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Pyryck

(99 posts)
Tue Jun 7, 2022, 01:35 PM Jun 2022

I engaged an avowed "conservative" regarding Jan 6th last night...

He had on his favorite, and only source of information, where the talking head on the TV was carrying on about the 20000 national guard troops on standby on Jan 6th and how it was "Pelosi's" fault they were not called into action to defend Congress.

I started with asking why the crowds of peaceful, law-abiding, police-supporting republicans, AKA supporters of the Law-n-Order party ... ignored the lawful police orders, created disorder by assaulted the police and then proceeded to break into the building housing congress.

His response was it was "instigators" that encouraged the crowds to violent behavior. Of course he also trotted out the whole "antifa did it" propaganda talking point. I pointed out that he told me his own father served in North Africa, Italy and then France in WWII.
And then I made a point of describing exactly who it was that his father fought against - nazi fascism and italian fascism which would make his own father, and the rest of the Greatest Generation, Anti Fascists. I also pointed out that I considered myself to be "antifa" and asked him why didn't he whip out his AR-15 style weapon and shoot me.

He did mention about some militarily attired teams that led the way up the steps and into the capitol but had no clue and no idea of what the Proud Boys, Oathkeepers and 3%'ers were/are. Because those groups are not mentioned, described, advertised or talked about on his only source of fair-n-balanced reporting.

I asked him why if it was such peaceful and orderly protest to "take back the country", why then did the Republican members of congress flee for their safety, and in fear of their lives, instead of openly embracing their constituent supporters and engaging them in supportive conversation.

No answer.

I pointed out the events involving the VP and the CEO in the Whitehouse's own words about hanging his own VP.

He answered that he had heard about that but had no more comment about it.

I finally asked him about the 20000 National Guard troops that were on standby and alert to deploy. I asked him if the gathering down the street where the CEO talked to his followers was so peaceful and all about "taking back the country" why then would the CEO need 20000 national guard troops for that. I mentioned the CEO and Republican talking points about the "infestation of the Pentagon by democrats" and the military leaders in the Pentagon not being in the CEO's back pocket, why then would the CEO need so many troops on standby if he couldn't count on their support.

He answered that the 20000 national guard troops were on standby to stop a coup.

Something else he pointed out and kept trying to rebut everything I was saying was the ORGANIZED Democratic Party wanted to give the right to vote to everyone else, including immigrants, while taking away his right to vote.

We talked about a few other things like our differing religious beliefs - he being a believer and follower and carrying on about Armageddon and the "End Days". And me not being a believer. He pointed out that his wife, who grew up a believer and went to church in her young and middle years, and then in her later years before passing away in 2015, stated that she didn't believe in the bible because it was written by men to influence and control men's thoughts. Go MOM!

Yes, my own father, and gawd how I love him in spite of all of this, was/is the avowed fascist entertainment channel watcher and believer of "fair-n-balanced" and truthful reporting of unbiased information.

He did mention that one of the signs of the coming Armageddon and the finals days - was the children rising up against their parents.

He keeps pointing out that I don't want to accept his opinions and respect them. How can you have/keep such uninformed, un-educated, non-thinking opinions and still expect other people to acknowledge and respect them.

How is any sane, intelligent, thinking, observing, questioning person supposed to live with the above every single day in the same house? In the same city? State? Country?

How can we as a country or nation survive this assault? How in the hell will Democracy ever survive this attack by one of it's two major political parties?

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

BSdetect

(8,998 posts)
1. Such people are filled with fear and plied with lies to inflame their hatred of supposed outsiders.
Tue Jun 7, 2022, 01:48 PM
Jun 2022

It is so hard to deprogram them.

maryellen99

(3,788 posts)
2. I'm pretty much staying home and keeping to myself
Tue Jun 7, 2022, 01:50 PM
Jun 2022

Dealing with worsening anxiety and insomnia due to long Covid and there’s too many angry people out there with guns.

panader0

(25,816 posts)
3. Trump's acting Secretary of Defense (he had many "acting" people to avoid Congressional approval.)
Tue Jun 7, 2022, 02:25 PM
Jun 2022

Christopher Miller issued a memo on Jan 4th, two days before the insurrection that gave him, and only him,
the power to call up the National Guard. And limited their ability to respond if called. Check it out.
https://www.nationalmemo.com/miller-disarmed-national-guard

czarjak

(11,266 posts)
4. "Armageddon", "End Times"? Needs to check out what role Russia plays...
Tue Jun 7, 2022, 02:26 PM
Jun 2022

According to the book that nothing beats that StableGenius hasn't read? (Russia's the bad guy, FYI)

maxsolomon

(33,286 posts)
6. Impressive you were able to be so civil.
Tue Jun 7, 2022, 03:13 PM
Jun 2022

Good job, hope it had some impact.

No Antifa were anywhere near the Capitol that day. Just an absurd deflection, but the guilty will always seize on comforting lies to avoid self-reflection.

Welcome to DU.

IronLionZion

(45,420 posts)
7. Thousands of MAGA patriots bravely stood by and watched
Tue Jun 7, 2022, 04:18 PM
Jun 2022

while Antifa smashed property and beat up police officers. Then deep state arrested a lot of MAGA patriots but no Antifa.

AverageOldGuy

(1,523 posts)
8. If . . .
Tue Jun 7, 2022, 04:38 PM
Jun 2022

. . . there had been a single whiff of Black Lives Matter or "antifa" involvement in the Jan 6 terrorist attack, Congressional Republicans would have started an investigation the night of Jan 6.

Instead, Congressional Republicans blocked a special committee leaving Congress no way to investigate except the way they are doing now.

The fact that Republicans blocked an investigation at any step shows they are complicit and they know it.

Justice matters.

(6,925 posts)
9. Antifa attacked the Capitol to prevent the guy they voted for to be certified.
Tue Jun 7, 2022, 04:49 PM
Jun 2022

That makes no sense at all

The guy they voted for supports democracy in Ukraine by helping Ukraine's military in their fight against the Fascist regime in Russia that invaded her, just like the greatest generation fought against the Fascist regimes in Italy & Germany.

momta

(4,079 posts)
10. Thanks for your story, Pyryck.
Tue Jun 7, 2022, 05:00 PM
Jun 2022

My own father passed away in 2015, before the rise of Trump. I had my difficulties with him because he was a religious, bigoted, fox-watching republican, but I'm kind of glad he wasn't around for it to get this bad. I believe he would have supported the orange menace, and we would have had that much more to argue about. (Or NOT talk about.)

I loved him, but geez!

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