“I too get the feeling that some of these folks pretend to be Conservative, American, etc. but in reality have interests which they put ahead of what is best for America.”
Totally agree. However, many would disagree regarding identifying the pretend conservative.
In regards to FR forum commenters, ponder these two quotes that come to mind:
1. “Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism:
The right to criticize.
The right to hold unpopular beliefs.
The right to protest.
The right of independent thought.”
Margaret Chase Smith
2. “Freedom of speech is not what it used to be in America. It has been so abused by some that it is not exercised by others. The American people are sick and tired of seeing innocent people smeared and guilty people whitewashed.”
Margaret Chase Smith
“Democrats are the most tolerant, loving, inclusive, open-minded people in the world as long as you agree with them. If you don’t you are a racist, bigoted, stupid person on the face of this earth”. sadly this concept has been extended here in FR by many to anyone who disagrees with your position on just about everything, but esp about issues surrounding this war in Ukraine.
I don’t claim to know what is going on. I don’t have the certainty that many here claim to have in their posts, but i do have my opinion. That’s all any of us can have. Anyone who claims they know with 100% certainty what is going on and why and disparage those who don’t agree with them as “low IQ”, XYZ stooge…. are not being honest.
I Think(not feel) strongly that my positions are correct, but not to the point that I believe I can’t be wrong about any part of them. In the past I have let my feelings get the better of me and been less than kind to others who disagree with me, and on this forum that is wrong.
Time will hopefully get the truth out about all the events leading up to and during this conflict, but I have my doubts.
People with strongly held beliefs do not often change them even when presented with opposing facts, cognitive dissonance plays a big part in this, and this applies to far more than just this war in Ukraine
The my team vs your team mentality comes to mind and that plays here, in politics, and overall world views.
One personal example is that I have been told that if I support aid to Ukraine, and xiden also supports aid to Ukraine that I am a 100% supporter of him and everything he has done. My reply has been I support xiden on aid to Ukraine, but still disagree with him on the level and restrictions. I say more and no restrictions, xiden signed the PACT act for veterans, and I support that, besides that I can’t think of anything that “he” has done that I do support. But to many here because I support those two things I am a xiden stooge.
As a result of this kind of “thinking”, we are where we are here on FR, and elsewhere
My 2 cents