated Trump or was afraid of him, I cried because he showed me that the people of this country are much, much worse than I thought they were.” When liberals see their beliefs threatened, they blame others for not agreeing with them; they riot rather than hear another side by a provocative speaker; they crumble and resort to viciousness and hatred, accusing conservatives of ruining their country and, by extension, their ideals and their lives. This may be because their own identity is intrinsically linked to their liberal politics.
On the contrary, I think conservatives are defined by many more things than political beliefs, and when they lose an election, they are disappointed but they go on with their lives. They realize that there isn’t a great deal that the president can do that affects our daily lives. It is really our own responsibility, our own actions that define our lives and determine our well being. Conservatives do not rely on the government to make us happy, while liberals seem to believe that government’s role is to make all lives better and happier. So when there is a change of government, they cannot cope. They feel their own happiness falling in shreds at their feet, even though no real action has yet affected their lives. Unable to see the other side, nor the possibilities inherent in new policies, they strike out in bitterness and hatred.
As one of my friends noted recently: "Conservatives strongly support the rights, responsibilities, and privileges of the individual, so they tend to be less interested in controlling the thoughts, behaviors, and values of other people. Conversely, liberals believe that individuals must conform to the needs and desires of society, so they have a tendency to want to control the thoughts, ideals, and actions of others."
In case you are interested in my own political journey: I was raised in a Republican household, but while in college, I remember arguing with my father at the dinner table. In college and graduate schools, because of my interest in art, I was of course surrounded by liberals. But I was not politically aware. I never voted for Reagan. I bought all the distortion dealt by the media. I voted for John Anderson, an “independent” vote that I realize was now was totally wasted. I voted for Geraldine Ferraro as VP because she was a woman.
I followed the liberal line, until I became pregnant and then miscarried. My husband, always a stronger conservative than I, asked a simple question about abortion that I had never truly considered: “Is it murder or is it not?” Thus I began to rethink my positions. And then Clarence Thomas came up for the Supreme Court. Living between my studio (in a mill by a waterfall) and our tiny apartment, I listened to every minute of the hearings, only missing the moments walking to and from my car. I was appalled by the bias of NPR and the “lynching” of a black man because he dared to have conservative ideas. The hearings with Anita Hill, the “pubic hair on the coke can” were so outrageous; I did not yet realize how the media could lie. I began listening to alternative voices on the radio. I became a conservative.
Now I am one of the few conservative professors at a state university. I do voice my views on Facebook but not generally around the university. I disagree with many of my colleagues politically, but I don’t hate them. I am dismayed at the liberal bias of so many universities, but there isn’t much that I can do. Some of my professor friends at different universities were shocked when I “came out” on Facebook as a conservative. “What happened to you?!” It was only later that I realized that if my opinions were so foreign to my liberal professor friends, then there was indeed more bias at universities than I had realized. I like to think that my college is more balanced, but that is probably because I only really know my own classes, where I do try to be politically neutral as I point out links between the past and events of today, even in art history classes.
In any event, I do not define myself solely by my politics; there are many other activities in which I take great joy and which define my life. I don’t take political stances in order to be accepted and approved by others. I continued with my life during the Clinton and Obama presidencies, even while questioning their policies. I didn’t sink into depression and hatred when Obamacare was passed in the middle of the night with no Republican votes. However, I did hope for its overturn and a more rational and well-developed plan to replace Obamacare. I am still hoping for this, and the same is true for correcting many of Obama’s other disastrous policies.
What I wish is that liberals would realize is that there is a great deal of apolitical pleasure in the world. Happiness is available through many different channels, and one’s identity should not be at risk because there is a Republican in the White House. The pendulum will doubtless swing back left again in time. I just wish liberals would chill out a bit, cut down on the hatred, and give this president at least a chance to seat his cabinet. It is what they expected, and received, with Obama and what they will expect with next Democratic president.
EXACTLY. Many of us detested Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Bill Ayers, Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid, et al nearly as much if not as much as we despise Obama, and it has NOTHING to do with skin pigmentation.
I have a simpler explanation: Trump intends to reverse the “gains” made by:
Johnson, Carter, Clinton and Obama.
It’s just too much to swallow - if you are a lib.
Why ?
Because of a very LARGE percentage of the left are both communist by indocrination and insane by predilection.
/.02
It’s very weird. I despised Obama, but all I ever did was refer to him as “Bambi,” because i thought he was an absolute idiot. Now I realize he was more intentionally anti-Amercan than I thought, but still, I wouldn’t have been out there screaming insults at him or his followers.
The “moderate” Dem left has been infected by the far-left Occupy, RCP left, where the “personal is the political,” and they simply can’t let this go.
That said, I think there needs to be better police enforcement and protection. It’s a disgrace tha the Dems should have prevented Betsy De Vos from entering the building - without having their heads cracked open by the police. But if you’re a Republican or conservative of any sort, you get no protection. Somebody should remind the police who pays their salaries. It ain’t the unemployed lefties in Mom’s basement.
Darkness hates the light. Light, by its mere existence, invalidates darkness. It makes the dark side look bad, because by its very nature, it shines the light (truth) on it, causing darkness’ demise.
Explains why these folks are desperate to blot out light, at all costs.
The intrinsic ‘trouble’ with reality (truth), is that it simply *is*. Unlike lies, no one has to do anything to create it. It is the foundation of all that truly exists, and Satan doesn’t care for his scam to be exposed.
Interesting days immediately ahead..
I’ve noticed the hate too. It’s always been there, but this election loss has for some reason unleashed so much absolute insanity that it’s scary. From Shia Lebeouff to Ashley Judd to Madonna and About 98% of Hollywood, the outrage is deafening.
I watched a youtube video yesterday where a liberal had a breakdown in Starbucks over Trump and I seriously thought someone should have called 911 to get this person mental help I intervention. Then you have the liberal fight club for college men to take out conservatives on campus and elsewhere.
There is something going on, a civil war of ideas and beliefs, and I think the left just discovered they aren’t winning.
They lost.
The media told them they had it in the bag.
Period
Liberalism is a mental disorder plan and simple
““On election day,” he says, “I didn’t cry because I hated Trump or was afraid of him, I cried because he showed me that the people of this country are much, much worse than I thought they were.” “
Typical liberal who believes that most people are so horribly stupid, deceitful and greedy that they must be monitored and regulated and coerced into proper behavior by OTHER people (him) who are immeasurably more brilliant, trustworthy and altruistic by virtue of just thinking they are better than everyone else.
Talking about the popular vote. They’re convinced that they won it and that Trump isn’t the country’s choice. That has an energizing effect on the Democrats, just like it did in 2000.
Good post.
Organized hatred takes money.
We look at these outbreaks and we think it must be a huge, unplanned outpouring.
It isn’t.
It’s not a great number of people and many of them are paid.
Follow the money. Getting paid to act like you hate is not real hatred. It’s just a job.
Your experience with academia is just groupthink.
It is also the fallacy of perceived excellence in all areas if someone is excellent in one area.
truth is like a lion, it doesn't need defending, simply set it free and it will defend itself
1. Many of the left's behavior are at odds with Judeo-Christian values: family, sanctity of life, faith in God. They are rebelling, fueled by hate.
2. The left is running out of tricks. The are getting more desperate and pushing the edge further in their rebellion.
3. Lack of maturity. Many in the left are unable to cope with rejection (of their ideas, candidates, theology). They are increasingly resorting to violence and browbeating because they cannot compete in the arena of ideas and thought.
It is a mental disorder.
Aren't we all?
‘Was there ever such hatred for Obama?” I hated Obama, and I hated what he was doing to our country. I could not hear his voice; it turned my stomach. I never would have frothed at the mouth, broken windows, burned cars, covered my face and beaten people - etc. to show my hatred. Ours is a country of laws. These people are anarchists. A Republic cannot stand if anarchists win, and I hope to God that they are rounded up and put on some island, preferably with the Muslim immigrants they so admire.
365/332 for Hussein’s elections.
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.