I lost my cool at lunch yesterday

[UpInArms]

I was helping a friend ... (maybe I actually became counter-help - I am retired and I have skills). He is an auctioneer and appraiser and a couple had contacted him to appraise their property...

The husband told my friend that it was a 5 acre property and he felt it was worth more than $250k ... (located a a rural area outside a small town in Iowa) ...

Looking at property is always interesting and I take pictures and notes ... so, off we go ...

The property is a mess ... the guy is a hoarder... unfinished projects abound ... but ... it is actually located near a fairly prosperous little town ... so ... hmmmm ....

We finished our walkthrough and leave ... and stop a a local diner for lunch ...

My friend is a widower and I have known him for 25 years. In 1999, he had Bush signs up outside his auction house ... I made him take them down ... told him I wouldn’t come to his auctions if I had to walk past those signs. He took them down and he and I never talked about politics after that ... I just figured he was a republican and he never said anything else .... (lots of other info ... but too tedious to go into)

Fast forward to yesterday at the diner ....

We have finished our lunch and are talking about the property.... the diner door opens and the client comes in ... to pick up food for lunch ... and sits down at our table while he waits ...

We are pleasant and making small talk.. it have my notes from the job on the table....

Client then starts saying what a great economy this small town has ... and that it is because of tRump ... I say something to the effect that I was not certain that the farmers would agree... and he says something tho the effect of “well, we were getting screwed by our trading partners before trump, so they should get over it” .... and how the dems were against billionaires and that was wrong ... and other nonsense

And off I went ...

So, I started talking and he tried to interrupt and I said ... I listened to you without interrupting, so it was my turn to speak.

I explained that income inequality benefited no one ... that billionaires can only wear one pair of pants at a time, that they cannot spend their money faster than it rebuilds itself ... that taxes under Eisenhower were 90% over a certain level to encourage business to reinvest and pay all employees more...

He then defended trump again by saying he was being picked on ...

And I really blew ...

I looked at him and told him that trump had call our Constitution “phony”, had sacrificed the Kurds for personal gain, had spread hate across our country ... had called for people at his rallies ... which were disgusting for a sitting president... To be beaten and he would pay for lawyer fees .... that he was caging children ... that he thought he could grab women by the pussy ... and then I said that if he was able to support someone like that, I was unable to sit at the same table with him, so I picked up my stuff and got away from that table ...

My friend (was backing me up the entire time ... I was surprised to say the least ... he kept saying “she’s right, you know”)

By this time, of course the whole place is watching ... (god I hate scenes, but I do have a bad habit of creating them ... I don’t stay shut up very well)

Well, when I moved, my friend decided to get up also and he heads for the door ... but the guy stops me in front of the counter one more time ... by now, I am in full fledged form ...

I turn around and say ... the fact is that this thing supports Nazis ... in the streets waving their tiki torches and chanting Nazis ... do you not understand it? There are no good Nazis ... we fought them in WWII and 479,000 American soldiers died ... and if you don’t support our country and it’s Constitution, there is something wrong with you, because I am not going to let your hate take my kid’s or my grandkids’ future away from them ... and I will never stop fighting for that.

.... and I turned and walked out ...

[Doodley]

1. Hold your head high and be proud of what you did. There will come a time when Trump

supporters will look back and be ashamed of themselves because they do not represent American values. They aren't able to open their eyes, but one day they will.

[UpInArms]

4. Living in rural America

Is sometimes a real challenge...

Oh ... and he said something about godless Democrats... and I said “you can take your god, gays and gun crap and forget it ... you cannot legislate morals, only ethics and the Republican Party has no ethics, so they can shut up about morals”

I am surprised I still have my friends out here ... 😂😂

[Farmer-Rick]

33. Yeah, it sure is a challenge sometimes

I know exactly how you feel. Keeping quiet is no longer an option. I have had arguments where the whole room was against me.

I had an elderly woman tell me (she was not in the discussion but felt she had to get her 2 cents in) she didn't see the problem with the pussy grabbing or the Slovenian sex worker as our first lady pretending she isn't a sex worker. This is a woman who got upset when she heard I said the F word when my wife died.

It's more like religion for these people. They have their little apologetic lies all lined up and ready to spew whenever anyone challenges the idiocy of their ideas.

The only good thing about it is I love to debate. So I got practically an entire town to argue with.

Keep up the good fight. The truth will win out.

[UpInArms]

36. I have always said

That you can die on your knees or your feet ... and I will go down fighting

[magicarpet]

69. But how was the coffee.... ?

Was lunch good.... ?

I can't stomach Nazis either.

You did good,.. better yet,... great !

[UpInArms]

70. Had water

Lunch was ... ummm ... some weird mixed meat hoagie thing ... but, I was hungry 😂

Am glad my friend was on my side and I didn’t upset him ... it was his client and business...

He told me not to worry ... he was all good

[magicarpet]

72. Good,...

.... the only one who walked away perturbed was the trDump loving Nazi.

[True Blue American]

39. You have plenty of friends

And if they do not think like you do, who cares?

Why should we hold our tongues? They don’t!

Hurray for you! A Sister with integrity!

[UpInArms]

42. There are many days when I am overwhelmed

by how many people fill my world with love and support ...

Thank you for being on of them

[soldierant]

95. This ...

?1571802140

[UpInArms]

96. I love that!

Thank you!

[soldierant]

101. YVW.

A friend posted it at Daily Kos and I loved it too. I'm actually not an atheist, but I certainly have known a few who were better Christians than me or any Christians I have known, even real ones.

[onetexan]

114. i just moved from TX panhandle so i know well how difficult it is to be a liberal in rural America

There were mostly old men wearing MAGA hats everywhere, and whenever we were in public areas we had to be careful what we said so as not to stir up trouble knowing the RW climate there. A couple of times when we were in restaurants and the TV was on i would overhear insanely stupid comments that makes me want to give them a piece of my mind. But my husband just asked the server to move us to another table.

Luckily we were only there for a year. We lived in DFW area over 30 years and while the area still has conservatives for the most part it is liberal. Austin metro where i am now is unabashedly liberal so i love it.

[UpInArms]

116. I love Austin - I lived there 30 years ago

It is the opposite of the panhandle...

[trueblue2007]

84. There will come a time when Trump is BURNING IN HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY!!!

And the Trumpers also.

[soldierant]

102. According to Dante

the lowest circle of Hell, the one reserved for traitors, was a circle of ice. At that time it had only three inhabitants besides Satan - Cassius, Brutus, and Judas. No one else had qualified. Trump will - or else they'll have to open a new, lower circle just for him.

[NCLefty]

2. The time for silence is over.

?itemid=6579583

[UpInArms]

9. Our silence will never protect us

But am certain that my mouth will get me in trouble ... I just really don’t think I have anything to lose .... or have run out of f**ks to give

[calimary]

24. ABSOLUTELY the time for silence is over!

Outstanding job, UpInArms!

Don’t let the lies go unanswered.

Don’t let the snow jobs stand.

Don’t let the crap-spew go unchallenged or unrebutted.

Don’t let the bad guys dominate the discussion or try to filibuster or outshout you.

And DON’T EVER let ‘em get the last word.

[UpInArms]

37. Am so glad that I have people, such as you, calimary,

By my side

[calimary]

71. Right there with ya, my friend.

Right there with ya.

[Atticus]

3. You did not "create a scene"---HE did! And, you stood against his nauseating worship of

the criminal in the Oval Office. VERY well done! I wish more people had your passion and your courage.

[UpInArms]

6. That's what my hubby said

When I told him ...

Thanks, Atticus...

[Doodley]

5. Lucky your friend took your side! I can't even get my wife to do that when I argue about Trump!

[UpInArms]

12. truly ... I was riding in his car

And he and I had a pretty good conversation on the way home (an hour’s drive)

[RAB910]

7. Good for you!

the vile Trump worshippers never have a problem spewing their bile. Don't let them get away with it.

[TEB]

8. I love you my resistance friend

[UpInArms]

51. Back at you, TEB

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

10. I do believe you FOUND your cool...

I realize it an expression but...COOL AS HELL!

[UpInArms]

14. Thanks, my friend

I have never feared conflict...

Sometimes I just worry about the fallout ...

[Phoenix61]

11. It's not "creating a scene" when you speak

the truth. Others may feel it is but that’s because they don’t want to hear it. As I like to say, suck it up buttercup because I am so past sitting down and shutting up. Actually, I was never very good at it and now that pushing 60 I see no reason to try and get better at it.

[DinahMoeHum]

13. May the children/grandchildren of Trump supporters. . .

. . .curse them and disown them.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. Sounds like you got a bit heated but maintained perfect control. That's keeping your cool. . . . nt

[sharedvalues]

16. Thank you, amazing!!!!

We need more of this

For people who care to speak up. This is the time for all patriots to come to the defense of their country.


(Ps what you said was great! One small thing to add: it sounds like it all comes from Fox, demonstrating the usefulness of also talking a bit about Fox. “You know that Fox is run by a rightwing billionaire who feeds you lies about Republicans so you’ll vote for billionaires’ tax cuts, right? Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox, calls people like you “useful idiots”. You know thus, right?”

[UpInArms]

19. I agree about his news consumption

...

And, yes, I probably should/could have addressed it ... but I was not expecting to even have a conversation about any of it ...

Prolly should stick my talking points in my pocket for future encounters 😂

[sharedvalues]

25. :) you did good

This stuff takes practice.

One purpose of Fox and Limbaugh is literally to give people talking points. We don’t have any media like that.

Cheers! Thanks for what you’re doing

[Laura PourMeADrink]

17. Sounds like you did good. Wish I could come up with

A good offense at times like that. I get way too emotional.

[YOHABLO]

18. Thank you for sharing. I hope everyone has the courage to step up to these RWrs.

[infullview]

20. It was a good effort!

It may have been waited on this guy as people who blindly support tRump somehow lose their hearing when anything negative is said about him. It's like they put their fingers int their ears and walk away while saying na na na na na na....

[wendyb-NC]

21. Good for you.

Sometimes you have to tell it like it really is. You are a hero for democracy.

Thank you, for the post. You seized the moment, by countering the trumpers washed out, nebulous statement, "the great economy", with a fact based verifiable, argument, . I wouldn't call it loosing your cool and I admire your candor, in speaking out.

[bucolic_frolic]

22. Oh my

but take heart. Tell one person, who tells ten people, who tell ten people each, etc, etc, etc.

You have created ripples that may tilt Iowa!

You didn't lose your cool. You created boilerplate. Hundreds of others now have a working model. You have launched a thousand ships.

We all thank you!

[UpInArms]

27. It was in front of a half dozen

With other patrons and employees

.... and I generally don’t have a problem with public speaking ... but .....

[Lars39]

23. You educated the whole place, UpInArms!!!

Well done!

[UpInArms]

26. Or horrified them ... lol!

Am certain no one there was expecting to hear that exchange...

[Lars39]

28. It all needed to be said and

you did so beautifully. That will be talked about for days!

[dlk]

29. Brava! Thank you for speaking out!

To paraphrase, all evil needs to triumph is for good people to do (or say) nothing.

[lunasun]

30. Thank you for speaking the truth and not remaining silent

Resist

[UpInArms]

35. Silence is not my strong suit

🤣

[Maeve]

31. You done good

And anyone who says that farmers who are getting screwed by the tariff wars should "get over it" doesn't understand enough about trade to open his mouth.

[UpInArms]

34. Thank you, maeve

[Duppers]

32. 👏 👍👍

Bravo.

[2naSalit]

38. Well done!

[Baitball Blogger]

40. Geez. There's a paragraph in there I need to memorize.

I'm no where as composed as you were.

[brush]

41. MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU. You are a brave and courageous woman.

And thank God you have a hard time of keeping silent about injustice and treachery.

[catbyte]

43. I don't think you caused a scene at all,my friend.

And who knows? Maybe you sparked a thought in one or two of the people listening. A remote hope at best, but it's possible. Keep up the good fight!

[UpInArms]

46. ....

[Pepsidog]

44. Fox and Murdochs poisoned the minds of millions, they should be held accountable.

[UpInArms]

45. It's been a 40 year (or longer)

Assault on our democracy... the fight will be long and hard ...

All of us must stay strong

[Pepsidog]

47. I was recently with my family, I was shocked at how little they know about what is happening.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

48. K & R!!!

[IADEMO2004]

49. Coolest Lunch Ever!!! IMHOP

[UpInArms]

59. thanks

Am thinking that others were made a bit uncomfortable

😂😂

[IADEMO2004]

68. If some were uncomfortable there's still hope for their souls.

[Moral Compass]

50. Right there with you

It’s really hard to keep your cool when you truly give a crap about your country.

I lost it on a golf buddy the other day.

[AllaN01Bear]

52. THanks for sharing this . i have come very close to corking off with some idiots.

Last edited Wed Oct 23, 2019, 11:56 AM - Edit history (1)

i have afib or as in laypeoples terms , heart flutter . dont want to risk agrivating setting it off .i cant get upset anymore .( yes i know its an electrical imbalance of the heart.)

[UpInArms]

53. This guy did not know me

And ... those who do would never attempt to defend trump around me ...

My cork isn’t set very tight 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[BlueMTexpat]

54. You are my hero!

Thank you.

[UpInArms]

56. ...

[madaboutharry]

55. It wasn't a scene.

It was a righteous moment. There is a big difference.

[safeinOhio]

57. Good for you. Last spring

I was in a used car parts shop(junk yard) and I asked the owner how's business. He started in on how great the Тяцмр tax cuts are working and how much lower his taxes are. He had about 6 employs standing around, so I then ask if the money was tickling down and if his employs all got a big raise, or did you pay off your boat with it. I'm smiling and looking at the faces of his workers. I got the feeling he had recently bought a boat by the look on their faces.

[UpInArms]

58. I so despise those who only see themselves in a mirror

And think their “good fortune” did not come at the expense of others

[Rabrrrrrr]

60. A beautiful thing you did! Nicely done.

And you only used facts, too.

Good job!

[Cousin Dupree]

61. Kudos to you! I'd like to know: do you think you got through to him at all?

[UpInArms]

63. I really don't know

It was obvious that his arguments were weak and ill formed ...

If peeps have only one source of information and it is merely an echo chamber, I do not know if they allow anything else to get in.

[Cousin Dupree]

66. Well, let's hope you made a tiny chink in his armor!

[ancianita]

62. Never fear about "scenes." The real audience are those who are watching and listening and changing

their minds about which is more important, reality or story, and your speaking up always influences more people than the one you directly speak to. Even if they don't show it.

Everyone heard. Your spirit and truth likely strengthened many. You should be proud.

[UpInArms]

64. It is my hope

That others will care, also

[ancianita]

65. When quiet, they're caring for your opinion. Caring is an ethic that changes hearts with minds, and

the climate of consciousness they live in. Because humans, in the grind of life, forget what the best should be for everyone.

Some day we will be able to hug this all out.

But right now, the fight for consciousness is full on and worth every effort.

You did great. More than they can tell you. Because your saying can become their saying, and then the doing.

[SWBTATTReg]

67. I am applauding, yelling 'Yeah!', and 'way to go!'...I could not have said it better, nor could I ..

come up w/ all of the valid retorts you came up with on the spot.

If you ever want to be a paid speech writer, contact me!!

[not_the_one]

73. sitting here at a keyboard, I can come up with great comebacks

but put me in an actual verbal confrontation, and I don't do very well. In my memory of being an adult (I'm 68) I have NEVER raised my voice/yelled at anyone. I also have a hard time saying no if someone asks me for help. THAT has really gotten me into some unfortunate situations.

Face to face is different. The thing about the internet is that you will say (type) something that you would NEVER say to someone's face.

So I have a hard time time being confrontational. I can argue a point, but they don't have any, they just regurgitate the fake crap they have been fed, blathering on non-stop, giving no time for rebuttal. Loudly.

You did fantastically, and it gives me hope that I can rise to the situation when the time comes.

Thank you for BEING the resistance AND being an example to emulate.

[UpInArms]

75. am 62

and have years of experience speaking extemporaneously ....

I just ... generally ... in a work setting (and I was supposed to be working) try to keep my mouth shut .... just found myself unable to be at a table in public with anyone still supporting such a treasonous lying sack of stinking garbage.

My tolerance level seems to have been breached and am out of forks to give

....

If someone wants to support such an uncivil creature, all bets are off ... I did not shout, I did not cuss and I did not back off.

When I was explaining income inequality, he put his hand on my arm - to interrupt me ... what I considered a personal invasion of my space ... and ... it's all herstory now ... lol!

[redqueen]

74. Outstanding!

I wish I had that kind of courage.

[GoneOffShore]

76. You didn't lose your cool - you kept it and you educated a cultist.

Well done.

I feel pretty lucky living where I do. I may encounter pmurTer's but they're on their best behaviour here in France. And I make it very clear that even though we wanted to move to France for many years, the ascension of the Orange Shitegibbon was the thing that flipped the switch.

[lostnfound]

77. I love the fact that you knew the number 479,000

Great job all the way.

I think we should end such conversations with “it’s a Russian plant you’re supporting; please come back to being American.”

[RobinA]

78. I Find

it's less scene-causing to simply ask what Trump has done to cause [whatever wonderful thing he is being credited with by the person speaking]. I've never actually gotten an answer to this question, just a lot of vague blather that even the person saying it knows doesn't make any sense. Fact is, they have no idea how Trump did what they are saying he did. Stops them dead and doesn't give anybody the ability to accuse you of picking on the poor President.

[UpInArms]

79. the guy was saying that the tariffs were working

... was I supposed to let that stand?

[LakeArenal]

81. Peace out sister. You did well!!!

[DFW]

82. He was just regurgitating Fox Noise packaged propaganda

People like that know nothing else. I'm sure he went right to the nearest TV to Fox Noise to find his counter-arguments. Kudos to you for trying, and not fearing to let him have it publicly.

[Initech]

83. You can't change the minds of the Trump cult.

You would think that Nazism would be the final straw but they're into that sort of thing. Walking out or laughing at them is usually the best option.

[FiveGoodMen]

87. Which is why we may have to defeat them in another war.

Or, of course, let THEM win if that's what we want.

[proud patriot]

85. "I don't stay shut up well"

Thank goodness for that

[pansypoo53219]

86. great job! fire breathing democrat. screw conservatives supporting the moron.

[ejbr]

88. Nice n/t

[WyattKansas]

89. I'm curious if you noticed the reaction from others in the diner?

Did you get a sense how others there agreed with what was being said, because I cannot wrap my head around average people really thinking tRUMP is doing anything good for this country?

[UpInArms]

90. It got very very very quiet

The staff came out of the kitchen to .... watch? listen?

Every eye was on me ... kind of ... surprised? scared? curious?

No one said anything as I walked out ...

[WyattKansas]

91. Good!!! You planted the thought that it was okay to be against it.

Otherwise, nobody would have paid attention. People really are eager to yell ENOUGH!

Nobody said anything back to you, because they really do know what the truth is and what is right.

Guys like you schooled have been getting away with hijacking and dictating opinions everywhere with their parroting and brow beating everyone into submission.

[UpInArms]

92. Thank you ...

The only other time that I created a scene and stayed was several years ago ...

Some stupid 250 lb 6’6” bozo called Obama the thing that cannot be said nor thought ...

I shut him up in a bar full of people ... as furious... standing toe to toe ... ad in walks my hubby ...

It was so quiet you could have heard the flies trying to escape

[WyattKansas]

98. When Obama's second election was going on...

I walked into my contractor's office where a co-worker (about twice the size of me) was going on and on about Obama being a Christian fascist, which right wing sites were also parroting before the election.

I immediately cut him off and said, 'So wait a minute, a few weeks ago your same sources were telling you that Obama was a Muslim, but now he is a Christian fascist. Well which is it, because he can't be both at the same time?'

Him: Blank dumbfounded look and silence.

Me: 'If you are going to go around repeating what you hear on Fox News or see on right wing sites, you might want to actually think about what they are saying before you start repeating it.'

By then, others had tuned into what I said and erupted in laughter then made derogatory comments to the guy. I never heard him saying anything against Obama again after that.

[Cha]

93. Wow! Brilliantly Done and Brilliantly

written about afterwards! So wonderful that your friend with the previous bush signs backed you up!

Thank you so much, UpInArms!

[UpInArms]

97. Thank you, Cha!

I was surprised about my friend... but then again, maybe that’s why we are friends

[Cha]

99. Maybe!

Such a Good job!

[bdamomma]

94. Be proud

of what you said.

[WinstonSmith4740]

100. And I'll bet it felt great!

Wish I had seen that.

[UniteFightBack]

103. You sounded GREAT. Fuck that. These people don't want shit, then don't bring shit. nt

[UpInArms]

107. I loved men in black

... don’t bring shit

[Aussie105]

104. Lost your cool?

Or found your voice?

I vote for the latter!

OnYa! (short for 'good on you!)

[eleny]

105. "...I do have a bad habit of creating them ... I don't stay shut up very well..."

[UpInArms]

108. Ya just can't take me anywhere

... and think it might not happen

😂😂😂😂

[eleny]

111. same here!

[spanone]

106. 👍🏼

[paleotn]

109. ........

[UpInArms]

110. No applause necessary

[I_UndergroundPanther]

112. An idiot like that client

Would have his ear chewed off and he would have left in a hurry with his tail firmly in between his legs.

I ran out of fucks ages ago for anyone with a whiff of republican taint.

Gets me in alot of debates however.

[Stargleamer]

113. Actually what you said was quite impressive

Trump has done so many horrible things that it's hard to keep track of them all and list the most important ones first. It's like where does one even begin?

[Aussie105]

117. And yet . . .

some people go . . . It will all come good, just watch, any day now, it will start raining Gold Coins!

DDD . . Despicable, Deluded, Don followers.

[orleans]

115. you kicked some ass yesterday!

great job!

[PatrickforO]

118. You may well have turned a few people around!

Nice job!