if we keep moving left and right, how can we move forward?

Abagayle · Post by **Abagayle** » 27 Jun 2008, 22:06

ggggggrurururugghhfhg.
this is partly out of frustration
(staying at my overly OVERLY conservative grandparents',
had a blowup at dinner when asked about my stand on
the hot topic issues...)

what do you all think?
do the labels help or hinder a country's people?
shouldn't we all be just a tad bit open minded?
or do you think open minds allow for too much hot air?

keep it friendly, no hating. =]

Wordsgood · Post by **Wordsgood** » 28 Jun 2008, 04:41

Abagayle, are you referring to hateful labels like ***, redneck, etc? Or labels used to describe different demographics? Please clarify. Not to look too dense here, but I wanted to clarify before commenting.

Tracey Neal · Post by **Tracey Neal** » 28 Jun 2008, 17:13

Well I think it depends on the subject of course. Is it a cultural thing or more about politics..racism..education..healthcare..sex..drugs..fashion..entertainment? I mean it is hard to elaborate on the matter without knowing exactly what your talking about. But my stock answer would be that it really depends on the subject content. This can let you in on how *open minded* and *close minded* one can be. I mean I try to keep an open mind about things..but I tend to go off on rants..esp. when it involves politics

I just got into it pretty heavy with some dude on Writer's Cafe...politics bring out the pitbull in me you see

CassieXO · Post by **CassieXO** » 28 Jun 2008, 23:48

I think that naturally people are close minded and have compulsive needs to categorize people. So it is natural to make first impressions and label people. This is all good and fine as long as you keep these thoughts to yourself and are willing to change your first thoughts and opinions about a person. AKA to learn how to be open minded.

Abagayle · Post by **Abagayle** » 29 Jun 2008, 09:49

i'm talking about this "liberal" vs "conservative" thing.
it seems we waste so much time, effort, energy and material on
hating the other side that we completley forget what we're
"fighting" for, so to speak.

Dori · Post by **Dori** » 30 Jun 2008, 14:17

Wordsgood wrote:Abagayle, are you referring to hateful labels like ***, redneck, etc? Or labels used to describe different demographics? Please clarify. Not to look too dense here, but I wanted to clarify before commenting.

Since when was "redneck" a hateful label? I'm surrounded by rednecks! People around here (I live in a rural setting) call themselves rednecks and don't care if others call them that.

I believe that people are entitled to their own opinions. To say that people who strongly adhere to their beliefs are close-minded is to be close-minded.

I tend to keep my opinions to myself. I don't think I would do much good convincing my Catholic friend that he should adopt a "pro-choice" mentality in regard to abortion. Nor would I do much good convincing the rest of my Protestant friends of my conviction that homosexuality is not wrong. (Please don't misconstrue my statements; they have nothing to do with my opinions towards Catholicism or Protestantism.)

There is a tendency for younger people to adopt the beliefs of their parents. This is okay; however, to be ignorant of other beliefs is not okay. (But who am I to say whether it is okay or not? After all, ignorance is bliss, as they say.) Parents should educate their children so that they can make their own choices. But really, it's not for me to say how a parent should do their job, now is it?

As for political parties, it is probable that I will register independent. I think it's great that our country (USA) comprises such varied opinions. It's one of the good things about the United States. People often take it for granted that they live in a country where they can believe whatever they want.

Government, by its own nature, is a wasteful institution. Human beings often are very wasteful creatures. There's really no getting around it.

When I hear a differing opinion, I don't retaliate with my own beliefs; I ask about their beliefs. Why do you believe this? Can you elaborate on your opinion? Questions like that.

Just a few of my thoughts.

CassieXO · Post by **CassieXO** » 30 Jun 2008, 15:37

Dori wrote:
Wordsgood wrote:Abagayle, are you referring to hateful labels like ***, redneck, etc? Or labels used to describe different demographics? Please clarify. Not to look too dense here, but I wanted to clarify before commenting.
Since when was "redneck" a hateful label?

To people who consider themselves 'rednecks' the term is not derogatory (much like the 'N' word), however others may see it that way. I find it derogatory when people call me a redneck and ask if I have running water just because I am from Nebraska.

Tracey Neal · Post by **Tracey Neal** » 30 Jun 2008, 17:39

CassieXO wrote:
Dori wrote:
Wordsgood wrote:Abagayle, are you referring to hateful labels like ***, redneck, etc? Or labels used to describe different demographics? Please clarify. Not to look too dense here, but I wanted to clarify before commenting.
Since when was "redneck" a hateful label?
To people who consider themselves 'rednecks' the term is not derogatory (much like the 'N' word), however others may see it that way. I find it derogatory when people call me a redneck and ask if I have running water just because I am from Nebraska.

Indeed. I myself find it quite derogatory. I'm from the south. Georgia. I've been asked some pretty off the wall things too. But yes..it is very annoying sometimes to be labeled because of where your from..or just from other peoples perception

Dori · Post by **Dori** » 01 Jul 2008, 13:51

Ah, I understand what you're saying. However, though "redneck" might be "derogatory" (belittling, in other words), I think it is far from being a "hateful label". Just because something is derogatory does not necessarily mean the person who used that term had the intention of belittling the subject in question.

@Abagayle: Last night I read some more of Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope, a book in which I think you'll like. Obama speaks of the "'liberal' vs. 'conservative' thing" as you put it, especially in the chapter entitled "Republicans and Democrats" (or something like that). Personally, I think some of his ideas, are a bit idealistic. I have been enjoying his book though.

Ribaldo · Post by **Ribaldo** » 01 Jul 2008, 22:52

My reply is directed to the title more so than the questions in the thread.

Pendulum-like shifts of the political parties in power has been in the past a sign of a system breaking down. Europe has had a lot of liberal/reactionary shifts in the last couple hundred years and they preceded some really horrible times.

Coincidentally some economists think oil prices will do the same thing as production hits (or hit, as some think it has already happened) its peak and supplies begin their inevitable downward turn.

Wordsgood · Post by **Wordsgood** » 02 Jul 2008, 21:18

Hey, I've been called a redneck because of where I grew up and how much money my family did not have...so to me it's name calling and I don't appreciate it.

Libellus · Post by **Libellus** » 03 Jul 2008, 03:29

"Abagayle"]i'm talking about this "liberal" vs "conservative" thing.
it seems we waste so much time, effort, energy and material on
hating the other side that we completley forget what we're
"fighting" for, so to speak.

At least you and I (and probably most - all? - members of this forum) can enjoy the luxury of such "waste". Dori makes some excellent points and I agree everyone has their opinions and should respect other peoples.
But we must be able to engage in a healthy debate, not necessarily to change or to be changed but because we can. To see the flip side either as a result of apathy or imposed censorship look at what Mad Bob has done in Zimbabwe (though he isnt alone... anyone know where the olympics are this year?)
You only grow by being exposed to knew ideas, absorb them and either discard or take on board the bits that do it for you - guess that is one reason all of us read!
<head down ......incoming !>

Dori · Post by **Dori** » 03 Jul 2008, 08:27

Libellus wrote:You only grow by being exposed to knew ideas, absorb them and either discard or take on board the bits that do it for you - guess that is one reason all of us read!

That is exactly why I read.

I think it is necessary to challenge our beliefs from time to time, just as Thomas Jefferson once believed that “we need a bloody revolution every twenty years, just to keep government honest.” It is beneficial to challenge our beliefs to keep ourselves honest and to keep ourselves from drifting into ignorance and intolerance.

Wordsgood · Post by **Wordsgood** » 05 Jul 2008, 08:37

Dori wrote:
Libellus wrote:You only grow by being exposed to knew ideas, absorb them and either discard or take on board the bits that do it for you - guess that is one reason all of us read!
That is exactly why I read.

I think it is necessary to challenge our beliefs from time to time, just as Thomas Jefferson once believed that “we need a bloody revolution every twenty years, just to keep government honest.” It is beneficial to challenge our beliefs to keep ourselves honest and to keep ourselves from drifting into ignorance and intolerance.

HERE HERE! Well said ladies.