Wow, my RW Brother's Memorial Day Facebook post . . .

[Sugarcoated]

Here's to all that served our country and fought for our freedom. Whether you appreciate that freedom or just use it to run your pieholes don't forget the world is watching either way. One good thing I can say about the protesters in this country: At least they don't blow themselves up.

Should I even respond? I want to, but so much I can say to what's so wrong, but I don't know if it's worth it.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Remind him that it should be 'Here's to all WHO served...' and make no further comments.

Plus he has a run-on sentence.

[Turbineguy]

2. If the RW gets their way

World War II will have been fought for nothing.

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. ask him to define some of the freedoms that those who served fought for.

Like freedom of speech.

[treestar]

4. Protestors in this country have better options

These types of people think it has something to do with inherent Muslim-ness. IMO it could be resorted to by any group under the conditions where they can't protest lawfully or fight with an army.

[Marrah_G]

5. I would not respond

It's your brother. Your saying anything will not change his mind, but it will cause drama that you and your other family members probably don't need.

[Sugarcoated]

6. Haha, my husband said to thank you for that

but I sooo want to respond . . . but you're probably right.

[Marrah_G]

14. It's just not worth it

Family is family. I suggest getting his photo put on a pillow case and when you get pissed your can beat the crap out of the a pillow

[GObamaGO]

23. I have to second what Marrah_G said

You are not likely to change his mind, as much as he is not likely to change yours. As difficult as it is, the high road is the better one.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. I have one republican family member and he posts some pretty bizarre stuff on my Facebook page.

He never starts political discussions, but he gets into mine. And that's just odd because 99% of my Facebook friends are Democrats. He made a rude comment one time and one of my friends said "Why is the WORLD would you say THAT?" and he shut up. Last week, he posted that he was worried about my health because I got so upset about things that shouldn't bother me. I wanted to reply "Yes it would be nice to be a Stepford Republican and just not pay any attention to the world" but I just didn't reply.

That's what seems to work, just not saying anything. I don't know if that would work for you but it keeps my blood pressure in check.

[Sugarcoated]

10. I don't know why I feel the need to respond, except maybe that Republican's

are usually bullies, and I do like to stand up to bullies. Especially when they're fools, make them feel as stupid as they are.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. I get my aggression out on local blogs

They are dominated by stupid hateful republicans. And yes, they are bullies.

Today in our local paper a Democrat former congressman who was beat by a tea partier in 2010 posted a beautiful editorial that was a tribute to fallen soldiers. And the hateful wingnuts ate him alive. It was so sad.

[GObamaGO]

24. Why do the Republicans feel the need to do that?

I avoid responding to my GOP FB friends Republican rants, but boy oh boy do they ever feel the need to post on any of my threads that are even remotely political. What IS that???

[mahina]

8. Don't bother

wasting your breath.

He used a post honoring other's sacrifices to run down others. You couldn't make him look like a bigger ass if you tried.


I'm sure there's a wall somewhere nearby that you can talk to.

[abelenkpe]

9. Your RW brother doesn't identify with today's protester?

Mine doesn't seem to either.

I'd just ignore him.

[HughBeaumont]

11. Ah, Memorial and Veteran's Day . . .

. . . To some, that pretty much means "The Liberals Have to Shut The Fuck Up, But I DON'T" Day.

And, you know, let's keep honoring their memories by making even more and more of them while the causes become less and less just and plausible with each passing war . . . all so they can die for KBR, Halliburton, GE and Bechtol.

[shcrane71]

12. Don't respond to his post, but make sure to post on your FB page.

Thanking Obama for supporting our troops would be a great post.

[scarletwoman]

13. Just let it go. It's his thing, leave him to it.

You're not going to change his mind by responding, you're just going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he pushed your buttons.

Your most eloquent response is silence.

[Sherman A1]

15. I would just block or delete the post as it shows on your newsfeed

if asked about seeing it later, I would simply respond that you must have missed it.

I just ain't worth the drama.

[MADem]

17. There's no real point. You're not going to change his mind, are you?

He's invested in his fear-based perspective. And brothers are not replaceable. Just stay away from discussions of politics with him; if he tries to engage you, just tell him "No--I think your political affiliations are insane, but you're my brother and I love you even though you follow stupid politicians with selfish views." Beyond that, just duck any political chat. All it does is get ugly.

[treestar]

19. Is her referring to his sister when he says "running your pinholes?"

Merely being a sibling doesn't mean they can't be a bully.

This is what lets rights wingers get away with it. We think it's not worth it to challenge them. Yet they keep doing it.

He could change his mind over time. People do. It's wrong to insist all right wingers must stay that way all the time and enabling them by never challenging their nonsense. There are kind or no-drama ways to do it.

I usually just ask a question. One simple question not directed at them will help. In this case, something to the effect of: Who are you talking about? Who blew themselves up? or: whose pieholes? Is there someone who said something with which you don't agree?

[MADem]

22. Fitful little Facebook fights are not going to do anyone any good.

No one said anything about the guy being a bully, just a wingnut.

You're better off giving a Dem without a car a ride to the polls. Be positive--let the negative nabobs stew in their own juices.

[Speck Tater]

18. Remind him that a lot of liberal soldiers died too. nt

[WriteWrong]

20. Never mind helping him. Would your responses help educate others? If so, respond, if not, don't.

[think]

21. No response would be best because you are family.

But I admit I would be tempted to post something along the lines of a quote or two from General Smedley Butler. Admittedly they are very old quotes but the song remains the same:

I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_a_Racket

"War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small 'inside' group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_a_Racket

[Make7]

25. War Is a Racket

[div class="excerpt" style="border: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-radius: 0.4615em; box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px #bfbfbf;"]"I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents." - United States Marine Corps Major General Smedley D. Butler (retired)

ETA: I see I'm late to the party (should have read all of the replies before posting). But if you were to reply with only a quote from Major General Butler, what could the response be? Attack a military man's understanding of the military? How is that showing respect? Perhaps it would give him (and others) something to think about.

[tawadi]

26. Defriend him

Its a long time until November.

[Sugarcoated]

27. I chose not to respond.

I posted a great photo of our dad hangin' in the barracks in his uniform. He was a Sgt. in the Air Force, served in Korea.

Thanks so much for the support and good advise everyone. It's so frustrating to read such ignorance, as if I'm not patriotic because I have different beliefs than him. His thread wasn't direted at me personally, he's got a lot of FB friends and probably half lean to the left. What bothers me the most though, is how the Repub machine turns Americans against one another.

[aquart]

28. My response would be

Honor our troops? Pay their bloody medical bills! Don't make them justify every aspirin. You put on the uniform of this nation, you make a target of your body even if you never leave the company clerk's office, then the LEAST we can do is remove as much stress as we can. Pay the medical bills! If a soldier gets a hangnail, if a vet gets a cough, I DO NOT CARE WHAT THE CAUSE BECAUSE HOW DARE WE ASK THEM TO RISK DEATH AND THEN NICKEL AND DIME THE WEAR AND TEAR ON THEIR BODIES AND SOULS.

Pay the bills. They are due.