politricks and other distractions

The Need to Stand Up

I don't like being confrontational. I prefer to keep my brow un-furrowed. But I think part of the reason the right wing rhetoric has gotten so bad in recent years is that people like me (including me) have chosen to stay "above the fray" and not fight back.

I was disturbed on the celebration of our country's independence to get the following "joke" from a relative - a career veteran no less. Within minutes, I fired off a defensive email, listing all the things this administration has done to veterans... the fact that our commander-in-chief never served and couldn't be bothered to show up for his reserve duty... the fact that Dick Cheney got five or six deferments that kept him from serving... the fact that no one in the current administration ever served their country by military service... and the fact that Cheney's former company is raking in the dough through war profiteering - something that earlier presidents (I need to research which ones) have called treason.

I never got a response from said relative, but I hope I'm off his stupid conservative joke list. And I hope any other relatives reading this will at least push back to him, even if it's less pointedly than my approach.

Until we start fighting back, we'll never take our country back. It's now or never, folks. Just do it. Stand up for what's right. You know what that is.

Here ya go. Happy Fifth of July. Try not to puke:

"On a Saturday afternoon, in Washington, D.C., Senator John Kerry's campaign manager visited the Cardinal of the Catholic cathedral. He told the Cardinal that John Kerry would be attending the next day's sermon, and he asked if the Cardinal would kindly point out Kerry to the congregation and say a few words that would include calling Kerry a saint.

The Cardinal replied, "No, I don't really like the man, and there are issues of conflict with the Catholic Church over certain of Kerry's views."

Kerry's manager then said, "Look, I'll write a check here and now for a donation of $100,000 to your church, if you'll just tell the congregation you see Kerry as a saint."

The Cardinal thought about it and said, "Well, the church can use the money, so I'll work your request into tomorrow's sermon."

As Kerry's manager promised, Senator Kerry appeared for the Sunday sermon and seated himself prominently at the edge of the main aisle. And, during the sermon, as promised, the Cardinal pointed out that Senator Kerry was present. Then the Cardinal went on to explain to the congregation,

"While Senator Kerry's presence is probably an honor to some, he is not my favorite person. Some of his views are contrary to those of the church, and he tends to flip-flop on many other views. John Kerry is a petty, self absorbed hypocrite and a nit-wit. John Kerry is a liar, a cheat, and a thief. John Kerry is the worst example of a Catholic I've ever personally witnessed.

He turned on his buddies in Viet Nam. He wrote a book and portrayed himself in the best light when he was a traitor to his fellow servicemen. He has lied about his military record and had the gall to put himself in for a medal.

He married for money and is using it to lie to the American people. He also has a reputation for shirking his senatorial obligations both here, in Washington, and in Massachusetts. He simply isn't to be trusted." The Cardinal completed his view of Kerry with, 'But, when compared to Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Kerry is a saint.' "

posted by dcnative @ 9:02 PM