Since I had parents who made sure I had a conscience and I also have an often used sense of shame,

[Atticus]

Last edited Wed Mar 2, 2022, 09:51 PM - Edit history (1)

I am embarrassed that my country, the United States of America, is home to literally millions of proudly ignorant moral pygmies who believe that traditional national values and patriotism are merely quaint vestiges of the totally irrelevant pre-Trump era.

Having been encouraged to be hostile to any without a MAGA cap who are unwilling to sacrifice truth and common sense on Trump's altar, their sole purpose in life seems to be gaining his approval. In furtherance of that, they are willing to be reliable bobbleheads no matter what vile and disgusting word salad he bleats and they have practiced swooning just in case he smiles in their direction at one of his "WORSHIP ME!" rallies.

These are not good people. They were not born selfish racist bullies but somehow, even though they grew up in our nation, attended our schools and had access to more factual information than any prior generation, that is who they are and all they aspire to ever be. And, even though I can't see how I am responsible for their mean-spirited shamelessness, I find myself feeling ashamed FOR them.

What happened to these people? Has our tolerance of intolerance eradicated all the boundaries between good and evil, truth and falsehood, honesty and deceit? Is nihilism now the philosophical foundation motivating the loudest of our political speech?

The fact that Republican oratory on TV can make me feel shame in the privacy of my home has led to another emotion: anger. I should not have to endure their regular assaults on my senses with their despicable nonsense.

This will not end well.

[LakeArenal]

1. Empathy in only half the US. That's just so wrong.

[world wide wally]

2. Know what I hate?

Republicans

[calimary]

18. Take a number.

[nancy1942]

3. Amen.

Well said.

[kimbutgar]

4. That video today of that Assolini supporter who said tFG is still president but blamed President

Biden for high gas prices showed me how truly we are F’ed because of stupid people like him.

[JasonMain]

5. Before the Trump presidency...

I thought about 10% of the country were morons. I had no idea it’s probably closer to about 50%.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. Never really thought about it before. I liked it better when they were all dispersed

And you just happened upon one occasionally.

[Tommymac]

9. 25% Tops. Get Real. It's just the M$M is amplifying the loud stupid minority.

And that is very generous.

They are only 70% of the Rethuglican Party - 30% is still almost sane (but still wrong). At best, the Rethuglican Party is about 35% of the Total Eligible Voters in US.

The Eligible Voters in the US are less then 70% of the total population. Do the math.

They are the most vocal group, however, at least the M$M gives them a hugely amplified platform.

Now if you said 50% of the M$M are total morons, then you may have something.

[housecat]

10. greedy morons

[acantharchus]

6. I agree. This will not end well. NT

[eppur_se_muova]

8. The barbarians are not just within the gates -- they were born and raised here.

Every generation must fight to prevent people from following this course. Education is key, and Uglicans are doing all they can to cripple educators, and to make higher education affordable only to the wealthy, thus giving them the raw material from which to build a compliant army of brownshirts.

[Cozmo]

11. It's effing amazing, isn't it?

[Mr.Bill]

12. I think some of the Bill of Rights

are flawed or at least misinterpreted. Freedom of the press should not include purposefully lying to millions of people. Untrained and moronic fools should not be carrying guns. Churches should be taxed. Religion should never be forced on anyone, especially in our schools. The list goes on, but you get the idea.

[hippywife]

13. I think you have a typo.

"Having been encouraged to be hostile to any without a MAGA cap and unwilling to sacrifice truth and common sense on Trump's altar,..."

Surely you're unwilling to do that, but they certainly are not.

[Atticus]

15. It is those "without a MAGA cap" who are "unwilling". Sorry if that was poorly worded. nt

[hippywife]

16. Yes, it's very confusing. nt

[Mr. Evil]

17. Nope.

The OP meant they are encouraged to be hostile to any unwilling to sacrifice truth (us) and common sense on Trump's altar. Leave out the MAGA part and it reads correctly. Admittedly, I read it twice to make sure I got it.

[Atticus]

21. I edited the OP. Hopefully, it is clearer. nt

[hippywife]

22. ...

[Evolve Dammit]

14. Good post Atticus. "Proudly ignorant" and morally bankrupt is the GOP base.

[vanlassie]

19. It is not a lack of education that creates this

maladaptive lack of empathy. It is a failure to have basic needs met in early childhood. But it is important to understand how truly costly this is. These people don’t just vote badly. They lie, cheat and steal without conscience. They are a cancer on our country. The poor parenting is passed along and metastasized.

[Stuart G]

20. i Believe it is 25 to 30 percent of the U.S. population that has no empathy.

They always vote Republican and hate everyone that is not ..."their own kind"...Yes, they grew up wrong and
were....taught wrong by their friends or family, and they believed.."Wrong"

And I had parents that taught me empathy too!!

[NorthGADem]

23. You've Got to be Carefully Taught

In the face of widespread criticism and intense scrutiny this came from the pen of Richard Rogers in 1949:
(Apologies if this is a repost but it seems so relevant to Atticus' thoughts:

You've got to be taught to hate and fear,
You've got to be taught from year to year,
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught to be afraid of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade, you've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught before it's too late, before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate, you've got to be carefully taught!

[moondust]

24. The Russo-MAGA affinity

is rooted in moral bankruptcy.