A well-phrased pondering from DamnCat [High Praise!]
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Remember when it considered impolite to ask someone about his or her political views?
Once upon a time, not so long ago, there were certain topics that well-mannered people simply did not discuss with strangers or even mere acquaintances. Chief among these were income, politics, and religion.
The primary reason for these things were not discussed wasn’t because the topics were divisive. The reason they weren’t discussed was two-fold: 1) whether someone else made more or less money than you, whether or not they were of your faith (or any faith), or how they voted should have no bearing on how you treat your fellow citizen; 2) It was none of your damn business.
Eventually, after you got to know someone, you’d learn these things. By that time you’d have already decided whether or not they were a good person, whether they were likeable or trustworthy – and those judgments were made solely on your interactions with them as a person not on any prejudices you might have against some group they might belong to.
Good times. Long gone it seems.
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Bravo, DamnCat.
This resonates in my case. You can like your friend’s wit — heck, you can even like a Hollywood actor for how they perform — before you find out what they believe. But then, once you find out, you experience Susan Sarandon syndrome: they become intolerable,. or unwatchable.
I do admire Jane Fonda’s work in “Electric Horseman” and in “On Golden Pond,;” proving there are no absolutes in this arena.
Amen!
And then they invented bumper stickers for democrats that lasted for 8…10…12 years. Apparently, republican ones self destruct after 1…or maybe the people who are brave enough to put them on get sick of having their car damaged so they remove them.
Yep. Funny how I’ve never thrown over a friend for their liberal views, but a few have tossed me to the wolves for my own.
Oppo, what you call Susan Sarandon Syndrome is Barbra Streisand Syndrome for me. I loved her voice, tolerated her comedy performances, and now simply cannot watch or listen to anything she has ever done without the sour memory of her absolutely intolerable (because they are intolerant) political ravings intruding. As Anna Russell observed of another singer, perhaps she sings so well because “She has resonance where her brains should be.”
Can’t stand Fonda in anything since “Barbarella”. 🙂
What I think Damncat hits on is that in the past you related to people along the lines of things you had in common. Fellow Baseball fan, liked Opera, did needlepoint, etc. etc. Or you related based on your situation, Doctor – patient, Lawyer – client, Baker – bread buyer, etc. etc. Politics never entered into any of those interactions and those interactions were pretty much 99% of what you experienced. That changed when liberals decided that everything in life had to be approached and interpreted though the lens of politics. Starting in the 60’s and gradually expanded through the years today there is nothing that a liberal can’t politicize, down to just trying to buying a cup of Joe.
Harvey, those were times when you could vote democrat and still be a sane productive member of society.
That’s back when Walter Cronkite was consistently voted to the “most respected” lists because he did not let the public know how liberal he REALLY was until he had retired. Yeah, I’m old enough to remember when journalism and journalists were expected, respected, and required to be impartial in their reporting.
“Good times. Long gone it seems.”
Now, they are all just using the same litter box.
This no longer applies because Democrats think every damn aspect of your life is their business.
They see “live and let live” as an attempt to foist your ideas on them ( mostly the idea that you aren’t their (collective) property
At this point if you are a liberal, support the Democratic party, or simply think using government force to bully people into living your way and making the decisions you approve of is a good idea, then you are a totalitarian fascist and deserve to be treated the the disgust and disdain that point of view merits.
The one thing these narcissistic sociopaths want is the sanction of the victim. They only want to be friends with you and feel that you like them so they can absolve themselves of the evil the vote to do to you.
Deny them that, and they will drop you – and fast – without remorse or regret because they fundamentally see you as evil for disagreeing with them and not submitting to their will anyway.