My rant at Starbucks

[ejbr]

I am doing my best to hear the input of everyone who chooses to leave one on my previous post, but it is becoming more difficult as more posts are placed.

Although I have been obnoxious to some of you who do not "approve" of my reaction, I still value your input, regardless of my response (many of which I owe an apology for. I apologize, I was being defensive). We are all on the same team and Obama has created a political environment where we should listen to each other, even if we disagree.

I know I am not perfect and will continue to work on myself. Should I have responded differently? Yeah, I probably should have. Will it cost Obama voters? Yeah, but I am in a safe blue state (not to minimize the effect of my response). Will I act differently in the future if a similar situation arises? I think I must. However, one of my pet peeves is unprovoked insults.

Technically, I was eavesdropping, but the tables were close enough for him to know that others would likely take in snippets of his conversation (I think he counted on this) Some of you will never "forgive" my actions. Nor should you. This is what makes you the progressives I love. However, there is a line that this guy crossed whether you wish to admit it or not. I couldn't let it stand (which is where the supporters of my rant are coming from, I think).

The best bit of advice I took from my previous post is to ask myself, "What would Obama do?" At first, I thought this sycophantic, but upon further reflection, he would have done the right thing. And what other standard should I choose?

I hope that those of you who take exception to my response see that I am trying to be introspective. And for those of you who think I am being self-indulgent by posting yet again, I apologize. I just thought that other DUers might get good advice about these types situations by any of the responses to this post.

Peace.

[JuniperLea]

1. Perspective is everything...

We aren't you, and we weren't there. I find it rather cruel to harshly judge under those circumstances.

That said, we've been under so much pressure for so long now, that I can't find fault in anyone who "finally" let it all out. Outside of violence or vandalism, I'll not judge you or anyone else who have posted like threads recently, but some of your (and their) judges really stink.

That is all.

[ejbr]

5. Cheers n/t

[hfojvt]

2. probably not a good idea

to substitute Obama for Jesus in that phrase, Although Jesus was the guy who killed a fig tree because it had no figs on it when figs were not in season. Still, you might ask "What would MLK do?" or "What would Albert Schweitzer do?" or "What would W.E.B. Dubois do?" instead of kinda deifying our current nominee.

I mean, I like Obama, but he's no Jesse Jackson.

[ejbr]

20. I understand, but I think

Obama still would have acted much better than I under the circumstances.

[Tarc]

3. The problem here is that right-wingers live in an echo chamber, wher everything sounds right

They are completely incapable of dealing when their opinions are challenged in any way. Maybe its the Limbaugh Effect, coming from the man who never sits and debates others. He either has sycophants on as guests, or he appears in "safe" media like Hannity.

This asshat sounds like a cut from the same mold, thinking he can say what he like,s when he likes, with impunity.

Fuck him. You did right by popping his delusional bubble.

[ejbr]

4. Thanks for the support . Cheers. n/t

[leftofcool]

6. Whether anyone agrees with your actions

or not should not make a difference in what you do. Would I have done different? Yes, but at my age, I learned a long time ago that I believe what I do as do others and it makes no difference in my life what others do, how they act, what they believe or who they talk to. Lesson #1: Apologize to no one for what you believe. Lesson #2: Unless your actions cause actual physical harm, apologize to no one for your actions (spouses/SO's excluded). Lesson #3: Be your own role model. No one can make you angry unless you allow it.

[ejbr]

7. Thanks for your words of wisdom. n/t

[CitizenPatriot]

8. I haven't read the responses to your other post

so I'm not commenting on them -- but I just wanted to say that I understand your feelings. This election has been brutal for all of us; it's tough to keep hearing ignorant and violent rhetoric, much of it aimed at "liberals" where they call us "socialists", etc. I live in a red state and I've been plenty tested. I tend to become overly polite when irritated, but that comes from living in a city where we had to learn to contain anger or put ourselves at risk.

I applaud your efforts at reconsidering your choice, but I also understand the impulse. I'm not much for judging others, as I wasn't in your shoes and I didn't hear this guy; so for whatever it's worth, I think it's important to speak up when you think it's called for. It's the way we speak up that matters. It is time to say Enough to the lies and the smears. Your instincts were correct. But please consider your own safety. there are nuts out there right now, just looking for an excuse to go off on someone in a dangerous way.

Take care and don't beat yourself up. We're just human -- part of that means we make mistakes. Being a good progressive means we learn from them and aspire to be tolerant of others.

Hugs.

[ejbr]

11. Thanks...sniff

:hug:

[lunatica]

9. Well, I'm going to defend you

First of all, if you had pulled a gun on someone or thrown your coffee in his face or pushed him physically then I could see why all the morality police would come out to wag their finger at you. You friggin yelled at an idiot who insulted people around him. Jeezus! You yelled at someone to shut the fuck up and get away from you and too many people choose to criticize you as if you had actually shot the guy in cold blood.

Sorry, but I think you didn't do anything so bad. And you should get more support here where people know how bad it is to live among the willfully ignorant who are also damn and proud of their pseudo-god Limbaugh.

I still say that some days you gotta do what you gotta do, and some days that's shutting someone up.

[ejbr]

12. I agree,

but I must admit that the expletives in a public place were over-the-top. Thanks for your input.

[uppityperson]

10. Thanks for posting this. I tried to stay out of the other one, waiting to see

what happened with you. Thank you for thinking and considering your actions. We all make mistakes, and learning from them is good.

[ejbr]

15. Coming

from an "uppityperson", this is good advice. :)

[EFerrari]

13. It's hard not to react to reactive @ssholes.

One week to go. :)

[ejbr]

17. cheers!

:pals:

[EFerrari]

23. I once went off on this woman who cuffed her kid on my block.

I saw her hit him on the head, he was maybe two and in a stroller.

She never saw me coming and I kept it up for about 10 minutes. "If me or my neighbors EVER see you do that again, YOU WILL GO TO JAIL!" And so on.

Well, I got feedback from my neighbors and even from the mailman. They didn't like what I did. I thought I was trying to make this not a good place to hit your kids but apparently I overdid it.

Okay, next time, I'll notch it down. :pals:

[ejbr]

24. Thanks for sharing. n/t

[onenote]

14. I'm glad you are thinking about this from all angles

But I have to tell you, I don't, won't and can't defend what you did. If I'm in a public place talking to someone and I start making fun of Sarah Palin and of the folks that support her and someone eavesdropping on my conversation did what you did, I would consider them a Class A asshole, and I suspect most people here would feel the same way.

[ejbr]

18. Duly noted. Thanks for sharing. n/t

[OnyxCollie]

16. I read the original post.

I even got into an argument on it.

I know what you did and understand why you did it (and after 8 years of idiots, I feel like screaming myself.)

I won't applaud you, nor will I scold you. But it probably did nothing to change anybody's mind.

[ejbr]

19. Cheers n/t

[tilsammans]

21. I forgive you, and no, you are not self-indulgent, IMHO

It's been a helluva long eight years, hasn't it? All that anger that's built up? I am a freakin' volcano.

But soon, we can all breathe easier, I hope. (And maybe gloat just a little.)

:dem:

[ejbr]

22. YES!!! n/t