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TheWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-05 11:07 PM
Original message
The Culture Of Intolerance
Forgive me if this seems a little ranty tonight. This seems almost off topic to post something like this in the midst of Rovegate and what could be the beginning of the end for this Crime Family that runs this country.

Last night I was almost attacked outside my home by a bunch of drunk Frat Boys in a Red Explorer, complete with obligatory "Support The Troops Magnet". I suppose they had a problem with multi-colored hair and black clothing, but I really could give a fuck what it was about at this point.

The incident did not turn violent, but it could have, and it does all over the country, every day. When things calmed down I spent some time thinking about how things have changed even in the past few years in this city (I live in Seattle).

Maybe it's just me, and maybe I'm being paranoid, but I have watched the Emerald City go through a disturbing transformation. This has always been a progressive, diverse place more known for it's notorious passive aggressiveness than anything else. But something has changed. I am not sure it's the political climate or just a shift in cultural dynamics, but this place has become a lot more conservative, right wing, and people have gotten a lot nastier, mean-spirited, more violent, and more intolerant.

My former home was in Tennessee, and quite frankly it was an absolute nightmare. Ignorance, intolerance, and general brain-dead culture were overwhelmingly the norm there. When I moved to the Pacific Northwest, it was almost like moving to another planet. It was almost a 180 degree departure from the way I was used to living, and for the first time in my life, I actually felt like I was in a place that resembled humanity. But over the past few years I have watched this city become increasingly transform into the place I used to live in the Mid-South, and it is terrifying me.

I make no apologies for the way I look or the way I dress, because admittedly it is quite different, and at the very least it is going to attract attention both positive and negative. When you are different you must accept it and expect it. I keep to myself and mind my own business, and I respect the personal space of others. When I first moved here, people would stare and be curious, and you'd have the occasional idiot make an ass out of himself but that was about it.

But these days things are getting much worse. I posted here about my confrontation with a freeperish type in the parking lot of a US Post Office a few months ago, and confrontations like that are becoming the norm for me these days. It's gotten to the point I carry Pepper Spray with me wherever I go now.

And it's not just people like me that have been noticing the rising intolerance developing here. There are days I feel like this city has undergone an invasion of mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging idiots. There has definitely been a climate change culturally and politically. People are more belligerent, confrontational, rude, loud, and the bigotry and level of violence that it is being expressed with it increasing.

Compared to what it used to be, this city is becoming a sewer. I always thought this would be the place where I would finally settle down, but I don't feel that is the case anymore. Right now my partner and I are exploring the possibility of Canada and other options. It's not something I consider lightly, but I refuse to go back to the way I was living.

The other thing I have been thinking and wondering about is if it is how bad it is getting everywhere else. It seems to me that a mass psychosis is gripping this nation, and the country is simply going mad. Our culture continues to get more and more dumbed down, self-absorbed, self-serving, narcissistic, caustic, and a distinct attitude of "I've got mine, fuck everybody else" seems to be the pervasive order of the day.

What has happened to us? What is WRONG?

More and more those who really don't want to co-exist with anyone who looks different or dares to be an individual, or think for themselves and express themselves outside of anything other than a lock-step herd mentality are becoming more and more caustic, more and more confrontational. I'm not going to go over what is possibly empowering them, because it's been discussed to death on this forum the past few years. But this country is becoming a putrid sewer. And I suppose I have gotten to the point I am becoming tired of waking up to the overwhelming smell of shit every day.

Politically, culturally, and spiritually I simply do not see how this country will avoid a complete breakdown and a spiral into a second Civil War. Even IF we were to impeach these bastards and drive these thugs from power, I am not sure it's possible to overcome the divisions, the hatred, and the psychosis that has spread into this country's mindset.

As I sit here writing this, I am listening to Mike Malloy's accounting of the diabolical, criminal harassment that Andy Stephenson had to endure, and is STILL enduring even after his death, and I am experiencing yet another example of where we are at this point in history.

Perhaps it is too late, perhaps it is not.

But I am no longer going top take this crap from these people. I will not call anyone out like Mike did tonight, but I will say this.

After nearly four decades on this planet, I have never lifted a finger against another human being. I have always tried to take the high road.

But as Don Ameche said in his Oscar Nominated Role years ago, "Things Change."

If I am attacked by one of these people, or a group of them, without cause or justification, it will not go unchallenged. I WILL defend myself. I WILL defend my life, the lives of my family and friends. Enough is enough. I refuse to live like this anymore.

As I said, sorry for the rant, but right now I am at a personal low point.

And I think this country is too.

It needs an enema.

YESTERDAY.
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beam me up scottie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-05 11:14 PM
Response to Original message
1. You're not alone.
A lot of us feel this way.
I don't know what to say, except you're not alone.
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TheWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-05 11:24 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. I know I am not alone, and I know there are many of us here who feel
Edited on Mon Jul-18-05 11:26 PM by TheWatcher
this way.

The problem with many of these people is that they have made a decision to stay dedicated to the belief of the lies at all costs. They would rather die, or have us dead that face the truth. They CANNOT come around to a reasonable way of thinking, because it would mean the destruction of their belief system, and force them to embrace the legitimacy of a reality they hate so badly that they prefer ANY consequence than have to live that reality.

What people fail to realize sometimes is that many of these people actually SUPPORT what George Bush and his Cabal are doing. And it is NOT for the reasons, the lies, and the facade that the administration uses everyday to justify their actions. They support the ACTUAL reasons and intentions of this administration. George Bush speaks for them, and represents them, because if they were put in the same position of power these people were in, they would do the exact same things, or worse.

I truly beleive these people would do away with ALL of us in a second if they didn't have to fear any consequences or retribution.

Like I said, I do not see how a second Civil War of SOME KIND, on SOME LEVEL in this country can be avoided.

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beam me up scottie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-05 11:34 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. I know what you are saying.
I told someone tonight that I believe these people would rather destroy this country than release their choke hold on it.
They want to take us back to the dark ages and I'm not going.
I will move back to Vermont this year, it will be safe there, but I'll admit I'm considering leaving altogether.
I know what they want to do to us.
Today,Eric Rudolph and his cheerleaders at free republic left no doubt.
We can fight tooth and nail, but if we cannot stop them, we need to
make a decision.

I've made mine.
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bloom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-05 11:23 PM
Response to Original message
2. That is sad

I think the forces of materialism and corporatocracy are taking over. I don't know what can be done about it. Some people manage to have their niches and ignore it. I think it's esp. damaging to creativity/culture.
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Jersey Ginny Donating Member (549 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-05 11:36 PM
Response to Original message
5. Hopefully the pendulum will swing back
It is not clear how far it will swing to the right and that is very scary to me too. The Repukes emulate the stereotypical frat boy bullies. They get off on being bullies. I'm hoping now that we are living in the 1950's that the 60's will follow. I'm not sure that the Democratic party has any real back bone though. It is scary. I live in a liberal bastion in NJ that welcomes and celebrates diversity. I hope it never changes. I think about Canada also, if my life with my partner and kids becomes "ghettoized" and I lose my liberty and freedom further.
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TheWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-05 11:41 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. My heart goes out to you
Edited on Mon Jul-18-05 11:41 PM by TheWatcher
The scary thing is, I am not talking about a city in the Deep South, or in one of the extremely "Red States", this is SEATTLE for God Sakes.

SEATTLE.

This place is hardly a city you would consider a bastion for this kind of stuff.

And I think that is what is causing me to lose hope.

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beam me up scottie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-05 11:44 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. My dad says the same thing, but
I am worried that it may never swing back.
They didn't control everything in the 50's, but they do now.
They control the media, and through the media, they control the thoughts of more than half of the people in this country.
And I've seen almost no resistance from any of them.
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omega minimo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-05 11:45 PM
Response to Original message
8. Enema of the State
"It seems to me that a mass psychosis is gripping this nation, and the country is simply going mad. Our culture continues to get more and more dumbed down, self-absorbed, self-serving, narcissistic, caustic, and a distinct attitude of "I've got mine, fuck everybody else" seems to be the pervasive order of the day. What has happened to us? What is WRONG?"

That's Reaganomics, friend-- trickle down voodoo economics, the homeless are campers, greed is good, out of my way American pride. The nation has been creeping (emphasis on creep) this direction for 25 years....

Reagan Bush Bush Quayle Clinton (the best Republican president ever) Gore BushCheneyCo. Sounds like you're old enough to have witnessed this.

Too bad the nation didn't consider Columbine a wake-up call, rather than an opportunity to impose lock-down conditions on our children.

With the story of Andy S. we could consider the insane hatred and fear that these perpetrators embody. What kind of person does such things? Very very sick. Unimaginable. That may give us more appreciation for the side we are on, and the power of love over hate.

Good luck. And next time someone looks at you funny, try smiling at them. That will REALLY blow them away. Might be the first real human being they've met all day.

:smoke:
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Behind the Aegis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-18-05 11:57 PM
Response to Original message
9. Not unusual...and it is getting worse.
Last weekend, my partner and I went to a Taco place, fast food. We were eating and we was across the table from me. Then a SUV filled with teenagers in the back pulled up. The mother was obviously reading the drive-thru menu deciding what to get. I looked over and one of the male teens was acting very odd, bouncing in his seat, acting strange. I went back to eating. I looked over again, as the SUV was still there, almost 10 minutes later, and this little shit was mouthing..."are you a faggot?" "Hey faggot...fuck you." My partner happen to look over and I don't know if they mouthed off to him (he is bigger than me..and doesn't "look" gay.). By the time the drove to the drive through...20 minutes had elapsed...no kidding! The kid is hanging out the window mouthing "Are you gay?" as they drove off. Now, I don't know if he was just mouthing it or saying it, but the mother did nothing to control her spawn. Needless to say, it ruined my meal.

I could have flipped him off, mouthed back, "Why do you ask? Looking for a date?" or something else, but it just wasn't worth it. I have put up with this shit since I was a teen, actually before. It was one of the reasons I didn't go into acting because I was afraid someone would yell "faggot" while I was on stage and embarrass my family. Of course, I didn't know then, that the theater is rife with "my kind" and most homophobes don't go to plays because there are no car crashes. Living like that also made me very shy (I can overcome that on occasion). More recently, I don't care, but sometimes, it will cause agoraphobic responses and I won't leave the house for days at a time.

The hate in this country is out of control. Personally, I don't care what color someone is (or their hair...or lack thereof), I don't care if they are disfigured, overweight...all I care about is attitude. You can be the most physically attractive person, but if you open your mouth and slurs emerge, you become one of the ugliest persons. Conversely, you can look like you just left your job at the bell tower at Notre Dame, but if you exude love and respect, you become one of the "beautiful people." Maybe it is just me.
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beam me up scottie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-19-05 12:08 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. No.
It's not just you.
This country is turning ugly and the beautiful people are being driven back underground where they always lived before.
Did you ever see the movie "Freaks" ?
The "normals" were the true freaks, just like now.
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omega minimo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-19-05 12:14 AM
Response to Reply #9
11. There's no love and respect
at Taco Bell

:puke:
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