Once again...assumptions and programmed responses...a rant.
By xfahctor
@xfahctor (14118)
Lancaster, New Hampshire
July 10, 2009 11:50am CST
Warning...rant ahead...
Something a user said to me promted this....once again I want to take a moment and clarify a few things about myself...personaly and politicly. In another discussion, acusations were thrown at me, that I have
a.) called a particular mylot user names...
b.) called Obama hitler
It was also loosely infered that I was a republcina flag waver of some sort.
First, I defy someone to show me where I have resorted to name calling (except for pointing out blatent trolls in a few threads) and for someone to show me where I have called Obama hitler.
Also building up to this was a response in another still thread yesterday, though not as specific in it's nature as the one that sparked this today, it alluded to a few things..
Now, on to some clarification (for those who don't know me yet)
When I critisize the current administration and congress, there are a number of what I consider "programmed" assumptions made about me, I say programmed because our society and media seems to program people in to placing people in to one of political catagories....Republicans and Democrats, as if no other affiliation or ideology exists. Some assumptions that are automaticly made include (though not the only ones):
a) I must be a republican
b) I must be christian
c) I must be racist
d) I get all my news from Fox
the facts:
a) I actually belong to the libertarian and constitution parties, though I am a registered independant. I do not generaly vote for republicans, I do not support them and I believe they are 50% of the problems we have in our federal government, the two party-leftwing/rightwing lie...the other 50% of course being democrats.
b) I am actually not a deeply religious person, spiritual in some ways though...and I identify my religion as pagan..celtic traditional wiccan to be specific
c) RACIST???? I defy ANYONE to show me where I have ever made even a remotely racists statement
d) I watch all 3 news networks and then use the stories as a spring board for my own research and other independant sources, all 3 networks are in someone's tank and are pretty much de fecto state run news outlets.6 people like this
5 responses
@Swashbuckle (305)
• United States
10 Jul 09
nice rant!
I don't know what else to say. I agree with you on all the points you made. We have been programmed to think and say certain things according to what we are. Or, what we aren't.
The racist card just shows that some people are cowardly and cannot explain their justifications for their party, so they become lazy and just say someone is racist when you have a good argument against whatever it is.
5 people like this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
10 Jul 09
I have to admit, the racists charge is one that is not quite as often made about me as the others, though it has come up. People often react instictively when their beliefs are challenged...and that reaction usualy involves what is readily and easily available to them, that being their preconceived ideals.
5 people like this
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
10 Jul 09
Meh. If you dont hate Obama you must be a kool-aid drinker. If you dont love Sarah Palin you must be a woman hater. If you want to pull out of Irag you must be against our troops. If you support gay marraige you must be a left wing liberal nut.
People make assumptions and prejudgments based on very little information. Its petty, simple minded and wrong. It's also a distraction from the important issues in politics and an excuse to reamin ignorant and close minded.
It runs rampant on MyLot... and its not going away any time soon.
3 people like this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
10 Jul 09
Another thing that people can't reconcile in to their cookie cutter beliefs about me is that I am actualy NOT against legal gay marriage, lol.
I realize ignorance isn't going anywhere anytime soon, but I'm doing my part to rid at least my little corner of the world of it.
4 people like this
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
10 Jul 09
X I love reading your stuff. I cant say I agree all the time, but I can always count on certain people here on MyLot to give an honest, reasonable, relevent opinion. You are one of those people.
If it makes you feel better, I know how against Obamas policies you are, but I have never once read anything from you that would suggest even a hint of racism. It must have been easier for this person to attack you personaly than to defend Obama... something we are seeing alot of.
Regardless, I know how upset you must have been. I have never in my life been called a woman hater. But as soon as I speak ill of Sarah Palin all of a sudden I must be jeaouls of her beauty, fear her because of... well I still cant think of any reason to fear her... and hate all women in general.
After the initial reaction, I had to laugh. Me of all people... a woman hater. *rolls eyes*...
In any case, keep doing your thing. Even if I dont always agree with you, I always respect and support you.
3 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
10 Jul 09
Great rant, X, and a well-justified one at that! You're probably one of the most if not THE most objective person to regularly post in the politics interest and that's not an easy thing to be. You've certainly never given anyone any reason to think you're a racist. I guess I can understand if a new member were to read just a small sampling of your posts when it's one that's critical of the current Administration they may make the assumption that you're a Republican but I think that's because most of us ARE programmed to assume most people are either Democrats or Republicans. I admit to being guilty of that myself now and then even though I KNOW there are more and more independent voters all the time especially among people younger than me which is just about everybody now...lol!
You already know that one thing I disagree with you on is your view that Fox is the most balanced of the major cable news networks but I admit I'm mostly only familiar with their high profile hosts such as Hannity, O'Reilly and Beck. Greta used to be VERY fair but I've kind of noticed her going more to the right in recent months or maybe that's just because she's been covering more political issues recently than she once did when she was concentrating on Natalee Holloway and Stacy Peterson. I used to watch her frequently back then.
Going back to the beginning of your post, I have to say you're one of the few people who post in politics regularly who hasn't called me a name!
Annie
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
10 Jul 09
Well I can call you a few names if you feel left out...he he.
When I say fox news is more balanced...remember....I am speaking relatively, all 3 are basicly de facto "state run" media outlets. But each covers stuff the other doesn't so I watch all 3. I like Gretta's show, believe it or not, she is somewhat of a liberal, hard to peg her affiliation though, she is usualy pretty fair in her coverage. I have also seen O'Reilly go after Bush and a number of other republicans pretty hard core, he is pretty much an equal opertunity blaster and he does an awefull lot for the cause of protecting kids against preditors, but I love his show...no punches pulled. Hannity is a complete republican shill, can't stand him period. I know ya HATE Beck and I have butted heads with him on a few issues, but he is ALOT like me in his beliefs. He has some stupid guests sometimes but over all he is one of the few willing to call out both parties pretty equally. He also covers a lot of pretty important things that even the rest of fox semms to shy away from. and he was the ONLY one I have seen cover the state soviergnty movement propperly.
But I digress. I let people get to me sometimes I guess, I shouldn't but it happens. thanks for the supprt ;)
3 people like this
@Swashbuckle (305)
• United States
10 Jul 09
Fox doesn't give me the run around. Which I had a lot of problems with the Democratic Media. Fox gave it to me in terms I could actually understand, then I did my own reasearch. It's all good.
I also don't like the Democratic media because, in my view, I think that they push their tripe way too far. I mean, I'm a Christian and when I disagree with someone they just say 'Oh your preaching at me and pusing your religious views down my throat," when I haven't said anything remotly religious at all! *lol*
So, I just chose a news station that didn't make me feel as if I had to 'agree' with them or risk being called a 'racist' or any other derogatory term.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
10 Jul 09
Wow, I missed a lot today. You're one of the most levelheaded, well informed posters on this board and I'm truly disappointed that you were put into a position where you felt that you had to defend yourself and your beliefs. I do agree with you wholeheartedly about the automatic programming that goes on is some minds. It's very frustrating.
I didn't realize that you followed Wicca. I have several long time friends who are of the wiccan faith.
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
11 Jul 09
I'm getting tired of seeing every single person who criticizes 0bama being labeled a racist. I my opinion, THEY are the true racists, since thy take EVERYTHING and make t about race when nobody else was talking about that at all. My friend posted a discussion about the widely circulated picture that appears to have 0bama looking at a girl's butt, some jerk showed up and called my friend a racist when there was not a damned thing in there at all about race until that ignorant foll put it there! THe moron then went on to start another discussion about my friend's discussion calling her a fcking racist again! I'm damned sick of it. I didn't like freaking Carter either, does that mean I hate white people?
Yeah, I'm a Republican, but I don't fall lockstep with what people in that party often want to push. I actually think if gays want to marry eachother they should be able to, I am not pro-life either for the record.
I DON'T CARE what ethnicity somebody is; if they do things I agree with, I'll support them, if they do things I disagree with, I'll say so and I am not going to be silenced from voicing my opinion based on what color whoever it is being discussed happens to be! THAT would be racist!
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
11 Jul 09
Thanks for the response kitty. The incident that sparked this wasn't specificly a charge of racism, I included it in my rant because it was a general rant and I have encountered that charge in the past.
Just an update for everyone....The person in the incident that initiated this thread hs apologized, they apparently confused me with another member. It was truly refreshing and I want to acknowlege my apreciation again for it.
3 people like this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
14 Jul 09
Thank you!
My issue was FINALLY put to rest earlier today when all parties agreed to move on. Now I can go back to arguing politics and hunting down the REAL trolls. LOL 
