I ended a family relationship tonight...

[Mz Pip]

I don't have much of a family being an only child and both parents are deceased. The only family on my mom's side I've kept in touch with over the years is my cousin's wife. That's over as of tonight.

I've been more than tolerant of the RW screeds she sends be on a regular basis but the last one put me over the top. I won't post it. It was a picture of Obama bowing to the Saudi king. Big fucking deal IMHO. Well this screed accused him of all sorts of malfeasance like 'bowing to the head of Islam!!!!' Oh noes!!!!!!!!!!!! That along with a bunch of racist innuendos. I hit back this time with the pics from the 'tea parties' and all the racist signs. Of course she didn't acknowledge the odiousness of any of this and told me that if I was so smart I should run for government office.

So I countered with the fact that these people who write these screeds don't even have the courage to sign their names much less run for office.

So tonight I get her latest comeback telling me that I just spout Democratic talking points but she reads both sides of the issue before making a decision. (Yeah, right. I'd believe that if she ever sent me anything other than RW screed.) So I was basically accused of not being a good American, that the people who sent these emails loved America and I obviously didn't. "You are not open-minded or you are blinded or deaf to what is going on.... Oh and by the way the people I send those emails too are great people who LOVE this Country and LOVE God and CARE what happens." No, they only care about having things go their way.

I replied pretty much shredding her and told her to stop sending me this crap.

So that's that. Obama pals around with terrorists and we all voted for him so we love the terrorists. Got it. Fuck you.

Funny. I don't feel bad at all.

Mz Pip

[Mari333]

1. hugs anyway

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear Mz Pip...

Seriously, you rock!

I hope you won't feel lonely...not likely, right?

:hug:

[Fumesucker]

3. I'm glad you don't feel bad..

But I'm sorry you lost your last remaining family member..

[Mz Pip]

22. Well, I still have

my kids and hubbies family. My 89 year old in-laws rock. My father-in-law is a WWII veteran who thought he might be on some DHS list since he dontated some money to an Impeach Bush group. He thought that was pretty funny.

It's okay.

I think I just reached a tipping point. If she really "looked at both sides of the issues" as she so loftily claims I doubt the only political stuff I would be getting from her is badly written right wing screeds. I don't even get WSJ editorials - just nutbag unsigned rants about Obama the Muslim terrorist commie bastard.

[mzteris]

4. i'm sorry

:hug:

[OmahaBlueDog]

5. I'm genuinely curious. Is there any common ground at this point?

It used to be we could say, "I disagree with what you'll say, but I'll go to my death defending your right to say it". It seems like now, there is no common ground. I know some coworkers who are cons who I can good naturedly trade barbs with, but mostly, about all I can discuss now and stay on safe ground is sports. The minute it gets to current events, it gets nasty.

[get the red out]

17. Politics is becoming the new "separate but equal"

It is so sad that there can be few cordial disagreements about politics anymore. I really blame the fact that religion and politics have become one for so many people with the Republican party being as much about religious identification as one's church to many on the right. You vote against Republicans and to some people you have voted against their religion and you need to be converted or despised.

People used to be cordial about it, like someone being a fan of a different sports team, good natured debate or ribbing, but not the idea that those people must be re-educated or you can't associate with them. Not the constant email abuse that the OP endured before she had had enough. This is definitely a symptom of some very wrong thinking in our society when there can't be political compromise and people can't care for others of a different political point of view. Something has to change.

[Mz Pip]

20. I doubt it really.

She's not the brightest bulb on the planet. One time in response to one of the screeds I reponded with a a dissenting opinion and made the mistake of hitting "reply to all" and got death threats. Nice friends she's got there.

[OmahaBlueDog]

21. I gotta tell ya, if I'd have gotten death threats...

..I'd have kept the exchanges going, while, at the same time, having called the FBI and local authorities.

[Mz Pip]

24. They were stupid

Not so much "I'm going to hunt you down and kill you" but more of the "I hope you die in a terrorist attack you stupid bitch." That kind of thing. Lots of hyperbole and hot air. MOre like death wishes than threats really. Quite colorful.

[CANDO]

27. I always hit "reply all"

If someone wants to send me an e-mail and include a whole host of others as recipients, then I feel justified in including everyone involved. If it's politics or religion and you don't want me possibly insulting any of your friends, then just keep it between the two of us. That's the understanding I came to with my right wing brother.

[Dammit Ann]

6. Hell yes! You don't need that shit in your life.

I hate this whole idea that if we are DEMOCRATIC CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY that we are the FUCKING ENEMY!

Fuck these fuckers. You will most likely never miss her presence in your life.

[DainBramaged]

7. You got us, we will ALWAYS be here to listen

:loveya: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :yourock:

[NV Whino]

8. Yup.

A long time friend of mine (over 40 years) kept sending me all that right wing shit and I finally told him to stop it. He doesn't even examine it himself, or write it himself, he just passes it along. Haven't heard from him since.

Got another one who's going to disappear shortly, too. Her latest one was on the tea party she attended.

So hugs to you, Mz Pip. You have plenty of company. The good kind, that is.

[Poiuyt]

9. You should send her this:

[Laelth]

10. Did you see this thread?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8355723

Lots of Republican hypocrisy on this subject.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Mz Pip]

42. Thanks

Bookmarked in case I need it for another go round. I doubt there will be one though.

[fuggbush21]

11. You people take this stuff way to seriously.

I have very drastic political differances with some members in my family. Everytime we get together, we have discussions about current events. Not once do we ever get into fights about it. I'm able to talk to my co-workers about it, and it doesn't matter what our differances in beliefs are, in the end we leave work as friends.

Politics is politics folks. If you let it run your life to the point that your cutting family and friends off, then it's YOU who has the problem. Not them.

[tabasco]

13. So you don't care that much.

Why are you on a primarily political message board?

Lost?

[uppityperson]

15. Search is interesting. nt

[OmahaBlueDog]

25. OK, I'll split that hair

I care about politics, but I don't (generally) argue about it with strangers or try to persuade others to my cause. I vote and I write checks.

[Mz Pip]

18. She cut me off

I guess I didn't make that clear. I was accused of being the terrorist sympathizer and she told me I didn't love America like she and her looney friends did. she's not interested in discourse or dialoge or reasonable discussion. I am just a Democrat. She made that clear.

I don't think it's me that has the problem since I have been more than tolerant of all this shit for years. Enough is enough.

[MrMickeysMom]

How do you know?

... I mean, that you HAVE very drastic differences, unless you talked about more than current events?

Indifference is indifferences, folks.

Have a blissful life, folk.

[jmm]

19. Sometimes the real issue isn't letting politics

run your life but not letting others push their beliefs on you.

There are some people I won't discuss certain topics with but if somebody is being disrespectful and continually looked down on my beliefs while trying to push theirs on me then they are the problem.

[OmahaBlueDog]

23. I'm that way with my neighbors and family, too. But..

increasingly, there is a zero-sum-game group out there. You are either with them or you are the enemy. I first started seeing this in 2004, when neighborhoods got into yard sign wars, and people who'd been neighbors for years ceased talking to one another.

There is a real we-know-better arrogance among conservatives. It seems to stem partially from the religon factor that has been mentioned elsewhere, and partly over a personality cult that surrounds Rush Limbaugh, who many feel is a great and gifted American.

[HughMoran]

41. No need to worry about "differances in beliefs"

We do avoid differences as it can lead to fights though.

[Flying Dream Blues]

46. Wow, are you ever wrong! That might work with people who have the

ability to reason and maintain the tiniest shred of human decency and mutual respect. With people who spew hate and go for the jugular, and who also refuse to leave the subject off limits, it's difficult to maintain any sort of relationship. Refusing to rise to the hate-bait is the only option, and it gets extremely old. At some point, you have to recognize that you're being abused and then leave the relationship.

[Adsos Letter]

47. "You People?"...

[Wednesdays]

48. Maybe fuggbush21 is just referring to the "uppity" ones.

:eyes:

[CoffeeCat]

50. Not everyone lives in political utopia like you...

So, because your family is able to have rational political discourse--every other family should just buck up
and follow your sterling example?

If only it were that easy.

Some people are able to discuss politics and walk away friends. However, there are many toxic people out there
who will corner you, spout off the lies they heard on Glenn Beck and then mock you because you don't agree.

Those people are out there. Just be glad that they aren't in your family.

We can't all live in this amazing world that you do--and have rational relatives. Just be glad that you
do, and then offer support for others who do not.

[mwb970]

56. Sorry, no. RW wackos are fundamentally different and are unreachable.

"Politics is politics", you say. Bullsh*t! Right-wing nuts have more than just a preference for the "wrong" candidate. They have a fundamentally different world view, a fundamentally different (and horrible) attitude toward everything in life. If I have a family member who crosses to the Dark Side and becomes a hateful, nasty, bitter wingnut (like the person described here), they are gone from my life in a flash.

And it ain't my fault, despite what you say.

:eyes:

[ASUliberal]

58. I would have to agree

My entire family is basically right-wing hard core. And I've had a few political discussions that have blown up big time (to the point where I am screaming at my dad as he is screaming at me). I've realized that the best thing to do with family is to not discuss politics unless you absolutely cannot hold your tongue.

Even if you hear them say something that sounds stupid or offensive, just let it go. Or if you must, correct them but take it easy and treat them with respect.

There is nothing political that is worth losing your family over.

[KathieG]

12. I know how you feel.

You did the right thing. There is no reasoning with people like that, family or not. It's so incredibly frustrating when you can't get through to them...you can present facts to them all day long and it will get you nowhere.

[EFerrari]

14. Well, just in case, I'm sorry, Mz Pip.

:hug:

[Hawkeye-X]

16. You have family - you keep forgetting - it's US!

I've known you since you had that donkey as your avatar, and that's pretty damn long time. I always enjoy your posts, and always have a lot of respect for you!

:grouphug:

[Mz Pip]

29. Thanks

I don't often initiate threads but I was sort of in a ranting kind of mood after this week long exchange with the cousin-in-law. I can put up with a lot but implying that I voted for the guy who pals around with terrorists from someone claiming to study both sides of an issue before making a decision sort of did me in.

[WillowTree]

26. I have a good friend who used to send me some stuff like that.

The last time she did, I wrote back and reminded her that years ago we had agreed, for the sake of our friendship, not to discuss politics. She got it and that was that. She has her views and I have mine, we keep them to ourselves and the friendship remains intact.

Not everything has to be about politics, after all.

[Mz Pip]

31. I tried that

Ironically at her suggestion. I never send her stuff. Ever. She never quit. I ignored most of it for the sake of familial bliss but then I realized that even though I couldn't choose my family I didn't have to embrace them either.

[Historic NY]

28. I just permanently block those from sending me e-mail..

..it drives them nuts that they have their juicy e-mail but no one to annoy with it. Try it you will see.

[MiniMe]

30. Send her the pic of * kissing the King of Saudi Arabia on the mouth

[NoSheep]

32. Good for you. The pain you must have felt throughout your experience with her

will never have to be a part of your life again. Find your own family in the world and know you are not alone. There are so mnay of us who feel the way you do. You are in the right, and you are the better person.

[Dumak]

33. You did the right thing

Feeling like you have to play footsie with a racist just because you are related can be psychologically distressing.

[L0oniX]

34. I never have a problem telling repukes off, friend or not. I'm better off without them.

I refuse to repair anyone's equipment who is a repuke or racist ...uhm ...well ...usually that's the same thing anyway. I'd rather not take their money ...but if they insist, knowing what my views are then I just charge them much more than the usual charge. Fuck them. I hate them with a passion and with good reason! There's nothing worse for this country than ignorant, lying, hypocritical, authoritarian, racist repukes!

[DeepBlueC]

35. I'm sorry Mz Pip

Even though you say you don't feel bad, I do. The older I get the more I want to find ways to hang on to people rather than cut them off. Sometimes it includes a least a tacit agreement not to engage on what we cannot agree.

[Mz Pip]

37. I tried

but this has been a long time coming. Back during the primaries she said we shouldn't discuss politics. Fine by me. I never sent her a damn thing. But I guess she didn't consider sending me every anti-Obama piece of shit should be part of the deal.

I think it was the racist crap that did it.

[DeepBlueC]

43. one of my cousins does the same thing

not political screeds, jokes & cartoons some of them both funny AND in bad taste. But I know that they come from my cousin's childhood friend who is undoubtedly a Republican (though none of us talk politics very much...it is kind of assumed we are Democrats) and cousins simply forward them to their entire mailing list. Another cousin sends me cutesy chain letters which I actually find more offensive but I just delete them and move on.

[ninety lives]

36. Why do conservatives always do this?

I would never think of sending my political beliefs out to everyone.

Why do they always do this at the dinner table and everywhere else?

I try to be nice and sympathetic, at least my side won't look as bad.

I am disheartened at what bad manners many people in our country have.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

39. Because they feel entitled. We may feel we are right and they are wrong, but

we think (correctly) that we would be an inconsiderate ass to shout our correct belief in their face, whether in person or via inane emails.

Right wingers generally find it inconceivable that anyone would consider them an ass for doing so (after all they are RIGHT!) or, worse yet, they don't really give a shit how you feel about them.

They feel entitled to get their way and say whatever the hell they want.

So the fact that they don't, and something as big as a BLACK DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT could become elected against their most fervent wishes just throws them into fits of apoplectic rage.

Just think of it. Just because they lost and election, and got their asses kicked, and the guy they didn't want is now pursuing policies they don't want, through the legal channels authorized by the Constitution, they are comparing him with Hitler, talking about being enslaved, and advocating, less indirectly every day, violent resistance to the legal government of this country.

[PassingFair]

44. To be fair, they don't ALWAYS do it...

just the REAL jerks.

I have many "conservative" acquaintances,
and they manage to be civil.

[Marie26]

38. That's a shame

But I guess you have to whatever you think is right.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

40. I haven't talked to my brother in years.

He's one of those ignorant after-birthers (Born again, he says.) that thinks Jesus hates gays, jews, Islamofachists, Negroes, and pretty much anyone who doesn't agree with that ignorant Monkey, GW. He picks and chooses what parts of the King James version fit his prejudices without any understanding of the development of his religious belief. He has no Idea who Constantine is, has never heard of the council of Nicea or the council of Trent and, frankly, revels in his ignorance and superstition.

I can't help him. I've tried. I've tried using the best of Dale Carnegie and nothing phases him. Oh well...

Fuck him if he wants to remain an ignorant boob. I'm sure he was at one of the "Tool time with Karl Rove" tea bag advertisements for Fox but for me, I'm done wasting my time. I don't need family if the family in question consists of Troglodytes.

No real loss to me because my family has never been close. Others may feel differently.

[BlooInBloo]

45. :( Having no family sucks.

[southerncrone]

49. That's OK, you have your DU family. We are kindred spirits &

that's better than blood anyway! :grouphug:

I personally promise to NEVER send you Freeper nut-case messages.....NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!! :7

[Arugula Latte]

51. Please, please, please just send her one more thing -- This image:

[nonconformist]

52. Next time someone tries that shit, show them these

Then tell them to STFU.

[Blue Gardener]

53. I understand completely

My nephew's wife pushed me over the edge right before the elections. My sister and I were called immoral baby-killers for voting for Obama. We are banned from seeing her daughter, who just turned one. She doesn't want her daughter exposed to us "immoral" liberals. I am no longer in contact with her. This whole exchange occurred on Facebook, and trust me, I tried very hard to get her to keep things civil for the sake of family harmony. She just would not let anything go. It's pretty hurtful that she would think I would actually bring harm to a baby just by being in the same room with her. I feel sorry for the baby growing up in that house.

[mwb970]

54. If she was your "only family", you didn't really have one.

The disrespect she shows for you as well as Obama is horrible. You are better off with this woman out, out, out of your life! Should have done it long ago.

I am so disgusted by the right-wing shrieking and screeching about Obama. They sound like angry idiots. So does your "family member". Yuck.

[and-justice-for-all]

55. These people must be the cookie cutter kind..

that is the same shit that the fundi at work says..Its like a mirror reflection!!

They're FUNDI ZOMBIES!!!!

I don't put up with their shit either and the very core of it, is that they are selfish people who think the world is suppose to revolve around them. They hate the fact that they have to share this world with people that are nothing like them and it burns their ass.

[ejpoeta]

57. me thinks this woman is projecting. she thinks that because SHE spouts RW bs

then you must do the same with democratic talking points. you could send her a picture of bush kissing saudi ass as he BEGS them to not stop producing oil. or of bush holding hands with the saudi prince or whoever he was. or how about a picture of 41 smiling with the 'evildoer' saddam hussein, though he was our friend back then i guess. or donald rumsfeld with hussein. the republicans have been buddy buddy with those guys up until it was decided they were 'evildoers' and part of dubya's 'axis of evil'. but let's not confuse ourselves with our contradictions!!

i am sorry you had to break ties with someone you care about. It's mind numbing to think of how unintelligent some folks can be even as they may be quite intelligent in other areas. They refuse to see anything past their own ideas to their and everyone around them's detriment. Perhaps we need to define what 'loving america' is. to me it would appear that if you love america, then you are willing to see it for it's good AND bad aspects. and you try to fight to keep it a country of the people, by the people and for the people. and try to keep it a country that protects rights and doesn't torture or fearmonger or invade countries that didn't do anything to us.

I am always awed at the way folks will alter reality to suit themselves. when we dared to question bush, WE were not being american. we were in a time of war and should support our president. somehow that has changed i guess, as the ones that whined about that are now feeling quite free to question and pass lies about a man who was elected by 54% of the public... not installed by the supreme court. so this man was actually elected. but these folks are probably the same ones that want to tell you and i what we can and can't do with our own bodies and want to legislate religion.

Fear. It is an insidious thing. Folks like limbaugh and o'rielly and fox news have all these lies and inuendos floating around and instigate this fear induced false information. and honestly it SCARES me. because these people will try to hurt someone. like our president. and they will feel perfectly justified to do it because they believe this bullshit that is passed around by people who know exactly wh at they are doing. and won't feel any personal responsibility if someone gets hurt.

[roguevalley]

59. everyone has an uncle vern. I am so sorry, honey.

[JuniperLea]

60. I have a huge family...

And we have a family website that I can hardly stand anymore. One of my cousins wrote this awesome bit about Ann Coulter that I think is hilarious and spot on... but one of my other cousins, a wing nut, could only say (unedited): "I LIKE HER ALTHOUGH SHE CAN COME OFF SOUNDING HARSH, SHE DOES HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA, AND IS A VERY SMART LADY. BUT FOR THOSE THAT ARE THE LEFT SIDE I CAN SEE WHY YOU DON'T LIKE HER. AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS WORLD SO GREAT. THE FREEDOM TO SPEAK. EVEN IF THE LEFT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THERE DOING MOST OF THE TIME!"

http://www.nofimagazine.com/57coulter.htm

Yes, I'm related to both... the one with the incredible imagination and strong love of truth and country, and the guy who can't spell or think on his own.

It's sad to lose family. I haven't lost any, but I shy away from gatherings these days unless I know for sure some of the intelligence genes are showing up.