I put my brother out of the car tonight

[donheld]

He was going on and on about "baby killers" how we "pro-choice" people are really just people who are like to kill babies. Of course I couldn't agree with him and said so, so he started belittling me just like when we were kids. Then he wanted to start getting violent. So out he went. I put him out by the light real line so it's not like he was in the middle of no where. I may take break from "family things" for awhile. Anyway it was exhausting and heartbreaking. I thought he'd moved past the violent stage, guess not.

[w13rd0]

1. I'm not generally a violent person...

...but I would have had to drop him off at the hospital instead.

[laylah]

2. ..

:hug: I am so sorry to hear this. It had to have been very upsetting.

Jenn

[sam sarrha]

6. i have one of those too... he has got a little better with age.. sorry to hear that he has been lost

to the dark side.. that is what Rush and those other hate mongers do to good people..

[Sherman A1]

3. You did what you had to do

and it is all summed up in the sentence, "Then he wanted to start getting violent." First you protect yourself and put some space between violence and you.

Done Good!

[bliss_eternal]

4. So sorry that the end of your holiday visit was stressful.

:hug: Sometimes it's easier to love family members from afar. If not for the greeting card industry (among others)we wouldn't feel obligated to spend time with those that attempt to make us feel badly about our lives. Some are outright abusive and it becomes necessary for self-preservation to keep your distance, sever ties, etc.

Don't know if you have to sever ties in your situation. Just know it doesn't mean you are wrong to keep your distance. Life's too short to spend it bickering with people that can't accept us exactly as we are.

:hi: Take care!

[Richard Steele]

5. Sorry to hear it.

Why is violence the RWers ONLY answer to everything?

Really sucks to have those type of problems with
your own family, as many of us know all too well.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. I am so sorry

Why do these pro-lifers see violence as a solution?

[China_cat]

18. As Isaac Asimov once said

"Violence is the refuge of the incompetent" (doing that from memory, and somehow it feels like I'm missing something, so please don't hit me if I don't have the quote exactly right)

[acmejack]

8. at least you were smart enough not to indulge him

And kick his ass, or worse yet get hurt and/or arrested. It is way too easy to give in to the dark side yourself and engage your tormentor. So overall, I think you did a very good job.

[Vinca]

9. He's lucky you didn't become a "baby killer" after the fact.

Better late than never.

[Blue Diadem]

10. I'm sorry DH

That has to be difficult dealing with the verbal abuse and knowing it could become violent. I think you did the right thing.

I thought about calling my brother yesterday, he lives across country from us..but I knew I'd have to deal with the same type of "stuff", so I didn't call.

[WinkyDink]

14. He could pick up? Then he could call you.

[Blue Diadem]

23. He was probably

in a drunken stupor yesterday. He's so bad he has blackouts and I've been on the receiving end (via phone) during those blackouts.

[DemonFighterLives]

11. Time should heal that

At least nobody got hurt or anything.
I was feeling bad about a fender bender I had a few weeks ago and felt better when I saw some car crashes on TV. At least I didn't kill anybody- whew.
This has nothing to do with your dilemma, but I hope that everything works out.

[trumad]

12. Oh but I betcha he loves our war in Iraq...

You know, the place that over 200 human beings were slaughtered yesterday...

[Berry Cool]

13. Yeah. Isn't there something strangely ironic about

a stance like "You believe in baby-killing--so I'm gonna punch your lights out"?

But that's how it is, isn't it?

[buddysmellgood]

17. The biggest Republican abortion of all.

[EFerrari]

15. Holidays are really stressful for people with self control issues

and for everyone around them :(

I'm sorry, donheld.

[zanne]

16. It's amazing the murder rate doesn't go up on Thanksgiving...

I've always thought that. People kill off family members all the time, and Thanksgiving is the "family holiday".

[Judi Lynn]

19. So glad you didn't back down, didn't accept his tantrum over your independence.

He's going to have to decide whether he values your company more than he values "winning" any argument he wants to initiate.

Being his brother doesn't mean you are obligated to accept his disrespect. Relatives take each other for granted until the courageous ones refuse to play.

Most people simply knuckle under for the comfort of having somewhere to turn in their imaginary future time of need, while paying a dreadful price for it in the present.

You did the right thing, the healthy thing. You are to be admired for your difficult decision. It's too damned bad he drove you to that lonely solution.

Don't back down. He'll probably try every way possible to force you to back track, to give in. He's the one who has to change. It's about time he grew up.

[BlueIris]

20. Run, do not walk, away from violent anti-choicers.

Even if they are family.

Especially if you have a family.

You have your safety, if not your sanity, to think of. You did the right thing.

[Barnaby]

21. Your car- your rules

[Cassandra]

22. He wanted to get violent while you were driving?

How stupid is that? Sounds like you did both of you a favor.