My 'friend': "I was for Gingrich."

[trof]

He used to be my friend.
We were squadron mates in the air national guard in the 60s.
We were young then, and hotshot fighter pilots.
We were hell on wheels.

He was my best man at my wedding.
I guess we were apolitical back then.
Politics was never a topic of conversation.

50 years later he lives just down the street from me.
Every morning we meet for a 3 mile walk.
I'm 71, he is 72.
Gotta keep moving.
Use it or lose it.


In later life I came to learn that he was very right wing. I think he watches (and believes it) Fox News. And listens to Rush.

In spite of all this we remained friends.
Until a few weeks ago when I brought up something about the 'birthers'.
And then he floored me.
"I don't believe he's an American."
"REALLY? SERIOUSLY YOU DON'T?"
"No."
And then the whole birth certificate thing.
I just quit talking. You can't argue with these people.

Yesterday we were talking about the last campaign.
I said that I thought the Republicans could have done much better than Rmoney. Portman, for example.
"I liked Gingrich. I voted for him in the primary."

It's just damn sad when someone you used to like and be very close to goes totally stupid.
Shit.

[nobodyspecial]

1. I would say if you can avoid talking politics and otherwise like him

why do you have to end the friendship? Does he have other redeeming qualities?

[trof]

5. I usually don't. He brings it up.

I learned a couple of years ago where he was/is politically.
And I just quit talking politics with him.
For a time I thought I could kind of 'bring him along'.
No. Way.

Redeeming qualities?
He's a devout Methodist who still calls blacks "niggers in casual conversation.
He is a world traveled (retired) airline pilot who evidently learned nothing about acceptance of different cultures.
He worked in Saudi Arabia for a couple of years and called them "ragheads" and "sand niggers".
ha-ha


I suffer him now only because of our past relationship.

[nobodyspecial]

9. I think I would avoid him.

Politics is easy enough to avoid, but I couldn't take that racism.

[coalition_unwilling]

11. The 'N-word' is a deal breaker\friendship ender for me. I think I'd like

to know what purpose this bozo still serves in your life or what emotional need he satisfies.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I'm sorry to hear it, my dear trof....

Some people get smarter as they age, and some just solidify.

It is damn sad.

[MrScorpio]

3. It's like tearing away a piece of your heart, bro

It's aways sad to lose a friend.

[No Vested Interest]

4. These things happen every day

Many of us would be very isolated if we just limited ourselves to people who agreed with our political views.

I don't discuss politics with very many unless they bring it up and I find ourselves in relative agreement.
There's no point in trying to change others opinion when they don't want to be changed. It only irritates them and they might say something that would cause me to dislike them, not just their opinion.

I had to give up taking a noncredit course discussing current events because so many stupid thoughts were voiced that I lost respect for those speaking them and would go over it in my head for a day or two.

That's one of the reasons I come to DU every day to get my nourishing supplement, just like taking my vitamins, etc. daily.

[trof]

7. Ya found a good place.

Welcome to DU.

[No Vested Interest]

8. Thanks, Trof.

Yes, I did come to a good place.

BTW - Your friend could have been worse - He could have voted for Bachmann, Santorum, or the pizza guy.

[Mojorabbit]

12. What a perfect way to put it!

That is just how I feel. It IS like taking my political vitamin supplement every day. LOL

[Cirque du So-What]

6. I had a similar experience last year

with a guy I've known for around 15 years. Talk turned to politics and he expressed support for Noot - along with some decidedly teabaggy views on an array issues. Our conversation didn't escalate to the shouting phase, but I let him know how & why I thought he was full of shit. I'm sure our paths will cross again, and I'll be sorely tempted to do my 'I told ya so!' dance.

[Dan]

10. ...he is your friend,

You have traveled a long time together,
You don't have to agree with everything,
but, ultimately, he is your friend...

[No Vested Interest]

14. Correct, Dan

And he would likely come through for you in a pinch -Not necessarily money, but emergencies and just plain help when needed- as you would for him.

[trof]

17. In some sense...I guess. No, not really.

I can't feel 'friendly' to people I don't respect.
And I no longer have any respect for him.
I pity him and his ignorant, bigoted mindset.

It's just no fun to hang out with people who are willfully ignorant.
Try talking intelligently to a wild-ass conspiracy theorist.

I will practice 'tolerance'.
That's the best I can do.

[stultusporcos]

13. People change over time and your journey with him in your

life has reached its end.

You need to move on life is to short.

[No Vested Interest]

15. That's easy to do early in life-

But there comes a time when one knows the preciousness of old friends, especially when their numbers begin to thin out.

[stultusporcos]

16. People come and go throughout our lives for various reasons

these two are on different paths right now perhaps their paths will cross in the future.

Everything also happens for a reason and both have not realized what that reason is.

I have friends all over the world and one thing we all have in common is we never say goodbye, typically we say see you later to each other. We could go decades with out seeing each other and we don't really talk or email either, we are just in and out of each others lives at the right time for each of us.

It is the journey we happen to be on.

[trof]

18. Yes. I'll be cordial.

I'll just never feel the same way about him.