Comments on: America the Brave or America the Backwards?

By: James

James — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:16:42 +0000

Its truly amazing that some people get it and others don’t.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:31:03 +0000

Hindsight is 20/20. The actions you take the rest of your life based on your realization will far eclipse the action you didn’t take that day.

I’m really struggling this week- its been shocking to learn how many people I know here who seem completely social, intelligent and humanistic, but are ardent Bush supporters, who are homophobic (and aren’t even aware of it… they just see it as protecting their rights, rather than denying anyone else-they don’t get that its hate).

I wonder.. what do I do with those people? By tolerating hate, do we allow it? Then I think… aren’t we asking them to tolerate another view, to allow it? Its incredibly tough to respect people you don’t agree with, but we have to. As long as they respect you back. What your friends did wasn’t respectful. Instead of simply saying we don’t agree with a candidate, we demonize them. The truth is that Palin isn’t evil, McCain isn’t a moron, and the country would not have ended if they won (though I think it would have been a very dark time for a long while). We just disagree with their processes and opinions.

What are we doing wrong that no one can just talk anymore… debate, without becoming violent and angry?

By: Steve Belt

Steve Belt — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:26:37 +0000

I’m a Republican, but I really would hope that if I was at that party, I would have said something. Racism and facism simply don’t belong in our society.

I often struggle at extended family get-togethers, where I have aunts and uncles that are blatantly racist. It bothers me, but given their ages, I know there is no hope for them. They are who they are, even if I don’t agree with them.

And I wouldn’t beat yourself up about not speaking out at the time. In a setting where you are a minority, such as this, that’s extremely difficult to do. That why I said I would HOPE I would speak up. I can’t say for certain I would, though I’m reasonably certain if I didn’t I would feel exactly as you describe now.

By: remi

remi — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:17:56 +0000

let it be known that my jaw dropped.

wow. that’s … uh. not really funny at all.

i don’t even know what to say to that. God help this nation, indeed.
i hope Obama really can help to heal some of the hate.

when i watch Obama talk, i feel hope for the first time in a long time.
maybe Americans can finally feel safe again
can we be kind to strangers instead of being afraid of them?
can we all get along well enough to work together to improve things?

it used to be that Democrats and Republicans would debate by day, and be friendly by night
there’s so much hate, now. arrogance. ignorance. stubbornness. on both sides of the aisle.

we need to start to heal this divide and work *together*

God help this nation, indeed.