Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
The anti-Muslim ban, contrary to your assertion about a "constitutional travel ban" has been declared to be illegal by two federal courts.The violence on the street started with rhetoric. I have to pick on the left here because the rioting and violence are coming from them.
The BLM group formed after a lot of smaller groups started rioting, looting and destroying neighborhoods. It was due to false statements and rhetoric that painted all cops as racist. To ensure the violence, paid thugs were bussed around the country to lead the way in violence and destruction.
The OWS started after the Obama administration started badmouthing wealthy CEOS. Of course, that was after they bailed them out.
The riots after the election were caused by months of hateful rhetoric from the left. People believed they were doomed because liberal wasn't in the WH.
The women's march was more hysteria stemming from even more vitriol aimed at Trump and false claims of a war on women.
More riots after the inauguration because it was 'doomsday' again.
Now, it's more riots over a totally warranted and constitutional travel ban.
Next week, it will be more riots and violence over some other issue.
It's never ending and every damn one of these riots has been funded by Soros, who wants one world government and open borders. His plan requires civil unrest and he has a rather impressive network of organizations to promote it.
It won't be until these groups out there acting out violently realize that they are being lied to and played that they might settle down and be willing to talk reason.
You cannot have a conversation with people who are torching buildings and cars, threatening violence to whites, cops and Trump supporters or posting thousands of death threats on social media. They need to get a grip and deal with the anger. They've been whipped into a frenzy and the instigators continue to ramp up their hateful rhetoric to keep it going.
There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Disrespecting the rule of law is to be expected by followers of Donald Trump. After all, they are only aping their Leader.The anti-Muslim ban, contrary to your assertion about a "constitutional travel ban" has been declared to be illegal by two federal courts.The violence on the street started with rhetoric. I have to pick on the left here because the rioting and violence are coming from them.
The BLM group formed after a lot of smaller groups started rioting, looting and destroying neighborhoods. It was due to false statements and rhetoric that painted all cops as racist. To ensure the violence, paid thugs were bussed around the country to lead the way in violence and destruction.
The OWS started after the Obama administration started badmouthing wealthy CEOS. Of course, that was after they bailed them out.
The riots after the election were caused by months of hateful rhetoric from the left. People believed they were doomed because liberal wasn't in the WH.
The women's march was more hysteria stemming from even more vitriol aimed at Trump and false claims of a war on women.
More riots after the inauguration because it was 'doomsday' again.
Now, it's more riots over a totally warranted and constitutional travel ban.
Next week, it will be more riots and violence over some other issue.
It's never ending and every damn one of these riots has been funded by Soros, who wants one world government and open borders. His plan requires civil unrest and he has a rather impressive network of organizations to promote it.
It won't be until these groups out there acting out violently realize that they are being lied to and played that they might settle down and be willing to talk reason.
You cannot have a conversation with people who are torching buildings and cars, threatening violence to whites, cops and Trump supporters or posting thousands of death threats on social media. They need to get a grip and deal with the anger. They've been whipped into a frenzy and the instigators continue to ramp up their hateful rhetoric to keep it going.
More empty rhetoric from the left. A few liberal judges who call it a Muslim ban. Kuwait and other countries banned some of the same countries.
It's a small percent of Muslim countries and ones that are known for supporting terrorism.
It's warranted. Also, we are not required to take refugees and should not consider it without a good vetting system.
I agree....that's why we will crush you fascists...There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Did you vote Obama, twice?Disrespecting the rule of law is to be expected by followers of Donald Trump. After all, they are only aping their Leader.The anti-Muslim ban, contrary to your assertion about a "constitutional travel ban" has been declared to be illegal by two federal courts.The violence on the street started with rhetoric. I have to pick on the left here because the rioting and violence are coming from them.
The BLM group formed after a lot of smaller groups started rioting, looting and destroying neighborhoods. It was due to false statements and rhetoric that painted all cops as racist. To ensure the violence, paid thugs were bussed around the country to lead the way in violence and destruction.
The OWS started after the Obama administration started badmouthing wealthy CEOS. Of course, that was after they bailed them out.
The riots after the election were caused by months of hateful rhetoric from the left. People believed they were doomed because liberal wasn't in the WH.
The women's march was more hysteria stemming from even more vitriol aimed at Trump and false claims of a war on women.
More riots after the inauguration because it was 'doomsday' again.
Now, it's more riots over a totally warranted and constitutional travel ban.
Next week, it will be more riots and violence over some other issue.
It's never ending and every damn one of these riots has been funded by Soros, who wants one world government and open borders. His plan requires civil unrest and he has a rather impressive network of organizations to promote it.
It won't be until these groups out there acting out violently realize that they are being lied to and played that they might settle down and be willing to talk reason.
You cannot have a conversation with people who are torching buildings and cars, threatening violence to whites, cops and Trump supporters or posting thousands of death threats on social media. They need to get a grip and deal with the anger. They've been whipped into a frenzy and the instigators continue to ramp up their hateful rhetoric to keep it going.
More empty rhetoric from the left. A few liberal judges who call it a Muslim ban. Kuwait and other countries banned some of the same countries.
It's a small percent of Muslim countries and ones that are known for supporting terrorism.
It's warranted. Also, we are not required to take refugees and should not consider it without a good vetting system.
There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Trump and his supporters are the closest to fascistI agree....that's why we will crush you fascists...There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
You democrats are not civil which means, I cannot be civil, until you are done away with.....
Yes we need to ban all Muslims eh comrade.There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Yes, what passes for a 'press' in the Democratic Party's MSM is a guarantee for more racism, violent racist hate crimes, hired street mobs, and organized international crime syndicates making big payoffs to Hillary and others, and hoping to carry on this Obama Legacy will just have to be dealt with appropriately.
Says the fascist....Trump and his supporters are the closest to fascistI agree....that's why we will crush you fascists...There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
You democrats are not civil which means, I cannot be civil, until you are done away with.....
Yes we need to ban all Muslims eh comrade.There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Yes, what passes for a 'press' in the Democratic Party's MSM is a guarantee for more racism, violent racist hate crimes, hired street mobs, and organized international crime syndicates making big payoffs to Hillary and others, and hoping to carry on this Obama Legacy will just have to be dealt with appropriately.
Who is banning Muslims child?Yes we need to ban all Muslims eh comrade.There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Yes, what passes for a 'press' in the Democratic Party's MSM is a guarantee for more racism, violent racist hate crimes, hired street mobs, and organized international crime syndicates making big payoffs to Hillary and others, and hoping to carry on this Obama Legacy will just have to be dealt with appropriately.
Who is banning Muslims child?Yes we need to ban all Muslims eh comrade.There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Yes, what passes for a 'press' in the Democratic Party's MSM is a guarantee for more racism, violent racist hate crimes, hired street mobs, and organized international crime syndicates making big payoffs to Hillary and others, and hoping to carry on this Obama Legacy will just have to be dealt with appropriately.
Your god emperor tried and failed.Who is banning Muslims child?Yes we need to ban all Muslims eh comrade.There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Yes, what passes for a 'press' in the Democratic Party's MSM is a guarantee for more racism, violent racist hate crimes, hired street mobs, and organized international crime syndicates making big payoffs to Hillary and others, and hoping to carry on this Obama Legacy will just have to be dealt with appropriately.
Yes we need to ban all Muslims eh comrade.There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Yes, what passes for a 'press' in the Democratic Party's MSM is a guarantee for more racism, violent racist hate crimes, hired street mobs, and organized international crime syndicates making big payoffs to Hillary and others, and hoping to carry on this Obama Legacy will just have to be dealt with appropriately.
Can't bring yourself to admit you're a racist POS, can you? Most of your ilk can't, at least not in public, just in your little clubhouses.
^wants Muslims banned. Calls me racistYes we need to ban all Muslims eh comrade.There will be no civility as long as alternative facts dominate the conversation.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Yes, what passes for a 'press' in the Democratic Party's MSM is a guarantee for more racism, violent racist hate crimes, hired street mobs, and organized international crime syndicates making big payoffs to Hillary and others, and hoping to carry on this Obama Legacy will just have to be dealt with appropriately.
Can't bring yourself to admit you're a racist POS, can you? Most of your ilk can't, at least not in public, just in your little clubhouses.
I would like to see that happening, but I don't know how.Bravo.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Looking at this problem from a cultural perspective, my guess is that it won't happen unless and until (1) "leaders" in our society - from all walks of life, from politics to religion to sports to pop culture - bravely lead the way, and throw down the gauntlet and challenge their supporters to behave more civilly, and (2) the more hateful and divisive voices on both ends of the spectrum are culturally marginalized as a result.
I may be naive here, but I think that could happen. It would just take a few brave souls to start the momentum. And the reason I think it will take "leaders", specifically, is because our culture is so quick to idolize and follow. We make "celebrities" out of nearly anyone, and their "endorsement" has tangible value.
.
I disagree. I think we wont have leaders who do this until we step up and do it ourselves.
We need to stop waiting for someone else to do it and just do it ourself.
I would like to see that happening, but I don't know how.Bravo.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Looking at this problem from a cultural perspective, my guess is that it won't happen unless and until (1) "leaders" in our society - from all walks of life, from politics to religion to sports to pop culture - bravely lead the way, and throw down the gauntlet and challenge their supporters to behave more civilly, and (2) the more hateful and divisive voices on both ends of the spectrum are culturally marginalized as a result.
I may be naive here, but I think that could happen. It would just take a few brave souls to start the momentum. And the reason I think it will take "leaders", specifically, is because our culture is so quick to idolize and follow. We make "celebrities" out of nearly anyone, and their "endorsement" has tangible value.
.[/QUOTE
I disagree. I think we wont have leaders who do this until we step up and do it ourselves.
We need to stop waiting for someone else to do it and just do it ourself.
Those in the media and politics who have a professional interest in keeping us divided and angry know better, but have too much to lose by loosening their grip.
The general public - the part of it that is consumed by partisanship - is so obedient to its ideology that no one is willing to give an inch. The behaviors you see right here on USMB can no longer be considered unusual. This is the way people are behaving on the street now.
Here's the bottom line: It's become cultural. It has metastasized And once it gets to that point, removing the cancer from the patient is damn difficult.
I hope you're right, I just don't see it happening.
.
I agree. I think the solution is in all of us. That's the way we can change the culture. You see some of the back and forth (frankly on both sides) in this thread and you think people just like to yammer at each other. And you make an excellent point, that the media actually has a commercial interest in keeping the vitriol going. Clicks and viewers. And a lot of us fall for it. Tune them out and be civil to each other if you want to kill the biased media. They'll lose money and we'll build a better culture.
I claimed that the Soviet Union system of government changed in a bloodless revolution. Why? Because the economy was failing. You were incorrect to describe the economy of the Soviet Union as "socialist". It was a command economy.Are you calling me a liar?Come now, quit trying to score points with irrelevant and erroneous information.You would benefit from reading more, the fall of the Soviet Union was all about a failure of its socialist economy and the American military determination to defend Europe, not an eastern European peaceful resistance. you also ignore all the violent rebellions previously such as East Germany (1953), Poland (1956), Hungary (1956), and Czecheslovakia (1978), and the fact they had to live for 50 years in hell
I wrote that the Soviet Union was transformed from being communist from within and without bloodshed. You would have us believe it was due to Ronald Reagan saying, "Mt Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Ha Ha Ha
Absolutely none of the uprisings you mention brought reforms to East Germany, Poland, Hungary or Czechoslovakia. Peaceful revolutions happened in those countries as I wrote, only after reforms came to Russia. You would have us believe that the Stasi stood down because of the 1953 trouble. LOL
this is one reason why I can't be civil with you guys, you are liars.
I would 'have you believe' it was Reagan? I never mentioned the man, its right here in black and white letters, I never mentioned anything about him you liar. I said the shitty socialist economy failed and Americans footed the bill for 50 years in defense of you to wait it out, that is why Gorby wanted reforms. He wanted prosperity and better relations.
I am actually sorry that I paid my tax dollars to make your place better, I wish we would have stayed home and let you deal with hitler and Stalin yourself. I wish that because of people like you
I first posted this: 'the fall of the Soviet Union was all about a failure of its socialist economy and the American military determination to defend Europe'
To which you responded: "You would have us believe it was due to Ronald Reagan saying, "Mt Gorbachev, tear down this wall!""
Tell you what, I'll let you pick. If you deliberately distorted what I said then you are a liar, if you did it because you can't understand then you are an incompetent. Logically it is one of those two, your choice
However, I have read enough American editorials and heard enough Americans to know that they believe they won the Cold War. Your argument was the same by your claim that somehow the Americans won because of their determination. This is the claim that I find funny. I have heard so many American politicians seriously claim this almost always due to Ronald Reagan. They actually and I suppose seriously believe that there was no agency of the German people themselves to reject the system they lived under and it was they themselves who tore down the wall which was symbolic of tearing down their authoritarian government which was underpinned by the Soviets.
The Americans played no part in East Germany's reunification of the German people. So, I caricatured your thinking that somehow American military might had any part in East Germans' rejection of the GDR by mentioning Ronald Reagan as a symbol of American military strength as if the German and Russian people had no agency. No, it was not due to the Americans but to the Russian people and the East German people as well as the people of other east European countries to revolt peacefully against their governments. This was a massive destruction of a system from within as I had originally said.
By the way, you will hear only Americans write and say things as you did. It is a distortion of history. The Russian people as well as those in eastern Europe did have agency. Without their choice of democracy and freedom, there would have been no bloodless revolts (with the notable exception of Romania). You missed that I mentioned Ronald Reagan as an image of American thinking, such as yours. I never claimed that you mentioned Ronald Reagan. Note my words which were carefully chosen ... You would have us believe. Not you actually believe.
So, I did not lie and I understand very well what you were claiming about the American agency. I am neither a liar nor incompetent but I confess to being somewhat wry.
I would like to see that happening, but I don't know how.Bravo.I'm a conservative and I yearn for the time when people treated each other with respect, even when they had major disagreements over policy.
The way I think of it, we all are creating the culture of the US every day, in every interaction, in every post, in every discussion. It isn't someone "other" than us, it is us. How we relate to each other creates a patchwork or mosaic of our total culture. Its starts on this micro, one on one level, and it is repeated everywhere in the country until we create an overall culture of dialogue. Right now it isn't terribly pretty.
So I ask myself before I engage in conversation, "What kind of a country do I want to live in?" Do I want to live in a country in which it's okay to question my opponents sanity and/or "Real American" status? Do I want to live in a country where some of the vitriol that people spout at each other creates the culture?
No, I choose civility. If we all make the same choice in how we talk to each other, we can disagree, as Ronald Reagan said, without being disagreeable.
It starts with every small discussion, every post, every interaction. It's up to us, not anyone else. And it isn't "their" fault, whoever "they" might be to you. "They" are Americans too.
Looking at this problem from a cultural perspective, my guess is that it won't happen unless and until (1) "leaders" in our society - from all walks of life, from politics to religion to sports to pop culture - bravely lead the way, and throw down the gauntlet and challenge their supporters to behave more civilly, and (2) the more hateful and divisive voices on both ends of the spectrum are culturally marginalized as a result.
I may be naive here, but I think that could happen. It would just take a few brave souls to start the momentum. And the reason I think it will take "leaders", specifically, is because our culture is so quick to idolize and follow. We make "celebrities" out of nearly anyone, and their "endorsement" has tangible value.
.
I disagree. I think we wont have leaders who do this until we step up and do it ourselves.
We need to stop waiting for someone else to do it and just do it ourself.
Those in the media and politics who have a professional interest in keeping us divided and angry know better, but have too much to lose by loosening their grip.
The general public - the part of it that is consumed by partisanship - is so obedient to its ideology that no one is willing to give an inch. The behaviors you see right here on USMB can no longer be considered unusual. This is the way people are behaving on the street now.
Here's the bottom line: It's become cultural. It has metastasized And once it gets to that point, removing the cancer from the patient is damn difficult.
I hope you're right, I just don't see it happening.
.
