We do we demonize people who don't agree with us?

[Priscilla Ann]

Why do we demonize people who don't agree with us?

I am writing these words with a heavy heart. As I read the threads on the "Politics" forum, I am saddened by the bitterness and sarcasm I see. It makes me so sad and accomplishes absolutely nothing.

I am in a unique position this election season. I did not vote for president in this election; I left it blank. I felt that I could not vote for President Obama because of his position on abortion and gay marriage. I could not vote for Romney because of his position on health care, education, immigration and other issues. This is the first time I have ever not voted for president, but my conscience would not allow me to vote for either candidate.

On the other hand, I know good Christian people in my family and in my husband's family. Some voted for Obama and some voted for Romney, and I understand and respect their reasons. My parents are devout Catholics in their late 70's who are very much against abortion; however, they did not believe Romney would do anything to stop abortion, and that his policies would do much to hurt those who are needy. My husband's parents are good people who voted for Romney; their hope was that he might possibly do something about abortion. My son and his wife, a young couple in their 20's, voted for Obama. My own husband voted for Obama. None of those family members who voted for Obama are receiving government handouts; they are all working people who pay taxes. Those family members who voted for Romney aren't wealthy people looking for a tax break. All of them are good Christian people with sincere reasons for voting for the candidate that they chose.

What good can possibly come from ridiculing those who disagree with us? God is not a Republican or a Democrat! Satan must delight in watching Christians devour each other in this way!

Won't you join me in praying for our country and our leaders, whether they are Republican, Democrat or otherwise? Can we work together to find common ground and try to do what is best for everyone?

Thanks for listening. The rest is up to you.

 

[Salty]

Priscilla,
Excellent post

The only thing I disagree is that you left POTUS blank. If your State or Commonwealth did not have a third party listed, you should at least have writeen in someones name.

 

[OldRegular]

I am writing these words with a heavy heart. As I read the threads on the "Politics" forum, I am saddened by the bitterness and sarcasm I see. It makes me so sad and accomplishes absolutely nothing.

I am in a unique position this election season. I did not vote for president in this election; I left it blank. I felt that I could not vote for President Obama because of his position on abortion and gay marriage. I could not vote for Romney because of his position on health care, education, immigration and other issues. This is the first time I have ever not voted for president, but my conscience would not allow me to vote for either candidate.

On the other hand, I know good Christian people in my family and in my husband's family. Some voted for Obama and some voted for Romney, and I understand and respect their reasons. My parents are devout Catholics in their late 70's who are very much against abortion; however, they did not believe Romney would do anything to stop abortion, and that his policies would do much to hurt those who are needy. My husband's parents are good people who voted for Romney; their hope was that he might possibly do something about abortion. My son and his wife, a young couple in their 20's, voted for Obama. My own husband voted for Obama. None of those family members who voted for Obama are receiving government handouts; they are all working people who pay taxes. Those family members who voted for Romney aren't wealthy people looking for a tax break. All of them are good Christian people with sincere reasons for voting for the candidate that they chose.

The Roman Catholic Church was, I believe, the first church to oppose abortion. The democrat party is the only major political party to endorse unlimited abortion. Obama is a rabid abortionist. He voted three times in the Illinois Senate against a bill that would require medical aid for a child alive following abortion. The democrat party glorified abortion at their recent convention. So how can a good Christian go against the Word of God, and in the case of Roman Catholics, the teaching of their church, and vote for a party and president who celebrate abortion. Roman Catholics have traditionally voted democrat. They still are. And this in the face of Obamacare which will force the church institutions to go against the teaching of their church and cover abortion and contraception.

One additional point. Others on this forum use the excuse that the Republicans do not care for those in need. That is simply false and a false excuse for not supporting Republicans. Do you really believe that there are no Republicans in need? Do you really believe that Republicans don't care for their elderly parents? Surely you don't believe that. The Mormon Romney has given millions of dollars of the money he earned to his Church and charity. The Roman Catholic Biden has given dollars and cents to his Church and charity. Who has the most compassion? No one knows what Obama gave as a private citizen but if he was like most liberals I expect it was dollars and cents.

What good can possibly come from ridiculing those who disagree with us? God is not a Republican or a Democrat! Satan must delight in watching Christians devour each other in this way!

I understand that God is neither Republican nor democrat. However, I cannot believe that He does not expect His followers to be obedient to His Word.When He said: "Suffer the little children to come unto me" I don't believe He meant by slaughtering them in their mothers womb!

Won't you join me in praying for our country and our leaders, whether they are Republican, Democrat or otherwise? Can we work together to find common ground and try to do what is best for everyone?

Thanks for listening. The rest is up to you.

I pray for our country!

 

[Oldtimer]

We should pray and ask God to have mercy on this country.

 

[Crabtownboy]

I understand that God is neither Republican nor democrat. However, I cannot believe that He does not expect His followers to be obedient to His Word.When He said: "Suffer the little children to come unto me" I don't believe He meant by slaughtering them in their mothers womb!I pray for our country!

Nor to abandon them after they are born and allow them to be malnourished or left in ill health in a country as rich as the US.

 

[OldRegular]

Nor to abandon them after they are born and allow them to be malnourished or left in ill health in a country as rich as the US.

That is the asinine argument of the liberal/left in this country and has been since FDR at least.

Crabby you claim to be a Christian. If you see a child in need then it is your duty to help them, therefore, I must assume you will do so.

However, the argument that we should slaughter babies before they are born because they may get hungry is unreal, it is an affront to God to make such an argument, it is blasphemous for a Christian to believe such. Crabby you are not God. Life and death are not, or should not, be in your hands.

Crabby, the statement you make above simply boggles this Christian's mind: You believe it is acceptable to God to slaughter 1.5 million babies each year in this country because they might go hungry. A Christian should hide his face in shame, should cry out to God for mercy for making such an excuse!

 

[preachinjesus]

And we now have a perfect example of the problem the OP addresses.

 

[OldRegular]

And we now have a perfect example of the problem the OP addresses.

I am not going to soft pedal my views about those professing Christians who support a party which advocates unlimited abortion, a party and its leader who celebrated abortion at their recent convention, and a president who as a state senator voted three times against a bill that would require medical treatment for a baby alive after abortion.

You and Crabby and any one else on this forum can pontificate all you wish. Abortion is an abomination even in a pagan culture but for a Christian to justify and support abortion is blasphemy against God! There is no Christian love in the heart of these people for children born or unborn regardless of what they say.

There have been over 50,000,000 babies slaughtered since Roe v Wade. It is no wonder that God has allowed a rabid abortionist like Obama to retain the presidency. Now it is almost certain that Obamacare with its death panels will not be repealed. I suppose one could say it is poetic justice that the baby boomers who are now retiring, who sat on their thumbs while the slaughter of the unborn continued, may now face the decision of a death panel regarding their life. Or perhaps one could say that it is the Judgment of God!

 

[Alcott]

Why do we demonize people who don't agree with us?

What are you trying to do? Take all the fun out of arguing?

 

[preachinjesus]

I am not going to soft pedal my views about those professing Christians who support a party which advocates unlimited abortion, a party and its leader who celebrated abortion at their recent convention, and a president who as a state senator voted three times against a bill that would require medical treatment for a baby alive after abortion.

Perhaps the challenge for you isn't the issue of soft pedaling, but being overbearing.

In your quest for passion over an important issue I think you've overlooked the simple fact that, frankly, I don't know anyone in this forum who supports abortion. Though I can't speak for Crabby, I know I have never voiced support because I don't believe this room for it.

You and Crabby and any one else on this forum can pontificate all you wish. Abortion is an abomination even in a pagan culture but for a Christian to justify and support abortion is blasphemy against God! There is no Christian love in the heart of these people for children born or unborn regardless of what they say.

So who are the ones who are justifying abortion, who are advocating for it? Who in this forum is advocating for abortion?

You know I constantly ask these questions of you and several others who make these blanket statements and unjust accusations and I never get a reply. You just make false statements and never stick around to justify them.

Frankly it is no better than the liberals you claim to oppose. You cast aside reasonable discourse and logical engagement and seek to make unwieldy accusations with no basis. In so doing you become like the liberals you oppose...crass and hardhearted.

There have been over 50,000,000 babies slaughtered since Roe v Wade. It is no wonder that God has allowed a rabid abortionist like Obama to retain the presidency. Now it is almost certain that Obamacare with its death panels will not be repealed. I suppose one could say it is poetic justice that the baby boomers who are now retiring, who sat on their thumbs while the slaughter of the unborn continued, may now face the decision of a death panel regarding their life. Or perhaps one could say that it is the Judgment of God!

Who is this for? Who in this forum says Roe was a good decision? Who in this forum says we should have unregulated abortion? Who in this forum supports funding abortion with public tax dollars? Who?

 

[OldRegular]

A short answer "preachinjesus"! Any Christian who votes for the national democrat party candidates, including the president, is supporting abortion. These people celebrated abortion at their convention yet Christians justify supporting these people. That is similar to the Israelites who joined the Baal worshipers in sacrificing children. Obama will likely have the opportunity to appoint two more Justices on the Supreme Court. Roe v Wade will never be overturned because Christians put Obama in the White House.

 

[billwald]

WHY? Our sin nature (almost) requires it unless we fight very hard against our sin nature.

The primary difference between humans and animals is that sentient beings can resolve to act against their "nature."

 

[preachinjesus]

A short answer "preachinjesus"! Any Christian who votes for the national democrat party candidates, including the president, is supporting abortion. These people celebrated abortion at their convention yet Christians justify supporting these people. That is similar to the Israelites who joined the Baal worshipers in sacrificing children. Obama will likely have the opportunity to appoint two more Justices on the Supreme Court. Roe v Wade will never be overturned because Christians put Obama in the White House.

Well I disagree with you.

However, please identify these people in this forum who have done this.

 

[OldRegular]

Well I disagree with you.

However, please identify these people in this forum who have done this.

I have said it repeatedly, those who support Obama and the rest of his crowd!

 

[poncho]

We demonize those we disagree with because that's what we have been conditioned to do. The corporate talking heads demonize people in order to keep any views from arising and becoming popular that would question or threaten the status quo.

We have seen this repeated so many times now that we have become conditioned either knowingly or unknowingly to accept this as the way things are and so we have integrated this into our own pattern of thought.

For example, the mass media tells us over and over that "conspiracy theories" and those who might be viewed as holding to them are bad bad bad! Nevermind that these "CPers" have brought up legitimate questions and points to ponder that we should be debating. They are bad bad bad! And must be avoided at all costs. Nothing they say or no amount of evidence they may provide is to be taken seriously because they are bad bad bad!

When I see a person demonizing another I see a person who has no real interest in finding out whether the person they are demonizing has any legitimate points to make or questions to raise. They are only interested in one thing. Not allowing the other person's positions or ideas to be heard.

That's what we've seen from the people we trust to keep us informed and look out for our interests and so we think that's how we are to act also.

It's a matter of monkey see, monkey do for the most part and there is no shortage of monkeys out there today who act and sound just like the monkeys they let fill their heads with the fear of listening to or considering another's point of view and examining evidence that might be damaging to the status quo. It's the job of the monkey's that work for those who benefit most from the status quo to make monkey's out of all us and from the looks of it today they are doing a fine job of it.

 

[OldRegular]

Poncho

I always envisioned myself as a corporate executive, a Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, but never quite made it. So I resolved to demonize those with whom I disagree, particularly conspiracy buffs and especially democrats who love to slaughter the unborn!

 

[poncho]

Poncho

I always envisioned myself as a corporate executive, a Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, but never quite made it. So I resolved to demonize those with whom I disagree, particularly conspiracy buffs and especially democrats who love to slaughter the unborn!

I get that OR what I don't get is why I never hear you demonizing those who have trashed the constitution on the basis of false pretenses in order to start endless wars of aggression and regime changes that have slaughtered millions of people around the world.

Am I to assume that you feel the lives we are taking with bombs and bullets in foreign countries under false pretenses are of less importance than those of the pre born? I know you are against partial birth abortion as am I. All abortion is murder under the false pretense of a "woman's right to choose". But tell me at what age does it become acceptable to murder another human being on false pretenses? Is it age five or ten or sixteen?

 

[OldRegular]

I get that OR what I don't get is why I never hear you demonizing those who have trashed the constitution on the basis of false pretenses in order to start endless wars of aggression and regime changes that have slaughtered millions of people around the world.

Am I to assume that you feel the lives we are taking with bombs and bullets in foreign countries under false pretenses are of less importance than those of the pre born? I know you are against partial birth abortion as am I. All abortion is murder under the false pretense of a "woman's right to choose". But tell me at what age does it become acceptable to murder another human being on false pretenses? Is it age five or ten or sixteen?

Actually poncho I have condemned the use of drones by Obama. However that has not been my primary focus as far as senseless killing goes. We do and have killed thousands without good cause but we have killed 50+ million unborn.

In the thread on Libertarian foreign policy I present a few thoughts. I hope to do more.

 

[poncho]

Actually poncho I have condemned the use of drones by Obama. However that has not been my primary focus as far as senseless killing goes. We do and have killed thousands without good cause but we have killed 50+ million unborn.

In the thread on Libertarian foreign policy I present a few thoughts. I hope to do more.

I appreciate your thoughts OR you are one of the few here that seem willing to engage in a civil discussion with someone you might disagree with. As far as monkeys go you are one of the few here that has not given control of your mind over to the monkeys of the mass corporate media. Imho of course. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Arbo]

A short answer "preachinjesus"! Any Christian who votes for the national democrat party candidates, including the president, is supporting abortion. These people celebrated abortion at their convention yet Christians justify supporting these people. That is similar to the Israelites who joined the Baal worshipers in sacrificing children. Obama will likely have the opportunity to appoint two more Justices on the Supreme Court. Roe v Wade will never be overturned because Christians put Obama in the White House.

Well I disagree with you.

I'm curious, what exactly in OldRegular's post do you disagree with?