I do so love going to bars. You meet the most interesting people. Last night was DL (Drinking Liberally) Monday in Charlotte, NC. A group of (soon to identify themselves as) Republicans began making loud, bemused inquiries about the DL paraphernalia set about on the nearby hightop tables and the bar itself.
Now, these were are nice people. Sharp, well-educated, civil.
They just thought less of you and me than they do of the terrorists.
And they thought even less of the law of the land.
And they do so love their President.
One thing that always interests me is how thoughtful Republicans hold this virtually homogeneous (with a few tweaks) set of views and casually accuse Democrats of being blind followers of (I was told this) the Communist agenda. I was told, to my face (and sweetly) that I was like all other Democrats, out to get everything for free.
Oh, and one of my new friends (her accountign) started out in the ghetto by the bootstraps, nothing given her, highlighting herself as a natural constituent of the Democrats but rejected that in favor of their own virtue, their own hard work, and chosen set of values to see them through to the success they enjoyed today.
Which was the fundamental truth of all the particulars - rejection of all that is Democrat, before all other things, as a defining characteristic of all that is good in Republicans.
I chose to be diplomatic, to endure the sweet delivery of insults as to my character, my associates, my politics, my patriotism and just asked questions. Oh, my new Republican friends had a big time.
So I asked questions, to help me define what is and is not conservative in their eyes. A lot of the answers were stock. I started with the easy ones
Are you for lower taxes? Uh, yeah.
A strong defense? Of course, and it's a good thing we are over there in Iraq.
Do you think Saddam had anything to do with 9/11 Uh, not sure but it's still a good thing we ran him out.
Should we close down Gitmo? Here it gets interesting, as one of my new friends was a former Marine stationed at Guantanamo Bay. Hell, no. And I say keep them there for keeps. I've seen guys get executed. I've no problem with it at all.
Even if there is no more intel to get from them? Same difference.
Even if they've been proven innocent. LOL. I know these guys. There is no such thing as an innocent man in Camp X-Ray. If I had my way, we'd have killed them all. I'd do it myself.
Okay, let's move on. What about prayer in schools. I get another taker now. We need it. No, we need it back, like it used to be.
You think America was founded as a Christian nation? I know it was! You can't tell me it wasn't!
What about separation of Church and State? That's institutionalized religion, not religion! Gotcha there! I shared my anecdote about how the Puritans used to torture, even execute, people for reading the wrong version of the Bible. This was scoffed at, the very notion that there was such a thing as a 'wrong' versus of God's Word.
Okay, what about torture? Got no takers at all on that one
Alright, how about warrantless wiretaps? pleasant surprise I don't want people listening in on my [beep]! So, no, I don't think that's right.
Alright...contraception. That's okay.
What about people having nooky with whoever they want, even if it's people of the same sex? I've got no trouble with that.
Abortion? NEVER.
What about if it's incest, rape or birth defects? Ewww, gross. Okay, I guess there are some instances where it'd be okay. But that's what Democrats want! I then shared my view that if Repubs could just suffer people having safe birth control and knowledge on what to do with it they'd be a lot further along saving all those little unborn lives they worry over so much.
What about healthcare? Oh, you're one of those people who think everyone should get healthcare for free! Well, that just makes me sick!
You're actually upset at the idea of everyone getting healthcare? Yes! Everything for free! That's what Democrats are all about! That is what makes me sick!
It wouldn't be for free. Darn right it wouldn't! People who work would have to pay for it for people who won't work or are here illegally! I won't stand for it!
at this juncture, you might say I'd hit a pressure point.
Is it so bad for people to get care when they need it? Yes, it is, They don't deserve it. Democrats and poor people want everything for free, well that's wrong and I won't stand for it.
But it's not for free. For them it is! Not for me!
I had to walk away to order a beer I did not really need at that point. "Not if they don't deserve it." I had thought that was going to be the title of my diary. But it gets better from here.
You touched on illegal immigration... They all need to go, or be made to get gone.
Okay..should we go after the people who are here illegally, or the people who hire them illegally? Hey, I'm no bigot! I'm for immigration, just needs to be all legal and all, and those people who are here illegally they need to either find their way to become legal citizens or leave.
Alright..but should we go after the people who hire them first, or the people who are here illegally first? Hmm...I don't know. That's a tough question. I haven't thought that through. then a pause, then an interesting declaration. I just love George W. Bush. He knows where he stands, cuts through the BS, tells it like it is.
You are saying with a straight face that George Bush is a good, honest man? I love him! He was just what this country needed!
Even though he's broken the law of the land, over and over again? [Beep] the law! I love Bush!
I only had one answer to that statement.
"Either we learn to obey the same laws in the same way, or the Union is over. Either we learn, as we are doing now, to talk and remember we are friends and countrymen, or we will be friends and countrymen no more."
That stirred a mix of troubled emotions. I think one guy wanted to have a go at me, but was choosing between the consequences of killing me and the joy of doing so. I believe it shocked them that anyone would say such a thing openly.
I then relayed my conversation to others in the DL bunch. One said flatly - "I'm not sure if I care to be friends with them anymore. They offend me that much. I think I'd rather fight."
Which made my point all the more.
But I have to concur with my DL colleague. If someone is willing to say "[Beep] the law! I love Bush!" what can you say after that?