A 25-30% minority of the worst people in this country are running the show.

[kentuck]

Those are the racists, the haters, the misogynists, the xenophobes. They are the people that exhibit the worst character of America. And they worship Donald Trump, who symbolizes everything they believe in.

Perhaps it is time for America to stand up? And tell these people that do not love this country, that hate immigrants, that despise everything that has made this country great, to sit down and listen.

They are damaging this country and it must stop. They are not the majority, even though they control the spineless Republican Party. They have no decency. They are not patriots. They are doing harm to our nation and they must cease. Their nonsense and stupidity can no longer be tolerated.

Americans have been hesitant for too long as this small minority of hateful and vengeful people attempt to destroy this nation.

Maybe it is time to speak up?

[doc03]

1. Had an encounter with one today, Bengazi, Hillary

Clinton's e-mails, Hillary selling nukes to Russia yada yada yada. I knocked down every point he made but it's a lie.
God these people are stupid!

[guillaumeb]

2. Recommended.

And in the era of Trump. the era of open racism, these racists feel free to speak openly.

In my area, near Chicago, a number of groups have been protesting open expressions of racism by confronting the racists at public meetings.

And the racists complain that we do not respect their right of free speech.

[Tech]

7. I am so glad you are doing this.

I don't know when hate speech became free speech. I guess Trump has made it seem ok, but it is not. It's hard to shame someone who feels no shame, but we must keep trying.

[guillaumeb]

8. Yes, we must confront them.

Trump is the enabler for the open racists.

[ehrnst]

13. How, specifically, do we "confront them?"

Any suggestions on how to avoid the backfire effect that comes from confronting them?

[guillaumeb]

16. I have personally confronted them verbally

a few times in the last 2 years. At public meetings, and at demonstrations. Earlier this month, I listened as a few Trump supporters complained ina public meeting that they felt as if their free speech was being denied.

I got up, interrupted the meeting, and said that yes, it is a shame when white supremacists feel that they cannot openly proclaim their white supremacy without being called out for it.

I then suggested that they start a chapter of the KKK so they could feel free to speak.

[ehrnst]

17. So the confronting then in public is the end goal, not anything else.

That seems like satisfying a wish to blow off steam, and provoke, rather than getting any of them to change or stop doing what they are doing.

Making a public scene more than moving an agenda forward.

Do you think others who have other goals and methods are ineffective?

[guillaumeb]

20. My response was addressing one way that I confront them.

I have engaged some in dialogue, and I also write letters to the local papers.

And I would not claim any expertise on what is the best way to deal with open expressions of racism.

[ehrnst]

21. That's fair. (nt)

[ehrnst]

3. Who isn't "speaking up" or "standing up" that could be?

[kentuck]

4. Just about everyone is tolerating their crap...

Instead of telling them to sit down and shut the fuck up!

[ehrnst]

12. You mean everyone who hasn't, in person. told Trump supporters to "sit down and shut the fuck up"

is "tolerating them."

And by "tolerating them" you mean being 'complicit' with them. Speak for yourself.

I assume that includes you, since I don't know of any news reports about someone telling Trump supporters en mass to "sit down and shut the fuck up."

What other alternatives to "tolerating" this group of people are there? Legal alternatives, I mean.

[Midnight Writer]

5. Christ, my best friend of 60 years has "crossed over". Just spouts ridiculous shit.

Last we talked, he pointed out that you don't see American flags flying or Christian symbols anymore. This, according to him, is because Obama put us all under Sharia Law and you will get arrested for it.

We were in a public park and I pointed out, from where we were standing, six American flags, a Lutheran Church, a parochial school, and several cars with crosses, fish or flag decals. Didn't faze him. This is a well educated professional who has worked as a contractor for companies around the world, and I have never heard anything like this from him before. But he was totally serious and very agitated.

[cilla4progress]

6. Check out Teri Kanefield

her advice is a breath of fresh air.

Link to tweet

?s=19

[rockfordfile]

9. Well thanks to the FBI and CIA getting its butt kicked by Russia by installing Trump.

[JI7]

10. and majority of white people support them

[dalton99a]

14. Trump has made it cool for white America to be openly racist again.

[PETRUS]

15. A much smaller minority than that is "running the show."

But the 25%-30% you refer to are acting much bolder lately.

[uponit7771]

18. Nearly the same percentage that ran the third Reich

[kentuck]

19. Mere coincidence..

I am sure...

[Hortensis]

22. If you haven't spoken up, Kentuck, it really IS way past time.

I've lost a fair number of "friends" over the years for speaking up, as, sadly, have many millions of Americans. Trying to speak on principle and staying away from anything that can be taken as a personal attack doesn't really work. They take any deviation from being with them as being against.

SSo maybe just leap in, speak up for what's right and against what's wrong, and prepare to shed yourself of some of your more despicable acquaintances. You won't be invited to some gatherings any more, but on the plus side you won't be standing there watching people you once were able to like and respect for their good facets make that increasingly impossible.

Btw, my favorite offensive message? That those who do not act and vote to stop the Republicans are in effect as bad as the Republicans.

We all are responsible for, and own, the results of our actions.

Our Democratic nominee OR Trump. There is no third choice.

[Codeine]

23. Or maybe just time to actually vote.

Our voters are lazy and apathetic, only voting when they feel “inspired.” Their voters are far fewer in number and yet they’re always out there, consistently. All the pissing and moaning in the world won’t substitute for people getting off their dead asses occasionally and exercising their franchise.