[mhking]

My younger brother told me we should "agree to disagree" after I blew up at him yesterday on the phone.

We were talking about the Obama-Keyes race, and he made the crack that "at least he got a black Senator out of the deal."

"What the hell are you talking about, you would have had a black Senator in either event," I replied.

"Well, not really," he said. "After all, Keyes doesn't exactly subscribe to the beliefs of the majority of the black community."

I blew up and completely went off on him. He tried to use the "just agree to disagree" line dismissively on me. That didn't help. I started yelling louder.

Next he tried asking me who was playing ball on the tube.

"I don't know, and I don't care," I yelled.

"I'd better talk to you later," finally said.

"Fine," I yelled, and slammed the phone down.

I haven't talked to him since. I figure he MAY call Sunday -- most likely after he tells my mom that I chewed him out and hung up on him.

"Agree to disagree." I guess the phrase works -- as long as you don't use it as a sneering epithet, which so many libs like to do.

---

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[null and void]

I guess you're officially not black anymore...

[cyborg]

Mary Mitchell's reply to my letter about her Obama column was about the same. ISn't it sad? Also, I thought about complaining to Jet Magazine acting as if Keyes wouldn't be a 'black' senator but it's pointless. I'm sick of agreeing to disagree with liberals though. I only do that with my conservative brethren.

[King Prout]

that phrase is the final card in their deck, a way for them to avoid admitting you have trounced every single point of the belief-set to which they cling.

it really raises my hackles.

[groanup]

FWIT, my brother in law is a writer of books, Harvard graduate and considered intellectual. He and I have begun online debates about two or three times in the past. As soon as I begin to win the debate he says the same thing your brother does: "well, we should agree to disagree, we aren't going to change each other's minds, bs,bs,bs.."

It would be comical if it weren't so sad. He must turn into himself and deny the existence of facts in front of his face to save face.

Don't get too mad at your brother. I'm sure he's a great guy most of the time just like my brother in law. They both got their butt's whacked on Tuesday.

[linear]

Best of luck with your little brother. I'd take family over politics any day though (although I have no idea how I could be related to some of mine - lol).

[rwfromkansas]

Give him a call and say sorry for blowing up or something...politics isn't worth your family.

[Fedora]

I go through that with liberal family members all the time, so I sympathize. At least this election they had the sense not to bring up politics with me--we just talked about other subjects.

[GeronL]

agree to disagree?? After he just said Keyes wasn't black because he disagreed with 'the black majority opinion'???

Then he IS being hypocritical.... even if he is your brother.

[dansangel]

"Agree to disagree." I guess the phrase works -- as long as you don't use it as a sneering epithet, which so many libs like to do.

We can't even do that in my family. After many heated arguments while coming home to FL to visit with family, it was decided that we could no longer - ever - discuss politics.

Now that I am living in FL, the same rule applies. I am considered the black sheep in a liberal family and politics will always remain a taboo subject. It's really very sad.

[fml]

Sorry to hear about your brother.

My mother and I decided to "agree to disagree" over how to react to 911. She hasn't spoken to me in years now.

To a liberal, most of the time "agree to disagree" means "Be quiet and listen to what I have to say"