Is it scarying everyone else?

[redirish28]

My wife was going thru various web pages and with all the Teabaggers/racists/"gay-bashing"/narrow-minded anger and well in general just the hate being shown by Americans to fellow Americans.

Is America really taking a HUGE step backwards in Civil Rights OR have we never taken that step and it is now just being placed in the light?

[BlueGirlRedState]

1. Just look at the comments on news stories

When I read Yahoo news or other online news articles, the comments are so vile and vicious.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

6. And it's any news article too

You can't even read an article about baseball or some movie coming out without some teabagger interjecting Obama into it.

[liberal N proud]

2. These hate mongers were always present, just didn't have a voice

They have been bread from generation to generation with the hate. The hate their grand-pappy had and now they have it and want to share it with the grandkids.

Until recently they had been in the background, squashed by anti hate efforts by the brave that have gone before us. Now they found a common voice around the teabaggers and are taking America back... Back to the 1950's.

[Angry Dragon]

7. I think it may be back to the 1800's

[mr clean]

14. Your right, McPalin...no just Palin let the Jennie out of its bottle. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

34. I just finished a book that says exactly what you did.

When the Germans invaded Hungary during WWll, and began their anti-Jewish pogroms,
the Jews were stunned to find that the non-Jewish community immediately turned on
their Jewish neighbors,despite the fact that everyone had gotten along with no apparent problems for many many generations.

then their is the famous "blue-eyes, brown eyes" experiment of school children that a teacher was stunned to find became over night a "them versus us" behavioral problem.

[mzteris]

3. A whole lot of people never "took that step"

but kept it hidden. Now they're emboldened to speak out and worse.

Prejudice and hate rise when the economy is bad. People are worried about themselves (and people who look like them) - the "other" becomes something to be feared and hated as a rival for resources.

[ananda]

8. Media and billionaires combined have made hate a problem.

Making celebrities out of hate groups and hatemongers, and marginalizing,
ridiculing, and attacking those who speak humanly is what's at play.

Giving hate such a big voice and a huge presence on the media stage
also incites hate crimes.

[txlibdem]

35. You're onto something

How many years of Divide and Conquer does it take for us to all be at each other's throats?

Please wake up citizens! We are under attack and we don't even know it. The wealthy and their bought-and-paid-for politicians (and other ass-kissing helpers) have been waging class warfare against the rest of us for decades.

[gateley]

11. Excellent. nt

[Soral]

4. The problem is they have no respect for anyone else

That's what it comes down to...

Ya, they haven't had a full blown violent outbreak yet, (just 100398390 isolated incidents)

But they don't care about truth and being actually correct on any level... It's just they want to be heard, and like to hear other crazy people agree with them.

[MadMaddie]

18. You are right

They haven't had a violent outbreak yet but we all know it's just a matter of time.They actually want to be violent because they romantacize about it so much.


I think it's more than wanting to be heard, they want to revert back to a time in this country where only a certain race dominated everything and men ruled. We need to be prepared for it and better be able to defend ourselves.

Welcome to DU!:hi:

[Soral]

31. Thanks, also...

I was/am a prominent member of a different political forum/message board.... you will hopefully be seeing tons of me around here...

I have big ideas, and big serious goals for 2012... more to come once I can start creating threads :)

thanks for the welcoming.

[stuntcat]

26. totally, or compassion

It horrifies me that these people call themselves Christians

[notesdev]

5. Blowback from coercive tactics

This stuff is very predictable, when people are forced to accept things they don't want to accept they will react by moving further in the other direction. That is the price of using coercion and force to impose change on the unwilling.

[RaleighNCDUer]

10. Yeah, it's just awful, all those interracial and gay marriages we forced

on them.

[notesdev]

15. That's not it

I'm talking about things that were and continue to be forced on people. For example, the great majority of people in this country may tolerate homosexuality but are not at all comfortable with it and if given the choice would elect not to do business with homosexuals who make their sexuality public. Since the law provides penalties for those who do so, these people will find other outlets for their beliefs. Rightly or wrongly the choice has been taken from them by force, and there are consequences to that.

[hatrack]

21. I'm surprised you didn't mention it being "forced down their throats" - a current favorite

Sorry I took you off "Ignore".

[notesdev]

22. That's because I'm using logic and reason rather than rhetoric

You can complain all you like that your countrymen are bigoted but that's not going to change how people feel one bit, other than to make them dig in to their positions.

Gay rights would make much faster - and more long-lasting - progress if there were a bit of sensibility towards how the bulk of the electorate feels on the matter.

Just look at poor Valerie Jarrett getting stomped on for a couple of poorly-chosen words, and you might understand the great groundswell of resentment that has been building.

Of course since you prefer to "ignore" rather than engage and debate those opinions which don't accord with your own, don't come running to me when you get surprised by the results.

[Bluenorthwest]

27. You are using mendacious statements, not logic.

You are also making continued claims about 'great majorities' and 'the bulk of the electorate' but you do not, because you can not, cite any back up to those claims.

[NMMNG]

29. Surely you jest

We've spent the past several decades pussy footing around the "sensibilities" of those who choose to be anti-gay. It's time to recognize the fact that a good number of them are never going to change, and it's futile to bother trying to reach them. We either progress in spite of them or we let them keep us in the Dark Ages.

[RaleighNCDUer]

30. Either you are trolling, or you don't know what the fuck you are talking about.

Bigotry exists in the absence of knowledge. Some of the most racist people I've ever met were from lily-white states and knew ZERO people of color. Even the racists in the south were most vociferous in their bigotry against 'northern agitators' - them uppity northern negroes and the New York Jews who got them riled up - while they were just fine with 'their own negroes'.

Maybe MLK should have spent his career in the pulpit and eschewed the marches and TV publicity - after all, it just made white folks uncomfortable and they were the bulk of the electorate, after all.

In case you hadn't noticed, it is not the uncomfortable antis that are 'stomping' Valerie Jarrett for her use of a bigoted phrase. It's the people who she professes to empathize with while using anti-empathic language.

Well, fuck, some of my best friends are faggots.

Join the 21st century.

[Bluenorthwest]

24. Just not correct at all. At all.

In the majority of the States, it is perfectly legal to openly discriminate against GLBT people in housing, in employment, in anything. The law does not provide these 'penalties' you claim, not at all. The bigots are allowed free expression of their bigotry toward gay people.
This claim that people are 'forced' to 'do business' with gay people is a false one.

[ChiciB1]

9. IMO, We Are Taking A BIG Step Back! While Agree That There Is A

GREAT deal of racism still around, the YOUNGER generation certainly has proven that it's NOT so much THEM as it is STILL the older White Men & to some extent, taking their lead by their husbands... WHITE WOMEN!

I won't say it's among the more educated white women who have the guts to stand up to ignoramus, uninformed women, but many women who think the sun rises or sets with "their man!" This is just my opinion because I live in a state that many may not feel is all that southern, but is still SOUTHERN ENOUGH that it's evident to me! Not too far away from where I live there is a town that so many of us refer to as "redneck town" and it's well known for being not only racist, but generally BACK WARDS! I won't name the town, but if one were to ask about the town, I'd bet almost 9 out of 10 people would know which one I'm talking about.

And I live down the road from a city that is known as the "cultural center of the south" so it sort of means to me that some places will NEVER change.

Having said all that, for me it's not only racism, it's a general feeling of how helpless so many of us feel. I just opened my windows today for the first time since last spring and felt a little of my depression lift, but I've been finding myself for months now just NOT WANTING TO GET UP IN THE MORNING! And I live in Florida... THE SUNSHINE STATE, so I can only imagine what it must be like for so many who live in states that wake up to gray skies many days of the week. I feel like a wet rag that has been rung out one too many times!

Sorry, but I guess I'm still feeling a lot of despair and can't see the light. We have an election coming up here in Florida and the pit in my stomach may well turn into an ulcer after November 2nd and I wonder if I can take anymore of it.

Sorry, got off subject.

[RaleighNCDUer]

32. "Cultural center of the south"

Disneyworld?

[backscatter712]

33. I'm betting he was talking about Stone Mountain.

Redneck Mecca....

[ChiciB1]

36. Not Disney, Nor Stone Mountain... That's On The OTHER Coast. I Live

SOUTH of Tampa and the other town I'm talking about is only about 45 minutes to and hour away! Where I live, many celebrities have 2nd and third and some even more homes here. My son happened to work for one person who owned 6 homes here at one time. That person has now sold everyone of them at a GREAT loss, but then they had enough moolah to take the tax write off!

And I'm a SHE... the name is pronounced "Chickie" and NOT one I gave to myself, but it is a nick-name. Just thought I would add the tidbit because I get called a "he" at lot.

[backscatter712]

42. Ah. You've got me stumped then.

Apologies for mixing up your gender. :hi:

[gateley]

12. Yes. I often wonder if this country has ever been so divided by hatred. nt

[Scuba]

13. Well, there is a scary part....

...and that is the fact the MSM didn't ignore these nutbags like they ignore other kooks.


edited for spelling.

[Caliman73]

38. There is no real money to be made from left wing kooks.

Our kooks are sometimes, although rarely dangerous. They are typically the ones dressed in rainbow leotards dancing around for pot legalization, or doing performance art to try and end a war. That is boring to the MSM. No ratings there. The right wing crazies on the other hand, are talking about armed rebellion. They throw bricks through windows and try to tap telephones. They are dangerous and there is plenty of money and ratings to be had promoting fear.

[Scuba]

44. Bingo!

[BeFree]

16. Out of the closet

The roaches are coming out in force.

They've always been there. Every time good liberals light up the times with blinding light of liberty and equality, the roaches get uncomfortable and begin squirming.

Just keep spraying them with our natural pesticide: Love.

[MadMaddie]

17. I believe it has always been fermenting below the surface

held back by common descency. Now that the Republicans have allowed anger to replace dialog it is out in the open.

If anything catstrophic happens in this country I will blame the Republican/TeaParty for it.

[pipi_k]

19. Well you don't have to go very far

to see hate, to tell the truth.

It's right here on DU almost every day.


People hating cops, teachers, Republicans, Tea Baggers, celebrities who perform at another hated celebrity's wedding, people in their own political party, people who misspeak or have a different opinion...

Of course, the haters always think they have a perfectly valid reason for it, but hate is hate.

I think it's hypocrisy at its highest (or lowest) for people to ride around on their high horses pointing out hatred from someone else when they have just as much hatred. Not directing this at you, or anyone in particular...just something I've noticed.

:shrug:

[seabeyond]

20. yes we took steps forward with all 'isms. and we are pedaling backward with all 'isms

sexism is pretty strong now, too.

[MrScorpio]

23. It's called "Polarization"...

And it happened pretty damn quick.

[Lucian]

25. America is taking a huge step backwards on everything.

[stuntcat]

28. +1

We'll see how the elections go.

[Bheleu]

39. My biggest concern...

Right now there is a lot of momentum around the country that is not boding well for us. My biggest concern is that both House and Senate get lost.

Do you know what happens if both offices are lost?
House = Speaker of the House
Senate = Pro Temp of the Senate

These offices are important by their own right; however, they hold a key position in the succession of presidents for when things go ill. Nancy has been the line-blocker so far. Losing these offices changes the entire game, leaving the Presidency wide open for change as early as next year: to be removed from office either through crimes of hate or a coup to make him the first President to be successfully impeached.

The stability of our country, our economy, and our social ties to one another would be horribly affected if either of these were to occur. A step back to the 1950's in the reaction of the people is probably correct. We will see how the elections go, and either breath a sigh of relief or prepare for the worst. The only thing you can do now is to try to get out the vote. Maybe yours will be the one that helps to prevent this kind of scenario. This is a worst case scenario, but then again it is my biggest concern. Has nobody else worried about this?

[Initech]

40. As long as Limpballs, Hannity, Beck, and so on get free reign, we'll never truly move forward.

[Caliman73]

37. Used to it. Don't like it, but used to it.

The steps that we as a nation have taken have been legal and are a result of the tremendous efforts of a coalition of people fighting for equality. The problem is that legal solutions affect attitudes very slowly and serve to entrench those of many on the losing side. There has always been bigotry and racism in this country. I have been a frequent recipient of "Dirty Mexican" or "Do you speak English" or merely people walking across the street clutching their purse to avoid me, so I have seen the legal steps but the attitudes die hard.

What we are seeing is the backlash against what some perceive as a fundamental shift in the way they have to live. People who have enjoyed a status that was always questionable, but not always questioned have been having to answer for the effects of that status. They are tired and feel put upon for having to defend their supposed superiority. They feel threatened for the mere fact that they are not allowed to be openly racist and discriminatory.

[GoCubsGo]

41. It's always been like that.

I remember it being that way even when Idiot Boy was in the White House. CNN, Yahoo!, any place, pretty much. I sometimes wonder if those types have nothing better to do than sit around spewing their shit on the Internet, while the rest of us are off doing more constructive things. I understand some of them get paid to do that, as it's often the same idiots day after day.

[NeedleCast]

43. "Is America really taking a HUGE step backwards in Civil Rights ..."

No, these people have always been around and in the past, they've been around in much greater numbers than before. In terms of most civil rights issues, these folks used to be the majority. Now they're a minority of ignorant folk who have, unfortunately, been given an media outlet to express their level of crazy.

[NMMNG]

45. Some people

are just having a very difficult time realizing this is the 21st century. They think Leave it to Beaver was a reality show. What's worse, actually believe the propaganda that life was perfect (The Good Old Days) when "certain types" didn't have any rights and were kept silent and under control. After all, they didn't have "these problems" when whites were in charge, women were only in the kitchen, black people were servants, little kids were forced to pray to the Christian in school, and homosexuals were killed by mobs.

[political_Dem]

46. RW radio started the planting the seeds.

Add ruthless, uncaring leadership hell bent on the Southern Strategy. By the time Mr. Obama comes to office, all it takes is a spark to ignite the napalm of hatred boiling under the surface.

All that preaching against multiculturalism, LGBTQI rights and women's liberation and the Teabagging army is unleashed to make sure "Change" doesn't happen. All of this hatred is playing right into the RW's hands. Their climb back to power is nearly complete when the media continues to report about the disaffected left.

You see, a white President can do anything he wants to mess up the country and all is well. But a black President is brought to power and all hell breaks loose--even to the point of politicians dressing up as Nazis along with Confederate History Month.

The republicans profit when there is hatred, chaos and division in our country. They didn't even have to do the heavy lifting this time. :(