The Wise Men and Women of Bethlehem
ByIt’s almost impossible not to feel that tensions are running high as this election draws closer. On Sunday, I saw a woman coming out of the subway in Brooklyn wearing an Obama T-shirt and I wondered whether it would be possible to walk around the city in a McCain T-shirt and feel safe. Probably not.
So far I haven’t seen any videos on the Web of ill-tempered Obama supporters (which does not mean they do not exist). But such videos of McCain supporters seem to multiply each day. Here’s some loathsome banter from a crowd at a recent John McCain rally in Bethlehem, PA, where the Republican candidate’s fans express their views to a small group of “baby killing,” “Commie,” “faggot,” “European socialist” supporters of the “Muslim” “terrorist” “Barama.”
It’s kind of hard to imagine anything like this taking place in Britain.
(Via Gawker)
13 Comments
October 14th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I wonder how McCain feels knowing so many of his supporters are savages? Perhaps it’s like being a shit singer, you know your fans are a bunch of morons, but as long as you are getting paid, you try not to think about it.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Funny, I’m from PA and I love Bethlehem. It’s equally hip/groovy as it is conservative. I mean, they house a fantastic vegan bakery after all! Of course, there are assholes in Bethlehem.
In regard to who is more of an ass – dems or republicans, I think Michael’s Orwell quote in the previous thread is actually quite relevant – for all of us.
Did you catch the McCain march in Manhattan?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQalRPQ8stI
Not to mention the “Sarah Palin is a c*nt” t-shirts…. Is this an example of ill-temper?
There are a million other examples of course. After all, this is America….
October 14th, 2008 at 10:40 am
what divides a fantastic Vegan bakery from a run of the mill bakery? (please note droll pun). Is it the quality of the dust they use? I bet that cardboard style bread makes for a veritable lettuce sandwich (no butter of course)
I drink lowenbrau lager. Only ever made at the l’brau brewery in Munich. Technically vegan and also fantastic. Cheers!
October 14th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
You know in England ‘C@#t’ can be a term of endearment. I used it regularly when I first arrived, but the silences I received afterwards warned me against it. Perhaps the T-shirt was meant literally and they mistook ‘has’ for ‘is.’ In which case it would be more a case of ill-judged rather that ill-tempered. If I were the me of 5 years ago, I would almost certainly have described Palin as a C*%t. And I wouldn’t have been using it as a term of endearment. It would have meant something like despicable, contemptible, fuckbrain or some such thing. It would’ve had nothing to do with her sex. I think you are right that Americans shouldn’t use it though, given its connotations over here.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
C&nt is a far worse offense in American English than in Britain. Also “fannie” has a far worse connotation say in Britain than here and means something a little different and much more innocent. The C%nt shirt is incredibly offensive and sexist.
My friend wore a (pro)Palin shirt around Brooklyn the other day, she got a lot of stares and whispers. There been signs burned and damaged and McCain was called a murderer.
Just because the msm doesn’t cover, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Think about all the derogatory things that have been said about Bush that no one in the media took offense to.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Ms. Dove, yours and Ali’s examples aren’t really the same are they? Calling someone a murderer is nowhere near as bad as calling for someone’s death based on ignorance and race hate. The latter is far more dangerous. Besides, peaceniks have always called presidents etc. murderers, that’s just what they do. It’s also kinda true, in a sense, though I would not condone it or do it myself. One mans freedom fighter is another man’s…. and all that.
That Cassy Fiano blog you link to is demented. Do you really read this? No wonder you stick up for Palin. What is it with Republicans and guns?
By the way, fanny isn’t a bad word in England, it is a comical way of describing the female, erm, part. Unless of course you think the female part is bad? Calling someone a fanny would be like calling someone a wiener or something. Childish and silly but not offensive.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Vegan pastries? I love them! Even though tofu is so bad for you. Seriously.
Now regarding the “c” word. Could someone please use “c*nt” in a sentence for me? I mean, in a british sort of way? I am so curious.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Kind of endearing:
You daft c%$t.
or as they said in Trainspotting:
You dos c*&t.
I can’t do Scottish.
In a hateful way you would say:
He/She’s a fucking c&^t!
Same way you use twat (pronounced twot over here, thus stripping it of its punch and making it sound ridiculous to British ears).
I suspect c*^t is less acceptable in Britain now than it was when I left. We are always playing PC catchup with the US.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
“Dunderheads” That is the word Fox’s Bill uses.
I think there might be a civil war coming soon in USA, between the Democrats and Republicans with the main culprits being the right wing media.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I lived in Scotland for a semester and there is a big difference between calling someone “fanny” as a reference to buttocks and calling someone “fanny” as a reference to a vagina.
Just because lefties use the words routinely does make it okay, it’s hatred in it’s purest form. I linked to that blog to show there is vandalism and intimidation coming from the left. I don’t read that blog regularly, but I see no problems with her liking to shoot guns. I like shooting guns too, it’s this whole 2nd Amendment that I respect.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:40 am
I’d love to see Paul examine this issue. Maybe Cretin and Michael can take a look too and tell me if you think (Cretin) after reading this that Obama is still a “centrist”.
October 07, 2008, 3:30 p.m.
http://tinyurl.com/497dv5
Why Won’t Obama Talk About Columbia?
The years he won’t discuss may explain the Ayers tie he keeps lying about.
By Andrew C. McCarthy
Meanwhile to stay somewhat on topic let’s talk a bit about race hate since you brought it up:
http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/news/articles/mccainsupporterclearsair
October 15th, 2008 at 12:59 am
It’s certainly a funny image, a bunch of Scots prancing about calling each other ‘fanny.’ Where exactly in Scotland did you go?
“it’s this whole 2nd Amendment that I respect”
That’s nice. Sadly, if what Ermiyas says comes true, us civilized types are going to be at a disadvantage. You’ll be able to round us all up and shoot our kneecaps off. That’ll show us for taking an A-rab at his word.
Tell me, did you like guns before you became a Republican or did becoming a Republican draw you towards guns? Also, I’ve seen that you are a religious type. You put a dash in g-d (presumably god is offended by the letter ‘o’ or some such thing). Doesn’t enjoying and encouraging the use of firearms go against that whole love thy neighbor Bible vibe? Or is g-d different to god? Perhaps you are referring to gid or gad and he/she likes a good shootout? Interesting questions to ponder.
Sorry, it’s late. I need sleep.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:51 am
I put the dash because in Judaism you don’t spell out/say the name of G-d. Specifically this applies to Hebrew, I do it out of tradition and respect in English. I believe in G-d, but I wouldn’t say I’m the most observant person. Putting in the dash is not about offending G-d, it is done for my own respect for my beliefs. If others want to write the “o” it doesn’t offend me. To each his own.
I have always liked guns, in fact when I was a very liberal teenager I was taken to a shooting range by my (still) very liberal best friend. She was a much better shot than me. I think it’s a fun hobby, I wouldn’t be interested in hunting, but I would like to own a gun one day and learn more about using firearms.
I like the idea that the government isn’t the only who is allowed to wield a gun. All gun laws do is prevent law abiding citizens from protecting themselves. Look if I want go out and shoot someone I will find a way to procure a gun, gun laws or no gun laws.
I think if more people were taught how to properly handle a gun and treat it with utmost seriousness you wouldn’t have this horrible phobias of guns. The 2nd amendment allows you to get a gun of your own and shoot the intruders/Arab haters – as you put it. I don’t understand why liking to shoot a gun or even going hunting is uncivilized. I think it’s great to be able to procure your own food, although I’m too squeamish. I can understand if you are a vegetarian, but if you eat meat – hunting should seem civilized.
What has loving thy neighbor have to do with a guns? (Actually, I’m Jewish, I don’t really adhere to the teaching of Jesus. I don’t really have to love my neighbor unconditionally.) Tell me have you stopped using all your knives and any sharp or heavy objects that might hurt someone or potentially kill them in your house? Don’t you think adults have the capability to responsibly to handle a firearm safely?
No one really used the word in a casual conversation when I was in Edinburgh, it just happened to come up because of my (real) name. All I was saying is that to me it’s a huge difference, maybe because I’m a girl I was more sensitive about it.
There are morons on both side, it’s not fair just to point one side and call it hateful.