Comments on: Well thank God for some rationality http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/ The occasional brainshot Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:47:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bosch http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/comment-page-1/#comment-71519 Bosch Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:51:14 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/#comment-71519 You make a good point, Gawain. I'm not sure if it's reassuring or unsettling that perhaps Senator McCain realized this and tailored his response to that level. I agree it was kind of a nice moment though. I know human civility shouldn't be some kind of special event, but for better or worse, in politics it is, so it's a nice wakeup. I hear you on your opinion of McCain, by the way. It's not so much that I've accrued a personal dislike of him beyond political disagreement. It's more what he's allowed to run amok in his campaign and its shadowy peripheries that's really disappointed me. There was a time where I was sort of excited about the idea of an election where I was kind of fond of both candidates, but that seems to have slipped away. You make a good point, Gawain. I’m not sure if it’s reassuring or unsettling that perhaps Senator McCain realized this and tailored his response to that level. I agree it was kind of a nice moment though. I know human civility shouldn’t be some kind of special event, but for better or worse, in politics it is, so it’s a nice wakeup. I hear you on your opinion of McCain, by the way. It’s not so much that I’ve accrued a personal dislike of him beyond political disagreement. It’s more what he’s allowed to run amok in his campaign and its shadowy peripheries that’s really disappointed me. There was a time where I was sort of excited about the idea of an election where I was kind of fond of both candidates, but that seems to have slipped away.

]]> By: Chris http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/comment-page-1/#comment-71489 Chris Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:35:24 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/#comment-71489 http://blogs.laweekly.com/fish/2008/10/12/Motherfucker.jpg http://blogs.laweekly.com/fish/2008/10/12/Motherfucker.jpg

]]> By: Gawain http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/comment-page-1/#comment-71334 Gawain Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:34:10 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/#comment-71334 I don't disagree, Bosch, but if you notice the crowd was having a hard enough time coming around to the idea that Obama might not be a totally evil, America-destroying, freedom-hating, puppy-eating, baby-raping, scum-sucking, flag-fucking monster simply because he happens to be a dark-skinned Democrat and dared to run against their guy. Trying to wrap their tiny, frightened little brains around the larger issue of racism and why it is wrong was probably a little more than he had time for. I have to say, it was refreshing to hear what he said after so much vilifying. A little glimpse of the John McCain I used to like and respect. Unfortunately, that's kind of negated by the fact that he himself was responsible for perpetuating so much of it to begin with. I don’t disagree, Bosch, but if you notice the crowd was having a hard enough time coming around to the idea that Obama might not be a totally evil, America-destroying, freedom-hating, puppy-eating, baby-raping, scum-sucking, flag-fucking monster simply because he happens to be a dark-skinned Democrat and dared to run against their guy. Trying to wrap their tiny, frightened little brains around the larger issue of racism and why it is wrong was probably a little more than he had time for.

I have to say, it was refreshing to hear what he said after so much vilifying. A little glimpse of the John McCain I used to like and respect. Unfortunately, that’s kind of negated by the fact that he himself was responsible for perpetuating so much of it to begin with.

]]> By: Bosch http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/comment-page-1/#comment-71282 Bosch Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:50:35 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/#comment-71282 Why HASN'T this, I meant to say. The use of "he's a good man" as a rebuttal to "he's an arab" seems to suggest something seriously wrong. Why HASN’T this, I meant to say. The use of “he’s a good man” as a rebuttal to “he’s an arab” seems to suggest something seriously wrong.

]]> By: Bosch http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/comment-page-1/#comment-71280 Bosch Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:46:49 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/#comment-71280 I find it conspicuous that none of these linked articles (well, that I've seen so far) have pointed out Senator McCain's failure to ask what it would matter even if Senator Obama WERE an "arab". Not that I blame him. It was a heated moment and he was acting fast, and all in all I'm very glad he said what he did. But at times it seems like we're scootching down a slope toward normalizing "arab" as a naturally negative thing. Try to imagine some bizzaro world where Senator Obama is a Saudi and this frumpy woman is asserting she heard he's in fact black (and clearly phrasing that as something awful). It seems like something that'd touch off a firestorm, doesn't it? Why doesn't this? I find it conspicuous that none of these linked articles (well, that I’ve seen so far) have pointed out Senator McCain’s failure to ask what it would matter even if Senator Obama WERE an “arab”. Not that I blame him. It was a heated moment and he was acting fast, and all in all I’m very glad he said what he did. But at times it seems like we’re scootching down a slope toward normalizing “arab” as a naturally negative thing. Try to imagine some bizzaro world where Senator Obama is a Saudi and this frumpy woman is asserting she heard he’s in fact black (and clearly phrasing that as something awful). It seems like something that’d touch off a firestorm, doesn’t it? Why doesn’t this?

]]> By: Bruce http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/comment-page-1/#comment-71140 Bruce Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:46:30 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/#comment-71140 Good post. Thank you. I was busy yesterday and did not see till late last night McCain had said this at a rally. As someone on CNN said, is it too late to try to put the genie back in the bottle? But for me, at least McCain changed his rhetoric. I was truly upset and disturbed by what was going on. I once witnessed some mob mentality so I know what can happen. And the mob don't have to be "bad" people, that's what so scary. But rile up people's prejudice and anything can happen. I've been worried these people will leave the rallies and someone will end up getting bashed on the street, whether it's the same day or even the next day. And J Crowley is right. Terrorism can be inciting fear and hatred in others, no matter what form it takes or under what guise. A blog I follow posted this video yesterday. Very topical: http://deannaizme.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/racism-sexism/ Good post. Thank you. I was busy yesterday and did not see till late last night McCain had said this at a rally. As someone on CNN said, is it too late to try to put the genie back in the bottle? But for me, at least McCain changed his rhetoric. I was truly upset and disturbed by what was going on.

I once witnessed some mob mentality so I know what can happen. And the mob don’t have to be “bad” people, that’s what so scary. But rile up people’s prejudice and anything can happen. I’ve been worried these people will leave the rallies and someone will end up getting bashed on the street, whether it’s the same day or even the next day.

And J Crowley is right. Terrorism can be inciting fear and hatred in others, no matter what form it takes or under what guise.

A blog I follow posted this video yesterday. Very topical:

http://deannaizme.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/racism-sexism/

]]> By: J Crowley http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/comment-page-1/#comment-71089 J Crowley Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:52:22 +0000 http://www.spinnwebe.com/wp/2008/10/10/well-thank-god-for-some-rationality/#comment-71089 What I find ironic is the McCain campaign inciting fear and hatred and potentially violence, and his supporters are calling <i>Obama</i> a terrorist, the whole thing making me and I'm sure many others genuinely afraid that someone might just take it upon themselves to assassinate Obama. Ah, wait, right, what was I thinking? Terrorism isn't spreading terror or inciting threatening behavior -- it's only terrorism to serve on some educational committee with a former jumped-up hippie who set off some non-fatal bombs forty-some years ago when you were eight years old (whose actions you made clear you condemned) who has since had any charges against him dropped and has gone on to win some Citizen of the Year award in Chicago. What I find ironic is the McCain campaign inciting fear and hatred and potentially violence, and his supporters are calling Obama a terrorist, the whole thing making me and I’m sure many others genuinely afraid that someone might just take it upon themselves to assassinate Obama.

Ah, wait, right, what was I thinking? Terrorism isn’t spreading terror or inciting threatening behavior — it’s only terrorism to serve on some educational committee with a former jumped-up hippie who set off some non-fatal bombs forty-some years ago when you were eight years old (whose actions you made clear you condemned) who has since had any charges against him dropped and has gone on to win some Citizen of the Year award in Chicago.

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