Many on the left literally do not feel safe to proclaim they are liberals

[JFN1]

I don't, really, not where I live. It's conserva-rush-hann-oreillllllyyyyy land around here. Sure we liberals do vote as liberals, but it is physically intimidating to declare oneself a liberal around here. Seriously.

One of the head honchos at the local grocery store had a black eye last week. I asked how it happened, he said he was "arguing with his wife at the bar," and apparently another guy told him to stop disrespecting her and hit him in the face with a pretzel bowl. A pretzel bowl. I asked if they guy was in jail, he said, "He didn't really hurt me, so its no big deal." Violence - safety - sure...

Someone taped a poorly handwritten note - complete with illustration - on the local gas station door that said because the store owner supported the city's street guy's re-election (this was about two weeks ago), this person would no longer shop there - and there was a little stick figure pointing what looked like a stick figure gun at a stick figure store. The owner kept it on the door for days - he thought it was funny, as he didn't even live in town, and couldn't vote in the city election anyway. Politics - guns - violent threats - oh, such fun.

And of course, openly bashing Democratic figures is the only "acceptable" political talk in "these parts" - defending anything Dem brings, in the least, the mighty wall of silence and stony looks. At worst - who can say? A pretzel bowl to the face?

It all adds up to a decidedly unfreindly air for liberals. And I know its not just here - it's tucked in all over America - in cities big and small.

Why does the left have no voice?

Because the bullies in the room are letting us "solve-problems-without-pretzel-bowl-violence" types know we'd better keep our "socialist, communist, fascist, lefty loving" opinions, to ourselves.

So what can we do to solve this problem? And don't say, "Stand up!" because that is not working so well right now. Without messaging in the bigger outdoors, those of us surrounded by bullies are outnumbered, and drowned out, and we feel as though no one on the national scene has our back. What do we have to back ourselves up with, but dry Internet statistics and quotes from places like the NY Times, or Huff Po, or DU, or Kos, and so on?

Nothing, that's what. Our liberal Dems in DC may as well not exist, for all the noise they are able/allowed to generate.

Until we figure out how to address this issue, we are not going to have a voice on the left to be heard.

It is currently being strangled to a squeek, in these parts, at least...

[midnight]

1. K&R.... Time to be heard....

[Cal33]

28. This is so typical of the open aggression of the right-wingers. There is

no subtlety at all about them. Aggressive Right-wingers belong to the most primitive
and low-life types. They respect only 3 things -- money, power and fear of punishment.
Obama's appeasing mode of dealing with them only makes them more aggressive. Right-wingers
use intimidation so often only because that is what they, themselves, understand and
respond to.

[AllTooEasy]

52. THAT'S WHY I CARRY A GUN! I dare them to intimidate me.

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

74. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

84. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I wish I had some ideas on how to respond to your situation.

But I really don't. I live in a moderately progressive town, and there's no problem expressing my views via bumpersticker or even via a sign in my window.

How about a letter to the editor of your local paper? Can you write one and request anonymity?

You have my condolences on your terrible situation.

Recommended.

[napoleon_in_rags]

3. You need to look at the Arab Spring.

I just talked to a poor guy from Yemen, his country is being torn apart by civil war, after a life already marred by much loss. I asked him what it was people over there were fighting for. He pointed out how awful their lives were, being lead more or less by dictators who were in power for decades, and they will simply willing to roll the dice for something different, even if it cost them their lives.

There is such an admirable moral strength in that, we need to look at it. These people weren't at risk of getting a pretzel bowl in their face, go on Youtube and watch them getting shot execution style in the streets. Yet they struggle on. At some point we are all called on to realize this life is about something bigger than us, something worth dying for. I think we need to find that in ourselves, define it well in our souls and understand what we are fighting for. Then the rest follows naturally.

[JFN1]

4. It isn't about courage, per se.

Speaking out in rural areas/small towns involves costs beyond intimidation and threats of/actual violence - one can quickly find oneself "out in the cold" and socially isolated. For myself - I do speak out, no problem (my past posts demonstrate this) - and if anyone tries to do me violence, they'll meet the back 'o me cane, they will.

And what is accomplished, without outside media support? Being labeled a "crank?" Certainly not taken seriously, and repitition, in this equation, will eventually lead to, shall we say, the application of pretzel bowl logic...to the face.

Again - we're on our own out here. Brave doesn't exactly translate into effective...

[aquart]

5. It's about having your tires slashed?

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

If you know you haven't the strength for the fight, stay out. Let someone hale and hearty and full of confident foolishness do it this time.

It is my opinion that you can't win if you're dead. So pick the battles and be smart how you fight.

Some highland tribes once bragged to a British king that they would lead a charge naked and they did. Since this occurred some time after the invention of armor, you can imagine how well that went.

[JFN1]

7. Yes, for me, I can deal, willingly. But the liberal mom down the street?

She should be subjected to such? Her kid threatened? Her ability to provide for her kid compromised?

Or the old couple around the corner, voting Dem since FDR? What about them?

Without outside support, liberals in areas like where I live, are little more than cannon fodder.

We need a better plan.

[napoleon_in_rags]

9. Be careful as to what your 'better plan' is.

Lao Tzu said the art of war is deception, its also true that the art of deception is war. Either one, should you choose to partake in it, is something you should be ABSOLUTELY committed to. And if you were, you wouldn't be posting here, honestly describing your situation. Something in you clearly yearns for honest dialog.

So try talking to people, sharing your most core moral goals. IF individuals try to intimidate you for partaking in your first amendment rights, share that it is your moral goal to not make that happen. You would be surprised at how many of these "enemies" have been deceived themselves, and are having war done on them by individuals who don't have their best interests at heart. See how many of them turn out to be secret friends, you will be surprised. FDR saw Hitlers expansion and said somebody had to "call his bluff", and sure enough, when the illusion of his strength were shattered, it turned out that much of the German had been as disgusted by him as everybody else.

[JFN1]

11. I live my values and always seem to have a soapbox handy

I appreciate your enthusiasm and passion - here in the "trenches" the noise machine and native stubborness create a wall that seems to absorb, without any measureable effect. Its baffling...

[napoleon_in_rags]

108. I hear you. Just remember that noise machine has two functions:

The first is reaching people, convincing them its correct. The second is convincing you that it has convinced everybody else of its correctness, and you have no effect. The second is the far more dangerous of its two functions.

[napoleon_in_rags]

6. "Brave doesn't exactly translate into effective"

No, it does, that's the tricky thing about this.

Listen, I hear you, I know how it is. I seriously do. The right wears their politics nakedly, and you threaten to bring a struggle into daily life when you bring up politics, and that struggle is just tiring...And you know they aren't bad people, they are just getting their news from Fox or whatever.

But next time it comes up, take whatever you value about liberal values... For me its caring for the needy disabled and elderly, and pipe up stupidly that you're glad people are fighting for those values. Be loud and simple and proud about that fundamental moral objective. Let them critique whoever saying they aren't accomplishing that, but stand up for that singular moral objective that you believe in. Disagree with them. You'll feel better and they will too, and the narratives that perpetuate violence, that you are part of a "secret cabal" will be crushed with you speaking your mind loud and proud.

[MedicalAdmin]

55. Great response.

Strength comes from within. Ghandi was no Bruce Lee but he kicked an empires ass.

There are strength in numbers. Read up on the history of the Tenderloin and Harvey Milk. Organize and move as a group. Or you could do it the Chicago way... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIF_WdPUBFo&playnext=1&list=PL16088093FFD9F325

[MedleyMisty]

86. Just like Libya, it's not a civil war

Actually - it's even less possible to use that phrase in Yemen. As far as I know the protesters there haven't had to arm themselves yet?

Gah - that must sound so snotty but I don't mean it that way. It's just that I've gotten really emotionally attached to the Libyan revolution and people smear the Libyans by saying it's a "civil war" when it's really the Libyans fighting for their freedom from Gaddafi, so that phrase sets me off.

I really do agree with you - we need to learn from the Arabs. Because they rock.

But then again - maybe we need to suffer under our dictators for 30 or 40 years before we'll be motivated enough to rise up. Which sucks for me, because there goes my life and my future.

[Initech]

8. I'll never put political bumper stickers on my car because of this very reason.

And I keep saying this - I live in Southern California, and it's not exactly the deep south, but there's tons of freepers, dittoheads, and Fux News fanatics here. It's definitely not a safe environment.

[era veteran]

13. SELF-DELETED BY MEMBER

This message was self-deleted by era veteran.

[DrDan]

23. I have never seen this before

is this something new?

What's interesting is that if one replies to the post, one can read it.

[BobbyBoring]

41. really

n/t

[Cirque du So-What]

18. Thanks for pointing this out

No state or region of this country has a monopoly on conservatroids; they can be anywhere - not just the south or midwestern 'flyover country.' I've been trying - often in vain - to point this out to the regional chauvinists who head for the fainting couch with a case of the vapours whenever they tippy-tap out their imaginary trip to such a place. Sometimes this paranoia surfaces to the extent that they'd say, 'I'll NEVER leave _________ because of the fundies/conservatives/rednecks! Thing is, population-wise, there are more of those types in, say, southern California than in any particular state or region that causes them to water themselves when they think about such a place.

:eyes:

Maybe not percentage-wise, but sheer numbers-wise, California has a good many conservatives of various stripes. How else to explain the election of St. Ronnie, Darrell Issa, or Arnie? Glass houses, throwing stones & all that rot!

[Initech]

31. Conservative/fundie insanity knows no boundaries.

[hfojvt]

10. this sounds like paranoia to me

I have lived in some very conservative little towns and not seen anything like this, or felt it. I live in Kansas, for God's sake.

And for one thing, you do not even say that the guy hit with the pretzel bowl was talking politics. Nor does he seem all that bothered or intimidated by it.

Also, like you said, messaging from the national or state level is important. It is likely to have much more impact than anything that can be said on a bar stool.

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. Your profile doesn't specify where "these parts" are. I always have trouble relating to posts like

that. It's like "anonymous source"... I can't wrap my mind around where you're coming from. I've never had that problem in any city I've lived in, and I've lived in blood red cities as well as ice blue ones.

[JFN1]

15. Illinois. Mile after magnificent mile. And all that.

My wife is from here - I'm not; been here several years, and maybe I'm paranoid or culture shocked, but the political climate is totally different. its not a liberal friendly zone, not at all.

Folks tend to do alot of brawling around here, and we've got our share of shootings and beatings and bank robberies and spouse abuse and so much of it is just part of the background noise around here. When people do talk about it, its usually accompanied by snark and laughter. What the hell is that?

And hunting - if you don't seasonally kill things (deer, ducks, geese, turkey, etc., bow and shotgun and rifle), you're not a "real" man. Just not a measuring stick I can appreciate, I suppose.

Nothing against the people here - all "salt of the earth" types, met many nice people I'm glad to have met. But there are definite limits for me as a liberal - at least in the areas I've been exposed to, and even my wife, born and raised, finds it oppressive, and fights slipping into old patterns of learned behavior she chose to abandon after living all over with me for most of the last two decades and being exposed to different cultures and experiences.

I'm a big city type - not really rural, this being my first real experience with it. It's not even "the south" where we live - I can't imagine how things are for liberals, the deeper you get into Rushland.

[w8liftinglady]

20. Your post could have been written by me..and ,yes-I have had my tires slashed in Texas

and I do fear for my kids. It is much worse here in Texas for Liberals since President Obama was elected. There is still a lot of hate in the good old USA....and they still call themselves Christian.I have had to tone it down a LOT.

[a la izquierda]

24. I live in Oklahoma...

moved from southern California. I got tossed from a bar for arguing with a woman about politics.

[mistertrickster]

39. I try never to argue with CONs . . . it's like teaching a pig to sing.

It won't work and it annoys the pig.

I just ridicule them. "You don't like big gov't. Cool. But how are you going to retire without Social Security?"

Also good . . . "Yeah, I hate big gov't too. Like keeping marijuana illegal, what arrogant jerks!"

[RagAss]

54. More like teaching a polar bear to play the violin.

[MedicalAdmin]

57. I like the cut of your jib.

How about "Big government sucks. I'm tired of my money going to buy toys that the military doesn't need, aren't you? Talk about WASTE!"

Any others? Anyone?

[mistertrickster]

58. We should make a list. Start one in the General Discussion forum. nt

[MedicalAdmin]

67. Great idea. DO you want to post it?

I gotta bounce and will be off line for about 8 hours....

[mistertrickster]

100. Okay . . . will do soon. nt

[franzia99]

14. I feel for ya. I've spent a lot of time in conservative places. I moved away though.

We dems have our disagreements for sure. But with conservatives it's just so hard to find any common ground at all.

[themadstork]

16. "I ought to go upright and vital, and speak the rude truth in all ways."

Emerson was devoted to saying what must be, reactionaries be damned. (see his poem "Uriel.") reading him gives me strength to do the same; as far as having a buddy in the fight for liberalism it doesn't get much better than the author of the essay "Circles."

[Flubadubya]

17. Yeah, like it sometimes seems to declare it here on DU...

:rofl:

[FLPanhandle]

19. As a liberal atheist living in a deep red bible belt region, I've never had a problem

I've always been reasonable and polite, listened well, and responded with facts not emotion.

[SkyDaddy7]

21. I have no clue where it is you live...If you mentioned it...

I missed it, sorry. But what you described sounds much like the deep South where I live. I cannot express how it is so many speak with such arrogance about things they are utterly ignorant about! And yes they are not much for the intellectual conversation as that is simply a Stupid Liberal Idea! All they know is what they are told on Talk Radio & FOX "News" & beyond that personal insults, screaming & yes fighting!

I know many here on DU refuse to admit the power of Talk Radio & FOX "News" but I am 100% convinced without those two entities this country would be a far different place! They can influence enough of the public on almost all any issue that the GOP is right & the Democrats are Communist, Socialist pussies! Not to mention they use Christianity like a political nuclear weapon!


I hate to generalize a whole group of people but my experience trying to talk to Conservatives where I live is very much as I described...Even with folks I consider friends! Of course my friends don't get violent but they do get angry when clearly shown how wrong they are!

[Scuba]

22. Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees. n/t

[stillwaiting]

25. OWN it and be PROUD of it.

The time is now, and we have to especially own our liberal nature in front of brainwashed working class right wingers.

They HAVE to be exposed to the truth. Today.

[MedleyMisty]

87. Nice classism there

I am working class. Grew up working class. Only right winger I know IRL is my half-brother, who did not grow up with us and went back home to his millionaire daddy, which is why he's right-wing.

[stillwaiting]

93. I have no idea how you took my statements as being classist.

Do you not believe we currently have a class war?

Do you not believe that there are many working class Americans that have been brainwashed to vote against their own economic interests?

I think it's fantastic that you only know one right winger in real life. I truly can't comprehend such a thing since I'm surrounded by working class right wingers that have indeed been brainwashed. They do not think rationally or logically.

I am not ignorant to the fact that there are many, many working class liberals. I view them as fighting for their personal economic interests at a time of vast income and wealth disparity and inequality.

Your charge leaves me bewildered, but I truly can't be bothered with it.

Hope you have a great day today.

[elehhhhna]

26. BULL! I do and this is the Houston suburbs. There are more of us than we think there are.

And my Limbaughized neighbors have, to a man (and woman), acknowledged that they thought i was insane and now they see I was RIGHT. Damn, it feels good to see their awakening.

[MadHound]

27. I know you don't want to hear it, but it still needs to be said,

Stand up for yourself and your beliefs. If you let people intimidate you into being silent, then they've won.

I also live in a very red county in a red state. Yet I still talk politics, argue, persuade, and am actually successful in changing people's minds. I have yet to receive any threat of violence, though that might well be due to my size(six five).

But one thing I do try to do is find commonality with these folks. Many conservatives aren't as dumb or uninformed as you think, and the more you know some of them, the more you will actually be surprised by the fact that the two of you can find areas of agreement.

[Generic Other]

29. I wrote an article commemorating MLK Day and diversity on campus

and received death threats from across the country after a student white supremacist group targeted me. The letters were violent and shameful. A racist from Montgomery Alabama described how he would like to cut me open with a samurai sword -- a reference to my mongrelism -- the term they use to describe mixed race people.

[mistertrickster]

40. Mongrel is another word for "hybrid." Hybrids are stronger. nt

[Generic Other]

89. Nice of you to say so...

I don't think the creep meant it in that positive way though. I think he meant cross between dog and mudperson who must die per the Turner Diaries. Scaring women was his big specialty. But I did emerge from this experience a stronger person. And if my "horny" GI father (and one-time professional boxer) had ever met that person who talked to me like this face-to-face, I suspect he would have knocked a hole in the jerk's head you could drive a clown car through.

:toast:

[mistertrickster]

97. We shall overcome . . . nt.

[sakabatou]

92. Did you call the authorities?

[Generic Other]

107. yes

Local and FBI. I also had contact with SPLC, Hatewatch, etc. It was scary.

[kickysnana]

30. I had to hold my tongue at family gatherings until my parents passed...

Now I say what I like, as they had been and have actually changed some opinions with DU facts and news.

[Papagoose]

32. Do we live in the same town?!?

It's definitely not safe to be openly liberal where I live, though I don't hide it from anyone.

I had a car vandalized; "stupid liberal" spray painted on the side of my van in a grocery store parking lot with several bystanders who "didn't see nothing".

I have been verbally assaulted in a restaurant - apparently I enraged a redneck by his eavesdropping on my conversation with my wife and then my refusing to agree with him that Obama is causing gas prices to go up.

I had a person in a parking lot threaten to blow me up (whatever that means) unless I took the Obama sticker off my car.

Last week a man started yelling at me while I was pumping gas...he told me that my Prius is a "Commie Car" and that if I was smart, I'd get it out of his face.

I am scared sometimes, but I won't be cowered into backing down. I have children who need to know it's okay to stand up for what you believe, even if it's not popular.

[Myrina]

33. We're being told to shut up and enjoy the shit sammich ...

... just be thankful that we get a bite of anything at all, and next meal it will be a full entree if we 'work with the party'.

America started getting really mean to it's own in the 80's, and it's gotten worse from there. Even here on DU, we far-lefters are accused of 'poutrage' and 'wanting a pony' and other insulting, condescending shit because we hold (what we thought was) our party's feet to the fire.

I guess we should all just be glad that we're still allowed to exist, eh?

[Snoutport]

34. I AM LIBERAL! there, I said it. K&R

[democrank]

35. Hold your head up.

I`ve been a voting,progressive/liberal Democrat for nearly five decades and proud of it.

[mm44sas]

36. it is wiser to not say

the silent majority is probably truer than people think.

most folks are not really well informed of politics one way or another.. this is truthfully the Idiocracy States of America.

anyway, it is best not to answer or display your personal politics.

thats just my 2 cents

[socialist_n_TN]

42. I'm sorry, but I just can't go along with that.........

If you don't speak up, they win. It's as simple as that. Dems retook the house in '06 after, what 10 years (?) BECAUSE we started speaking up. The problem is that people who don't follow politics will parrot what they hear most often UNTIL THEY GET AN ALTERNATIVE VIEWPOINT. Then they start to actually THINK about it. And reality has a DEFINITE left wing bias. Do it for the (politically naive) children! :) They need an alternative.

[MedicalAdmin]

59. I agree - stand up.

On the other hand I am not physically intimidated. I used to wade into the middle of prison riots and toss asses on the ground, so I have an advantage there. The weak (bullies) don't respect anything including themselves, but they do fear the fearless.

Stand up. But have an exit strategy. Ex. Kick in balls and run away while dialing 911.

[closeupready]

37. If the answer isn't "stand up", then I guess the only option is to flee.

Or remain silent, which is what you're doing now.

If you have to ask for permission from conservatives to be a liberal, then you've already lost the battle, long ago, and maybe need to seek advice for more serious issues, because I can't imagine ever letting anyone lecture me about politics. I won't even let my loved ones do it.

[mistertrickster]

38. I just skip the wimpy "liberal" and call myself an activist leftist . . . nt

[socialist_n_TN]

43. Yep. That's one reason I actually CALL myself a ..........

socialist. Liberals are considered wimps. Socialists are dangerous. :) Words do matter for your own sense of worth if nothing else.

[truebrit71]

44. What part of Fucked-Up-Istan do you live in?

That sounds hellish..

[humbled_opinion]

45. I get it everyday...

comments from the tea heads I work with like, "It must be so easy being a Liberal, take care of the poor, jobs for everybody, healthcare is a right, equality for all, no more war, close Gitmo, its all a bunch of nicey, nicey talk and no action, no real solutions, because what liberals fail to calculate is that everything costs money and when you take money from those that have and give money to those that don't it is defined as Marxism and history shows marxism/communism ultimately leads to enslavement by the Oligarchy, so effectively liberals have no solution to these problems, blah,,, blah,,, blah,,,".

Of course I counter with ...does he feel better off being enslaved by the Plutocracy that exists today, and somehow they are OK with that.... as long as its not government control taking their tax dollars or increasing the tax burden on the rich who ultimately pass those costs on to the Middleclass.

Some of their comments become hard to defend against because Obama seems exactly like an all talk no action, unprincipled Democratic President......

[MedicalAdmin]

60. My response to that one is...

I'll let you know when there is another liberal in the white house. In the meantime enjoy the man whose policies you love.

[MedleyMisty]

85. Umm

you work with some insanely stupid people. I imagine you have to compensate for their idiocy and lack of ability to do their job a lot. *hugs*

[humbled_opinion]

106. LOL....

Mostly uneducated retired military contractors.... They rail against the very government whose funds make it possible for them to have well paying jobs. I once said all their talk was eventually going to lead them to a job at Walmart....

LOL

[tblue37]

46. I tell people liberals are not liberal enough for me. I am a socialist. nt

[socialist_n_TN]

47. Agree. See my post #46..........

:)

[Sweet Little Me]

48. I think liberals and progressives

need to do a way better job of getting our ideas and solutions into the public discourse. For decades we have been belittled and browbeaten by conservative strongmen in the media.

I sympathize with JFN1. I find it difficult to stand by quietly while an ignoramus goes on about how bad government is, assuming all the while that everyone in earshot automatically agrees with his/her nonsense. Of course that's just one example and one issue.

There are liberal think tanks and other entities that support progressive ideas, but we need to start winning converts. A 2010 ideology poll found 42% self identified as conservative, 35% moderate and 20% liberal.

Elections cannot be won with 20%.

What might it take to convince middle-class moderates that voting liberal is in their best interest? Stand on corners and hand out leaflets? Mass mailing? Ideas? Anyone?

[socialist_n_TN]

75. We don't really have to convince them. They are .........

convinced. Look at all the polls on POSITIONS. Left positions have approval at around 60%. What they DON'T do is self IDENTIFY as liberal. That 42% that identify as moderate? They hold LEFT positions.

That's why we don't need to get too hung up on labels. Our POSITIONS are what counts and those positions are supported by a SOLID majority of the population. We just need to continue to advocate for positions that those "moderates" support.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

83. I once stood on a busy street corner in San Diego in 2004

with a sign that proclaimed "IF BUSH LIED HONK" you should of heard the noise, it was deafening.
welcome to DU!

[socialist_n_TN]

49. I don't know what to tell you..........

I'm not too afraid (physically) to speak out because I've had 30 years of martial arts training, but I know that can't be transferred. But speak out you must IMO. Not to convince the hard core RW, but to convince the ones who are squishy in their beliefs.

There have been some good suggestions in this thread though. Remember that you can die on your feet or live on your knees. Which one you are able to do can ONLY be answered by you. The BEST answer that I saw was the post that said pick ONE simple and easy to explain left wing value and put it out there NOT as a "liberal" talking point, but merely as A talking point. To the religious it might be Jesus' admonitions about taking care of the poor or the eye of the needle parable about rich people. I'd keep it all economic if I could. The economics of ALL people other than the ultra rich being slaves TO the ultra rich might be something that could relate to everybody. The social issues, no matter how important, tend to bog the argument down AND divide (what the capitalist exploiters want).

I was born in the deep south and now live in Tennessee, so I CAN definitely relate to living in red state hell. Good luck to you no matter what you decide.

[formernaderite]

50. I think it's that way depending on where you live

and what party you belong to. Don't think it doesn't happen to conservatives. I used to live in a town outside of DC that became a liberal bastion. Which was great until it became too yuppified. I had a neighbor, who was a blue collar hold out, very Catholic and unbeknownst to anyone else on the street: Conservative. Great guy, but he never opened his mouth about politics. Over a beer he admitted to me, and swore me to secrecy lol I didn't care... but he really didn't want anyone to know. Our street barbeques were definitely politics 24/7 and people did say some nasty stuff about repubs..which is fine I guess, as long as you're sure everyone is in agreement. I can imagine he felt pretty well attacked. I try to refrain from name calling and stick to ideology...but not everyone is that civil.

[HankyDubs]

51. liberals on DU get attacked

verbally of course.

Called Leftbaggers, left wing extremists, accused of "disloyalty."

[gejohnston]

109. really? where?

[on point]

53. It's called fascism and must be resisted at all times and in all ways lest it triumph

[Manifestor_of_Light]

56. I have the same problem.

I live in Texas. My congress-cretin is the one who apologized to British Petroleum for having hearings!!!

Joe Barton. A complete idiot.

All my friends are black because the whites hate Obama, and I'm a third generation Democrat. But that's OK.

[kentauros]

61. I'm a Texas Liberal, too,

but I don't have a problem stating that. I'm sure that's because I'm in Houston; it's different than East Texas. However, your neighbors already know you're "not one of them", right? ;)

I have nothing on my car stating my opinions, mainly because I don't like stuff on my car anymore. The last bumper-sticker I had was from negativland and stated simply "car bomb". Never had any problems with it, either.

Personally, I think we should own what we are. If the right doesn't like it, well tough. Tell 'em to get over it.

[AnneD]

103. I too live in the blue paradise city of Houston.....

I think it is just plain nicer here because you can never tell who has a concealed gun.....Seriously, the only difference I can tell on the gun range is Liberals have a ACLU card and Conservatives have an NRA card. To pack in Texas has a different meaning than most places.

I know folks of all stripes, but we try to work togather. We have more in common than we think. I refuse to play the right left game. It is done to keep us divided and weak. I don't go out of my way to adgitate people but they know where I stand. We may bitterly disagree, and you may even call me names under your breath and behind my back-but I will treat you so nicely even help you when you are in need. You will feel ashamed of yourself for thinking it because you know you were taught better than that.

I am not afraid to stand up for my rights and beliefs. Years of being a liberal in Texas has toughened my hide. I can give as good as I get. I have been a Liberal DEM so long...I remember when all Texas was a DEM stronghold.

Hard to believe we are the 4th largest city in the US-in Texas no less.

[kentauros]

105. I can believe we're the 4th-largest quite easily.

We got most of the oil/energy companies headquartered here, NASA-JSC, and the Texas Medical Center. I don't know if you've ever ridden the train during rush hour through the Med Center, but it's standing room only! ;)

We also have the second-largest Indian population in the country, not to mention the first lesbian mayor anywhere in the US. Take that, blue states! :P :hi:

And you're right about having to work with the "other side" as in work, not politics. I'm in the energy industry and they're rampant here. Thankfully, most of them know to keep their mouths shut because managers usually don't like the help fighting (and often loudly.) It's bad for business.

While I have never owned a gun (don't want one, either) I could have had an NRA card by now, too, had I stayed in the food industry (National Restaurant Association) :P

[AnneD]

112. Yes Houston...

is a city of contradictions.

Look at this fun cool website for some great observations about Houston. It is locals not the Chamber of Commerce talking....


www.houstonitsworthit.com

[kentauros]

113. Oh, that looks great!

I'll be back after a few days of perusing (and laughing!) :D

"The Flying Cockroaches" ;)

I'll have to suggest they add a category, one that's both aggravating and wonderful (as it lends so much to Houston's character): The No Zoning

[AnneD]

114. They have published .....

at least 2 books-HIWI. Lots of cool photos and pithy remarks. They may have some in the local section at some book stores. I know they sell them at The Picnic next to the Raven Grill on Bissonet (near Museum District). Some revealing and funny stuff. I don't think we could have come through Ike as well as we did if we were any different.

[AnneD]

115. Re No Zoning....

We don't have to teach kids sex ed in school. We just do a field trip to the "tiddy bar" down the street!

[kentauros]

116. That's true

:evilgrin:

Although I was thinking more along the lines of businesses like that ironworks forge in the Heights, somewhere around 23rd and Shepherd, smack dab in the middle of a quiet little neighborhood ;)

Or how about the armadillo house that used to be on Waugh, the steel and copper palm tree on 11th, and a headless vinyl bodybuilder statue on 24th? (I used to live on the property where that statue was "displayed" :D)

The Beer Can House or the Orange Show would never get past HOAs elsewhere in the country, though I'm not sure if that's a zoning issue. I bet that in those sterile cities that can't fathom the idea of living without zoning (:P) some button-down bureaucrat would make it a zoning issue...

[krabigirl]

63. I live in a conservative area (orange county) and have no problem telling people I am liberal.

If they don't like it, they can stuff it :)

[fascisthunter]

64. Fortunately, I Live in a Blue State

but yes, people are bullied for being liberals... the media has brainwashed many Americans, especially in Red states to see liberalism as THE ENEMY.

But in fact, they have played right into a game that will make them wish one day, liberals succeed in the end.

[sulphurdunn]

65. I live in a very small town

in the South. I'm a public servant and a West Coast, Yankee carpetbagger. What I've learned from living in the Bible Belt is that there are a lot more people like me than one might suppose. Another thing I've learned is that you can drink ice-tea year round and say whatever you want to say about anyone if only you suffix it with "bless his/her heart." For example: "Joe's just a knuckle walking neo-Confederate right wing fascist rat bastard pedophile, BLESS HIS HEART." They can't hold it against you if you say it that way. Good luck!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

66. a million kicks! We have no public Voice.

we need a corporate network. a large one.

[SweepPicker]

68. Its Here Too

on the Eastern Shore of Md. I was afraid to put Obama signs in my front yard for fear of violence towards my family and I. I even kept my mouth closed for a long time concerning my political beliefs but have recently "come out of the closet" with a few people who are die hard tea bag types and its not been so bad because I have known them for years. We have actually had some civil discussions and can agree to disagree. But I can only imagine how it would proclaiming I'm a Liberal in a bar full of rednecks. I still will NOT stick an Obama sticker on my vehicle or wear an Obama shirt though. Sad huh?

[BlancheSplanchnik]

70. I have a bunch of various progressive bumperstickers, and one day in the Fall

I was driving to work (hour drive from my redneck rural town intersection to the town where I work).

A cop car with two guys in it pulled behind me on a 35 mph road, so I set my cruise control at 35and tailgated me real close for quite a while. This was in the town, too, not out in the ignorant boonies where I live. No lights to pull me over, nothing, just followed me for an uncomfortable length of time. Finally, they pulled off and left me alone.

It felt very weird. I can't say what was going on in their minds, but it just felt very very weird.

[IDemo]

69. Idaho here. I've had Obama and anti-Palin bumper stickers,

and told more than one person I'm a socialist. Never a problem.

[TheKentuckian]

71. They must have their bubble bust and know that real life people contest their idiocy.

The backing down reinforces and feeds the very mentality that creates all the current jacked up situations.

Nonsense unchallenged will take root and grow like a weed.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

72. I live in Curry County on the Southern Oregon Coast in a town

of 1200 people. The Republican candidate for Congress, Art Robinson, got the majority of the vote in our county. He ran on plank of deregulation of power plants, getting rid of the public school system and the opinion that nuclear radiation was good for people. That's right, radiation was good for us! Lucky for us Peter DeFazio won the overall vote. But the point here is at a public meeting last week in town, I got up and mocked his positions, not one person there said a word. We have to stand up people, say what's on your mind and don't be timid.

[JFN1]

73. In some places, liberals are surrounded. In 2008 our garage windows were broken out

because my wife put "Vote Obama" in shoe polish on them. This is in south central Illinois, folks - Obama's "home" state. We're not in a crappy neighborhood, either - not the "rich" side of town, for sure, but mostly lower-middle class coal miners and managerial types. After Obama got elected, someone in the neighborhood put flyers out to all the houses recommending we form a neighborhood watch once President Obama takes office, since his election was sure to make "them" more aggressiver towards "us."

Like I said in comments above - we can handle the abuse, and I live in enough pain day to day, that pain does not scare me as a consequence.

And most of us are not afraid - on the contrary, WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE.

There is a difference.

As in, we understand WHEN we speak out, there WILL be consequences.

We feel unsafe, because we do not know what form these consequences might take.

For an ex-army guy - bring it the fuck on, teabaggers.

But as I have asked before, what about others who literally cannot afford to take on the consequences of speaking out?

The single mom with a kid or two? She should risk them? Or the old couple who have voted Dem since FDR - they should place themselves in harm's way from a bunch of adrenalized tea junkies?

The risk for me, and others like those I suggest above, might be more acceptable, IF THERE WAS ANY FORM OF NATIONAL SUPPORT FOR OUR MESSAGE.

Please understand, those of you who do feel safe to speak out - SOME OF US SIMPLY CANNOT SPEAK OUT -- BECAUSE NO ONE HAS OUR BACK.

And this is the real problem we are facing.

Ever hear of the "brown shirts?"

This is, pretty literally, what it is starting to feel like.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

78. Those "brown shirts" are the reason that speaking out has

never been more important then RIGHT NOW!
We can't give them a chance to start up.
We need to stop them right now.
We have the numbers.

WE NEED TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER, NEED TO SPEAK LOUD AND CLEAR WITH ONE VOICE!
SAY IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER, ONE MESSAGE, LOUD AND CLEAR.

WE WILL NOT LET YOUR GREED RUIN THIS COUNTRY FOR THE COMING GENERATIONS!

[bongo_x]

76. I disagree...

I was never one to put bumper stickers on my car, but now I feel like it’s a duty. Why? I moved to Georgia.
If all anyone sees is crazy right wing messages then they start to feel intimidated. They think everyone thinks that way.
I think the intimidation works, but I don’t think it’s real, not yet. I think it’s just a few loudmouth jerks who feel emboldened.

I said this in another post but;
In my area I got yelled at a lot by passing drivers just for having a Kerry sticker on my truck in 04. I got rude comments about anti-Bush stickers.
But lately I’m seeing less and less crazy Right-wing stickers. Now I drive around with stickers that are fully mocking the Tea Party and pro Socialist.
Not subtle. As of right now I haven’t heard one negative comment, not one. I have people all the time tell me they like them though, and ask where I got them.
Many people have told me that they approve, but that I must be brave, or that I must get harassed a lot, and are surprised when I tell them no.

Maybe tomorrow someone will key my car, but I have insurance. My car is not as important as trying to stop this country from going to hell.
If these right wing nuts keep at it I’ll have nothing left to protect anyway. It wouldn’t be easy to move to another country either.
I dont’ think anyone is going to try to kill me for my beliefs, but I don’t know if that’s true for the future if we don’t make ourselves known now.

[Zax2me]

77. REC and.....kick!

[livefreest]

79. no no no! don't stand up. or stand up very slowly

[xmas74]

80. I don't give a damn what they think.

They've tried to intimidate me in front of my child in public on more than one occasion. I don't really care. I've always just ignored them and then leaned in to my child, explaining to her (loud enough for the a-hole to hear me) that this is what makes America great. We have the right to say what we want and we have the right to respectfully disagree with what others are saying. If this doesn't shut them up then I make a comment about how our ancestors actually fought in the Revolutionary War so this idiot can live in a land that allows him/her to say what they want

Living in a military town has its advantages. Yes, they tend to be quite conservative but once any branch of the military is mentioned as the reason we have (insert "right" here) then nearly ninety percent of arguments die. I've only had one argument go any further and that was a chicken-hawk who shut his mouth when a friend in his uniform began talking to me while shooting him nasty looks.

[Dawson Leery]

81. There are pockets of kooks everywhere. Including in Connecticut.

[flvegan]

82. The left has no voice because they live on defense.

I won't go into "internet tough guy" specifics, but I'm in a largely red area...and I'm not afraid. Take it personally. Don't ever expect those idiots in DC to follow your wishes nor protect you. As for the internet, learn to leverage it.

Those "bullies in the room" are just that...bullies. If they come after you seeking to do damage, leverage your resources and burn their lives to the fucking ground. When they stop being nice, you stop being nice.

It's called "offense" and we should try it more often.

[Name Unpronounceable]

88. speaking of bumper stickers

I think your message should be on one, although a bit lengthy. Couldn't have said it better myself. Enough of being wussy nice guys. Time to come out tough and hard and not take any crap from anyone. You fight fire with fire.

[inna]

90. just a minor point - "Liberal" does not necessarily equal "Left".

By "left", meaning support for social policies that favor the working class.

[JFN1]

91. Indeed.

Yes, left in your definition, and socially liberal, too.

[hobbit709]

94. This leftist hippie is no pacifist.

I've driven around in East TX with my truck with all my bumper stickers and I've had more people here in Austin give me the finger or cuss me on the road than in E TX.

[olegramps]

95. The working class Republicans are only digging their own economic grave.

Invest wisely and then you can watch them struggle with the fruits of their own stupidity as they enthusiastically cooperate in bringing about their own economic destruction.

I have recently reread Aristotle's "Politics" in which he described what happens in a society as a democracy is transformed into an oligarchy. He stated a very simple fact: That a democracy can only exist when the middle class is in the majority. The way to an oligarchy is paved by demagogues who are the tools of the wealthy who effectively destroy middle class unity by diverting their attention with divisive propaganda campaigns that result in polarization. It appears to be an unchanging cycle and confirms my suspicions that we are not really any smarter than the Greeks were 2,300 years ago. Effective champions of the working class are few and far between because they must be just as ruthless in their determination in bringing down the oligarchs as the oligarchs are in enslaving the masses. Huey Long come to mind in fitting the bill.

[L. Coyote]

96. Ronald Reagan was also an antedote teller

but what does that have top do with the real picture? Points of view are not the same as the facts. You are only as free as you feel, and if you don't feel free, YOU need to maske the first change by unchaining yourself. Otherwise, you really are repressed and suppressed. Fact is, there will always be others trying toi manipulate you politically and socvially. You either free yourself from them, or place the chains on yourself.

[yurbud]

98. three words for these nitwits ''Social Security'' and ''Medicare''

I would say, ''Them Dems do a lotter shit I don't like, but at least they won't take away my Social Security and Medicare. My company drained our pension fund and Wall St made my 401K a joke. Without Social Security and Medicare, I'd be living in a cardboard box when I get old.''

[upi402]

99. Repukes are 100% evil

Dems maybe 65%. Thomm Hartmann is on, time to go to my special place. Thomm for President!

[yurbud]

102. the GOP would say Thom is a commie because he lived in Germany

and wonder aloud about his close relationship to his cat.

[Iggo]

101. I wore an Obama t-shirt during the '08 campaign.

I caught hell at work, at the mall, in restaurants, on the bus, walking down the street, riding my bike, etc...

And I live in Southern California. Whittier in Southeast L.A., in fact.

I can imagine it's a tad worse in Red State America.

[InkAddict]

104. I worry I will be denied employment as a deep background

check reveals my voter registration to corporate hiring personnel or managers.

[lonestarnot]

110. Usually bullies back off when you kick their ass.

[Iggo]

111. True fact.

Gotta be careful in a 3-strikes state, though.