I know, I lured you from the DNC Liveblogging by suggesting there might be sex. Casa Brillig watched X-Men: First Class and Batman Begins over the weekend, and being a 7 year old boy, K2 had one question after just about every character made a first appearance: "Are they a goodguy or a badguy?" Yes, they're said without the spaces :-). Mix that with a recent diary and a Top Comments nomination from said diary, and ... well, follow me below the dingledoodlesquiggliedKosagnocchidividerthingie fold after a word from our sponsor:
Here at Top Comments we strive to nourish community by rounding up some of the site's best, funniest, most mojo'd & most informative commentary, and we depend on your help!! If you see a comment by another Kossack that deserves wider recognition, please send it either to topcomments at gmail or to the Top Comments group dKosemailbox by 9:30pm Eastern. Please please please include a few words about why you sent it in as well as your user name (even if you think we know it already :-)), so we can credit you with the find!
We kept trying to explain to K2 that it wasn't as simple as goodguy/badguy. That Magneto wasn't Evil Incarnate; rather, he had an alternative view than Charles Xavier as to how best to protect mutant humans. That Bruce Wayne wanted to shoot dead the man who killed his parents, but also came to believe what Rachel said: "Justice is about harmony. Revenge is about you making yourself feel better."
Yesterday, I read artmartin's My Trip to the Supermarket, and loved his tale of speaking up when the opportunities arose, most especially his closing words:
I think the lesson from today though is EVERY TIME we see examples of right wing, fascist, hypocritical, or uneducated behavior, no matter if it's a casual walk into our supermarket, an email from our opinionated racist uncle, a talk at a cocktail party, we need to stand up and have our voices heard and not be intimidated by their numbers, their uniform, their attractiveness, or their power.
I sent in a
TC nomination from that diary last nite, by
smrichmond:
Back on topic, thanks to the diarist for engaging the Navy men. Their hearts were in the right place, the diarist engaged them appropriately, and all came away from the conversation with a peaceful heart. THIS is how political engagement should be carried out.
In this election season, and everyday, I truly believe that in attempting to change hearts and minds and VOTES, we must remember that the Republican guy at the coffee shop or the fellow parent at our kids' sporting event is NOT a horrible person. They're (probably) not an asshole. They want what's best for their families, community and world, just like we do.
In many cases, it's ignorance that causes them to vote against their self interest, not a desire to be racist selfish insert epithet here. Mr. Brillig's undertaken a campaign to fight ignorance with quiet, well-sourced facts. It's amazing what happens when people learn a little... witness Mickey Ward.
Mind you, I'm not talking about the Republican Leadership, the ones who know the truth and don't give a flying fuck, as long as it benefits themselves and their cronies. There's a place in Hell for those who condemn people to poverty, ill health, lack of education and more simply because they're not rich enough, or paleskinned enough, or because they have ladyparts and not boyparts. I implore you, however, not to lump every coworker, neighbor and friend who happens to lean Republican into that category, because we can do more better work with a good heart and a clear set of facts than any basket of generalized epithets possibly can.
What helpful diaries, articles, etc have YOU seen that further the cause of respectful, educated facts for conversion of future former Republicans?
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything
without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do
not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From Dave in Northridge:
Prinny Squad came up with a brilliant response (especially the last line) to the issues raised in jpmassar's diary about history being made.
From gchaucer2:
I know you will get lots of TC from the liveblog -- but this one is so hilarious that it even beat me at hilarious (fie on lotusmaglite).
From Eddie C:
Please urge him to campaign for Wayne Powell by Lujane.
From Tamar:
Usually I like the snappy or snarky comeback comments, but this description by surfbird007 is just so exactly right, I had to send it in to you
From Angie in WA State:
This comment by SottoVoce
in Joan McCarter's diary The end of the Romney welfare lie?, for making my dreams come true with a graphic representation of what I long to hear from the mainstream media talking heads.
lotusmaglite's comment in Jed Lewison's DNC Liveblog #2 is so sweet, wish I'd said it
From mrsgoo, just missed last night's deadline:
Today Yesterday in the Chronicles of Mitt, he ruminated upon Labor Day.
Or as expressed by Eric Cantor - Job Creator Day. Houses In Motion had an uproarious comment and then an answer to him/herself!
Top Mojo for yesterday, September 3rd, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic!
1) I read this somewhere. by secret38b — 213
2) This is just the best sentence ever by voracious — 166
3) he's not black? by glutz78 — 154
4) I'm seeing it on all levels by anastasia p — 146
5) My Guess by bink — 136
6) Great inside scoop! This kind of thing gives me by ncarolinagirl — 131
7) Can't wait to see it. by JoanMar — 126
8) Just saw the clip. Chris was on fire. by JoanMar — 112
9) Politico by LieparDestin — 112
10) The returning vets from Iraq and Afghanistan know. by zenbassoon — 111
11) Chris Matthews is simply refusing to deny by elwior — 108
12) We really need to stop confusing wealth by rasbobbo — 104
13) I love your dad by alasmoses — 100
14) Even in the world of religious lunacy by Dallasdoc — 100
15) I live in a highly Republicon area of my state. by allergywoman — 97
16) Victoria Jackson. by middleagedhousewife — 94
17) then Romney goes to flood ravaged Louisiana by crystal eyes — 92
18) Telling the Truth is a Revolutionary Act by howd — 91
19) Any woman with a brain and a vagina should by ncarolinagirl — 90
20) No, I think David Koch is smart enough by hannah — 83
21) I think Matthews watched The Newsroom... by Jacoby Jonze — 83
22) This Seems True by bink — 82
23) Politico is RW Media So No Surprise About Them nt by Gooserock — 82
24) I completely agree with speaking to teh stoopid by Roadette — 82
25) Heh by Dallasdoc — 80
26) If I point out how dangerous this guy is by Horace Boothroyd III — 79
27) Think about why Mitt won't let by Horace Boothroyd III — 78
28) I was chatting with a former GOP county chair by anastasia p — 78
29) Moreover: by Wheever — 77
30) Matthews has been wonderful lately. by middleagedhousewife — 75
31) A few Romney stalwarts by Geronimo — 75
Top Pictures for yesterday, September 3rd. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!