Email exchange with a liberal friend

Self

[Phsstpok]

I recently began an email exchange with a friend from high school I hadn't spoke with in many years.  We got in touch around the 30th reunion of our high school class (which included Mara Liasson of NPR and Fox News, of all people).  She is a very liberal Democrat.  For the last few months she has been generous enough to forward me every bit of leftist filth she can get her hands on that attacks GWB.  I've generally ignored it.  Finally I got fed up last week and responded.  She had sent me a poem which claimed to be made up of Bush's malapropisms.  I responded by pointing out that she should only criticize Bush in this way if she could explain anything that John Kerry ever said in his life, particularly the tortured statements recently where he seems to contradict himself three of four times within a single sentence.  Well, that set her off.  She responded with several emails with increasing vitriol and spite.  I responded to each one, refuting all of her claims and charges against Bush, Republicans and conservatives, with a lot of anecdotes and information gleaned here on Free Republic.

My last email from her had the following diatribe:

Tell me, who in Iraq was on those planes going into the World Trade Center? That is a whole different ballgame. Afganistan is one thing. Iraq is another. No one protested or argued when we went into Afganistan after we were attacked. We went into Iraq to get rid of nonexistant weapons of mass destruction and Saddam. George wanted to avenge his father's embarrassment. And the UN was ignored. WWII was entirely different. And, we didn't get involved in that war until we were attacked. What makes the US the almighty father figure of the world? Why our boys? Sorry to hear your son will be added to the list of my friends with sons in Iraq. It breaks my heart worrying about them all.  
 

Below is my response to her.  She has not responded to me in several days.  I just wanted to share this.  By the way, we were both raised in the most Jewish community in the US (in the world, outside Israel).  She is Jewish and I am a non-chruch going Christin (long story having to do with cynicism about liberal ministers).  Earlier she had sent me a long piece about the new anti-Semitism in Europe.  She was shocked that I agreed.  She assumed that I was an anti-Semite "Nazi" because I'm conservative.  Go figure.

I would appreciate any CONSTRUCTIVE comments on my reply to my friend as further ammunition, in case she ever gets back to me.  I'm willing to bet she has gotten back to me because she's gone to friends in the dim party to gather ammunition.  I figured I'd stock up here, just in case <g>.

[Phsstpok]

if it were me, I wouldn't have a political discussion with a friend who shared the opposite views I did. It just leads to frustration and anger

Unfortunately I've found that this is a position that leftist are counting on. They feel that they are free to argue any ludicrous position they want because we will choose the "high road" and avoid challenging them on their ludicrous bile. I have sworn that I won't tolerate any BS, from friend or foe. It's too important this time. We can't just "get along." If we don't challenge them EVERY TIME that they utter an untruth then we not only lose, we DIE.

Commity is one thing. Suicide is way out of line.

[not_apathetic_anymore]

we don't challenge them EVERY TIME that they utter an untruth then we not only lose, we DIE.

I think you're right. I hate confrontation. I mean I really go out of my way to avoid it. But about 2 years ago I changed jobs and now am working with a bunch of VERY liberal / leftists. I decided I'd go crazy if I absorbed all their venom every day and didn't reply. I don't think I've changed any minds. But we've gone enough rounds so that they don't bring it up around me. If they do I make them defend their position and keep bringing them back to the point until they respond with "well I don't know". As much as I hate getting in there and mixing it up...I agree it's necessary. Plus by responding to you I'm bookmarking that wonderful response to use as my ammunition for next time...Thanks

[Rebelbase]

Outstanding response. Bookmarked.

[Jet Jaguar]

Great post! Bookmarked.

[lysie]

WOw! Great response. Bookmarking.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Good response, but I don't think you are going to change your friend's mind.

I think your friend believes what is on a bumper sticker I saw yesterday: The path to hell is littered with Republicans.

Not much you can do about those who do not want to consider other views or who are too stupid to learn. It's probably better to let 'em alone.

One last dig for your friend - Did you happen to mention that, before the Iraq war, the RATs were very critical of 41 for not going in and taking Hussein out during the Gulf War? They said somehting to the effect that that war was a failure for his not having done so.

And, BTW, I don't buy into the concept that Al Gore would have gone into Afghanistan had he won the election. I see his approach as calling some big summit and then tracking down a select few terrorists. That would have been the end of that story, and nothing meaningful would have been done with state-supported terrorism, which is the biggest threat, or the terrorist networks.

[Shiloh7]

"In fact I want to help her. I don't want to defeat her. I want to SAVE her."

You cannot save another person from themself. If they do not want to be "saved"/"helped", they won't be.