Message to Democrats: Stop the bigotry

The Star (South Chicago) ^ | 11/21/4 | Michael J. Bowers

[SmithL]

Greetings, fellow morons of "Jesustan."

Have you heard that one yet? It's the land of us Midwesterners and Southerners who voted for George Bush.

Jesustan comprises all of America except for the West Coast; the Northeast; and Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Cook County.

Here are some of the things the blue states say about us:

We are untalented; we are stupid; we are violent; we reject modernity and reason; and we hate "slutty abortion vixens" (Ted Rall).

It's all so sick that you might think I'm making it up.

Unfortunately, I am not. Listen:

Geraldine Ferraro, former candidate for vice president, on "Hannity and Colmes":

"Just let me make one point. You were talking about the map before. If indeed all those blue states all got together and seceded from the union, think what would be left for those red states: nothing. There would be no educational system."

Say, Mrs. Ferraro, did you know that the No. 1 SAT state in the nation is nearly always Iowa?

I wonder where these parents educate their kids. Maybe they outsource them to New York, which ranks about No. 40?

Jane Smiley, author from California, writing for the online magazine Slate:

"Ignorance and bloodlust have a long tradition in the United States, especially in the red states ... the error that progressives have consistently committed over the years is to underestimate the vitality of ignorance in America. Listen to what the red state citizens say about themselves, the songs they write … they have a taste for violence."

Say, Ms. Smiley from California, just what state was it where Reginald Denny was bludgeoned with a brick in 1992?

Where 12-year-old Polly Klaas was strangled by a home invader in 1993?

Where O.J. Simpson's ex-wife and Ron Goldman were dispatched — by O.J. himself, it was ruled in his wrongful death trial — in 1994?

Michael Tracey, a journalism professor (imagine that) at Colorado-Boulder:

"It is now clear that for large numbers of Americans, it is still as if modernity never actually happened, that irrationality, unreason, belief in the mystical and supernatural hold sway; larded with an intense and emotional fervency, and a serious willingness to crush those who disagree or are different."

Say, Mr. Tracey, why don't you go arrange a pro-Israel rally at Cal-Berkeley and report back to us on the open minds you encounter?

Ted Rall, cartoonist: "Why shouldn't those of us on the coasts feel superior? We eat better, travel more, dress better, watch cooler movies, earn better salaries, meet more interesting people, listen to better music and know more about what's going on in the world. If you voted for Bush, we accept that we have to share the country with you. We're adjusting to the possibility that there may be more of you than there are of us. But don't demand our respect. You lost it on Nov. 2."

Well, in the first place, Mr. Rall, I want respect from you like I want respect from that guy who killed his pregnant wife Laci. (Gosh, does California have a tradition of bloodlust or something?)

In the second place, did you know that the same two-bedroom condo that I recently bought in Worth for $75,000 would cost you $1 million in Midtown? So, uh, who's the fool?

I can't speak for all in Jesustan, but personally, I find it particularly embittering to be called a gay-hating Jesus freak when I don't even believe in God.

Apologies to my religious friends. No offense intended. I do think the Bible contains much good advice, especially in Proverbs.

But on the whole, to me, religion is superstition. Disputes consist of one believer declaring to another: "My imaginary friend is better than your imaginary friend."

I also find it embittering to be called stupid when as a student I continually scored in the top percentile on tests like the SAT. I hate to sound like I'm full of myself, writing such a thing. But other than irrefutable documentation, what retort is there to the insulters?

Further, I find it embittering to be accused of bloodlust when I still shudder from a memory from age 7: watching older boys capture a frog, stuff a firecracker into its mouth, and then light the firecracker.

Finally, I find it embittering to be accused of anti-modernism when I pay my bills via the Internet; control my lights, heating, cooling and music with my computer mouse; and vacuum my floor with a robot.

Let me digress a moment.

In the 39 months since 9-11, I have concluded this about Islam: Yes, it is true, most of the world's Muslims are not terrorists. But most of the world's terrorists are Muslims.

Unfortunately, this violent minority is the most angry, the most articulate and the most potent. It wields influence beyond its numbers.

As Crane Brinton illustrated in his 1938 classic "Anatomy of Revolution" Moderates don't win revolutions; extremists win them.

Now in the three weeks since the last election, I have concluded this about the other party: Most of America's Democrats are not bigots. But most of America's bigots are Democrats.

Unfortunately, again, this hateful minority is the most angry, the most articulate, the most potent. It wields influence beyond its numbers. It wins revolutions.

Thus, my counsel to decent Democrats: Stop the haters in your midst now, before they turn your side into the Party of Bigots. They are already well on their way.

[driftless]

A dope that eats well, dresses well, and travels to foreign countries a lot is at the end of the day still a dope. And Rall is the poster child for ignoramuses.

[Mona Lisa2]

Well, in California Kerry got 6,250,561 votes to and 5,114,795 of us voted for W. It might be interesting to find out how many of Kerry's votes were from illegal immigrants and people living on government dole. CA may not be as blue as they think.

I suppose Democrats would say those who voted for W. are "intolerant". But what's been so interesting after this election is watching so many democrats meltdown and show their true colors. They think they can slander and ridicule everyone who voted for Bush. I don't remember seeing so much open bigotry. I guess this is suppose to make us vote for democrats in the future?

[timestax]

[Tench_Coxe]

"Thus, my counsel to decent Democrats: Stop the haters in your midst now, before they turn your side into the Party of Bigots. They are already well on their way."

My counsel would be to do a little introspection and realize that theirs antics are performing a slow burn on the gneral population, that the insults, while not commented on, are being remembered, and that these could slowly turn into an 'us or them' scenario.

[45semi]

Here it is...according to them!
ALL images taken from D.U.

[MarxSux]

That goes for Illinois too.

[The Right Stuff]

excellent advice, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for them to get it.