Political Rhetoric

[IRISHMAFIA]

I personally would second the motion to keep this board about softball, but why do you only want to quiet those of us who are democrats (assuming I'm not the only one)? I'm proud to be a democrat and as a person of color, proud that are nation has finally elected an African-American to be our leader. I don't know where this "Messiah" tag has come from. I do not consider Obama to be a Messiah, but I am willing to give him a chance to try to right some of the problems that our nation is facing at this point. I don't expect you guys to refrain from bashing President-elect Obama, but at least have the decency to wait until he is actually sworn in before you spew your hate. There are indeed better alternatives than a softball board to voice your political opinions.

So yes, this is my first, and hopefully last time I will feel the need to show my politics. By the way, I do respect the right of everyone to have their own opinion. I even like reading and listening to the views of those whose opinions are different than mine. Most of my friends are republicans, and I always enjoy debating current issues with them.

To start, why are the people of this country so enamored with "tags"? White, Black, Hispanic, Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Red State, Blue State, Protestant, Catholic, Christian, Atheist, Muslim, Buhdist, etc., who cares?

Seems to me the basis upon which this country was established was as an early refuge for those who deplored being judged by their "tags" because they CHOSE to live and worship in a certain manner.

Why should we be any different? It seems obvious that even though the 21st century American (a term of which I do not particularly care) has better methods of and achievment in education, we are not much, if at all smarter, than our ancestors when it comes to social harmony.

It seems that the first to cry "freedom" are often the second to demand THEIR way of life and beliefs be honored by the next person.

I also love the way so many people CHOOSE to be offended by the slightest comment or symbol. I'm offended that in the US, I must choose among 3-14 languages in order to interact with a machine to get my money, but I don't go around blowing up or suing the banks the own the machine. I've got a real pain-in-the-***, "if it doesn't benefit me, it must be wrong" redneck neighbor, but I don't walk a picket line in front of his house demanding his ouster from the neighborhood.

I just live my life the way I CHOOSE without screwing around with anyone else's. That doesn't mean I approve or accept everyone's way of living, but nor does it mean I expect them to approve or accept my way of life because I'm a (insert your lifestyle here).

Offended by a word? Get over it. A word is nothing more than a particular compilation of letters meant for the purpose of communication. Have you ever seen a word cause any destruction? And don't start with the mental stress and anguish bull**** (oops, someone must have been offended by that word and blasphemed by taking the place of God by coveting their neighbors property).

Are you offended that I laughed at your hairstyle? Guess what? The same right that permits you to have that hairstyle also allows me to express an opinion of it. Don't like it? Don't care.

Don't take my opinion as blanket absolution to everyone's actions, it is not. There are certain circumstances and arenas where a certain set of manners or decorum is expected and violating those expectations can very well cause one's lifestyle to be altered by those in control of that environment. You may lose your job or position, but at least you had the right to make a choice of how to express yourself.

Now the flames can begin

[Andy]

On this one...I think I would place R1 at second and have the BR out due to intentionally erasing the front batter's box line...

I know that not a lot of us are working games right now...but can we get back to softball and leave the political discussion for CNN?

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

To start, why are the people of this country so enamored with "tags"? White, Black, Hispanic, Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Red State, Blue State, Protestant, Catholic, Christian, Atheist, Muslim, Buhdist, etc., who cares?

Seems to me the basis upon which this country was established was as an early refuge for those who deplored being judged by their "tags" because they CHOSE to live and worship in a certain manner.

Why should we be any different? It seems obvious that even though the 21st century American (a term of which I do not particularly care) has better methods of and achievment in education, we are not much, if at all smarter, than our ancestors when it comes to social harmony.

It seems that the first to cry "freedom" are often the second to demand THEIR way of life and beliefs be honored by the next person.

I also love the way so many people CHOOSE to be offended by the slightest comment or symbol. I'm offended that in the US, I must choose among 3-14 languages in order to interact with a machine to get my money, but I don't go around blowing up or suing the banks the own the machine. I've got a real pain-in-the-***, "if it doesn't benefit me, it must be wrong" redneck neighbor, but I don't walk a picket line in front of his house demanding his ouster from the neighborhood.

I just live my life the way I CHOOSE without screwing around with anyone else's. That doesn't mean I approve or accept everyone's way of living, but nor does it mean I expect them to approve or accept my way of life because I'm a (insert your lifestyle here).

Offended by a word? Get over it. A word is nothing more than a particular compilation of letters meant for the purpose of communication. Have you ever seen a word cause any destruction? And don't start with the mental stress and anguish bull**** (oops, someone must have been offended by that word and blasphemed by taking the place of God by coveting their neighbors property).

Are you offended that I laughed at your hairstyle? Guess what? The same right that permits you to have that hairstyle also allows me to express an opinion of it. Don't like it? Don't care.

Don't take my opinion as blanket absolution to everyone's actions, it is not. There are certain circumstances and arenas where a certain set of manners or decorum is expected and violating those expectations can very well cause one's lifestyle to be altered by those in control of that environment. You may lose your job or position, but at least you had the right to make a choice of how to express yourself.

Now the flames can begin

Para las instrucciones en inglés, marca dos.

[NCASAUmp]

I think Mike needs a hug.

Actually, I agree with Mike on a lot of levels. I think "celebrating diversity" only divides us further by creating a sense of us vs. them. You don't see anyone getting up in arms over people with blue eyes versus those with brown, do you? Of course not. It's a trait that we ignore.

Anyway, I'm a total contradiction over here. I'm a right-wing, gay-friendly, gun-lovin' atheist (read: former Catholic) who loves the sight of a Christmas tree anywhere, including in front of the Town Hall.

[greymule]

Why are the people of this country so enamored of "tags"?

Because it allows them to distinguish the good people, like them, from their moral inferiors, like people who don't agree with them; the oppressors from the victims; the enlightened from the benighted; the people who should pay higher taxes from the people who should receive more from government; the aliens who should be allowed to pour over our borders by the millions from the aliens who should be hunted down and deported; the superstitious who believe they have an immortal soul from the rational who know that humans are just monkeys who got to thinking they're special. Tags are also a big help in determining how many points should be added to your test score when you apply to college, how many of your group should be promoted at work, and who's at fault in a fistfight.

One Ivy League professor finds tags useful in determining grades. Referring to a certain "tagged" group, the professor said, "I give 'em all A's. To he11 with them."

Tags also serve as convenient shortcuts to knowledge. They can help determine whether publicly displaying a religious book in a toilet is art or a hate crime, and whether the use of a particular term or phrase is cause for being forced to attend a sensitivity seminar. And if a woman claims she was raped by three men, people who understand the importance and significance of tags can determine what happened not by wasting time seeking facts, but simply by examining the tags. Poor black female prostitute accuses three rich white male lacrosse players? That's a no-brainer. Just ask the New York Times and the learned faculty of any prestigious university.

The useful tag of "sex offender," especially under its recently expanded definition, permitted last year the arrest and orange-jumpsuit-chaining of some dangerous seventh-grade boys and girls caught participating in a game of slap-a$$. (Too bad for the zero-intelligence prosecutor that the court wasn't up to date on that particular tag.) Tags separate the admirable (Alger Hiss) from the despicable (Robert E. Lee).

The p.c. crowd—quite a large and influential group these days—knows that tags tell them all they really need to know. Tags are essential.

Incidentally, I like the term American, as long as it's not preceded by a hyphen. I notice that it's one tag the p.c. crowd hates.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by greymule

Incidentally, I like the term American, as long as it's not preceded by a hyphen. I notice that it's one tag the p.c. crowd hates.

But it is so non-descript which is why I don't like it.

Canadian, Mexican, Guatamalan, Brazilian, Peruvian, etc. are all citizens of America.

Considering what the term American now represents, Vespucci is probably chasing Waldseemuller around the Afterlife trying to kill him, again.

I wonder what Waldseemuller was going to name the New World when he changed his mind about "America"

[SC Ump]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

A word is nothing more than a particular compilation of letters meant for the purpose of communication. Have you ever seen a word cause any destruction?

So you're saying the pen is not mightier than the sword? I'm okay with and celebrate your right to have apathy towards my opinion of your words, but there should be recognition that inflammatory words can inflame.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by SC Ump

So you're saying the pen is not mightier than the sword? I'm okay with and celebrate your right to have apathy towards my opinion of your words, but there should be recognition that inflammatory words can inflame.

A sad excuse for one not having control of themselves.

Of course, I'm not talking about endangering people by screaming "fire" in a crowded room/building

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

But it is so non-descript which is why I don't like it.

Canadian, Mexican, Guatamalan, Brazilian, Peruvian, etc. are all citizens of America.

Considering what the term American now represents, Vespucci is probably chasing Waldseemuller around the Afterlife trying to kill him, again.

I wonder what Waldseemuller was going to name the New World when he changed his mind about "America"

I wonder what my Argentine wife would think about this.

We're still debating whether or not she's white, but it's usually settled when she attempts to dance.