My best friend and favorite cousin are both staunch supporters of Shrub. I've always had a very solid relationship with both of them. My best friend, who I've known for nearly thirty years, seems to have developed her position as a result of her current relationship. My cousin, who used to be fairly moderate, also formulated her opinion on the basis of her husband's views.
So what do they have in common?
Neither of them are willing to engage in debate or discussion of their viewpoints. It's almost a passive-aggressive behavior. They're both perfectly willing to tell me how they feel, and how strongly they're attached to those feelings. But they can't articulate their reasoning, and are not open to discussing why they believe the way they do. I've asked very simple, straightforward questions: why do you believe the way you do, what are your sources of information, how does what you believe relate to your core principles. I get no answers...they both shut down. They love to tell me how much they hate liberals (and yes, these two very nice young women use the word "hate"), how much they hate how liberals tell them how they should think and condemn them for believing otherwise. But when I explain my reasoning, they shut down and change the subject. They brook no criticism and will not even listen to the other side of the equation.
My cousin wants to shut down the borders and "shoot Cindy Sheehan". My best friend thinks we should get started invading Iran because, if we don't, "they're going to nuke us." My cousin says she is "100% behind the president on the war", and my best friend says that "all these Islamic whackos are just itching for another 9/11". I should note that neither of them are particularly religious and both of them are fairly moderate on social issues.
I'm curious...is this universally true? Both of these ladies come from solidly blue states, and both used to be much more moderate in their views. I'm pretty close to both of them outside of political viewpoint. But I don't understand it...it's as though someone hypnotized them.
Relate your experiences, particularly with close friends and family. Is it always like this?