What's wrong here?!

[skirtpettiman]

The Orwellian nightmare has already begun here in the UK. Any social media post that might be deemed to be offensive will be investigated by the police. The thought police are already here. If you say anything against a particular Middle Eastern religion you'll end up in prison. I have nothing polite to say about our new leader, Kier Starmer.

[skirtpettiman]

Not so long ago I got myself in trouble. It wasn't the fault of any politician or anyone else for that matter. But I lost everything, and now, nothing matters.

"Any port in a storm"

In that darkness, I found Christ, and it is that reason and that reason alone I didn't put a bullet in my own head, or hang myself from a rafter.

I really don't give a sh!t about Trump, or Harris, or whatever politician finds themselves on these farce ballots, they weren't there that night, nobody was, nobody from the right, the left, no church.. nobody, only Christ.

I was just worried I may never see my mother again... that's all. But that's okay, it will be what it will be. May the people of the world cling to whatever ruler they need to, as for me, I'll cling to the only thing that got me off my knees that night, the teachings of Christ.

Among those teachings, is a commandment to love one another as he has loved me. I will not let any politician steer me away from this...

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I write these things not to get a thread locked or provoke a fight. It's just my thoughts on how I feel. I hope someday people will love one another as brothers.

I note you say you lost everything. I don’t mean to be nosey but what happened? On another note I'm really glad you found Christ as a fellow Christian rather than ending your life.

[denimini]

............... said Hanrahan.

https://www.australianculture.org/said- ... hn-obrien/

[Elisabetta]

For me personally...for my old age...I see as the best case scenario is a degraded society that is still limping along.

It's been that way for 40 years... and getting worse by the month.

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Rules apply to you just like they do the rest of us. Uncle Al locked a thread that John H posted as a continuing to one of his threads over politics. This is a political meme and a obnoxious one at that. Just because you're friends with a Moderator and a Republican gives you no right to share memes bashing the other side. This is what's wrong with our country. One side bashing the other. It doesn't matter whose in office or whose won there always has to be that one person who always has to keep it going and make everything worse by continuing of party bashing. So sick of it.

[moonshadow]

I note you say you lost everything. I don’t mean to be nosey but what happened? On another note I'm really glad you found Christ as a fellow Christian rather than ending your life.

Well, I suppose I technically didn't lose everything, and it really wasn't a matter of "loss", but rather a life I walked away from and carried very little with me.

Many things were happening last year, it was more than just one plot, it was several happening simultaneously. Many of them were not connected to each other, and most of them I don't really want to discuss.

One I will openly share however is how I lost my father, a matter that I regret deeply. He was a good man, all the way until the day he died. He wasn't perfect, he had is prejudices, a little bigoted, definitely racist, and just about every kind of _____phobic there was, and as you might expect, basically gave himself over to right wing politics. He binged on right wing news morning, noon, and night, basically from the moment he discovered Fox News sometime in the early 2000's on his satellite, he was hooked.

I've known that man all my life (obviously), and that media changed him. Oh sure, he's always been "a Republican", and there's certainly nothing wrong with that. In many ways, I myself lean that way (Libertarian falls under the Republican umbrella), but he got very nasty towards the end, and it caused is to argue a lot.

The thing is, I didn't necessary disagree with him on many of the policies, it wasn't that, it was just the nastiness and meanness involved. Listen, I'm not a Democrat, and every time I get close to one I wind up getting burned in the process (and that's another plot that unfolded in 2023 that I don't want to talk about), but suffice it to say, I have yet to meet a self professed "Liberal Democrat" that I truly get along with over the long haul, and basically all of my long time friends are pretty much conservative, even Fred and Uncle Al, who I consider friends.

But on the other hand, it makes me sad when I see otherwise good people lower themselves to crass and insensitive comments all to glorify some man... some ideology that would leave them for dead in a hot minute. Listen, I understand why Trump got into power, I get it, I really do. "Liberals" seem as though their primary interest is putting a muzzle over your mouth, forcing you to do things you may be opposed to, and finally taking your money and giving it to other people who have no interest whatsoever in taking care of themselves.

My father was a good man, but he was a forgotten man. He had a rough upbringing and that led him to be the racist, bigoted man he appeared to be towards other people. But he was more than that, he also taught me the value of a good job, he taught me to work hard for what I have, give things away when I can, never take advantage of anyone. When my mother went through a rough patch when I was eleven years old, he took me in. He gave up his drinking and his party life and took care of his eleven year old son, and for the rest of my youth, him and I were together, trying to survive. I started my life with him not even having my own bedroom, my "bed" was a couch in his mother's (my grandma's) living room, all my things in a small tub in the pantry. Slowly we built our life, we moved into our own trailer in Thaxton, we had very little. We used to watch Star Trek TNG every night on channel 21 (Fox), it and 13 (ABC) were the only two channels we could pick up at the time. He eventually got his disability when his legs failed him, he took his backpay and got us into a new trailer on a lot his mom sold him for cheap. Shortly thereafter he lost his toes on one leg and I had to take care of him for about a year while he recovered.

He taught me how to drive a car, my first "road trip" was a trip to Charlottesville so he could see his specialist. I still remember that trip, just barely 16 year old and taking a two hour drive... just me and my father in his old '83 Caprice. He taught me to drive a stick shift on a '76 Jeep pickup, a story that still brings a smile to my face and sometimes a chuckle when I remember the first time I tried to launch, popped the clutch (as most first timers do), the truck bucked and his head hit the back window, he didn't get hurt and we had a good laugh about the whole ordeal. We stood together through thick and thin.

Then in early 2021, after several years of diverging political views, we finally had it out, the last thing I said to him was a shout... "F---K YOU!" and hung up the phone. And that was the last thing I said to him. I found find out in October 2023 by Liz running his name in Google that he died. At the exact same time I learned this news, I was in the process of having my "new Liberal friends" turn their back on me for the last time over an unrelated matter. A couple of weeks later our camper was loaded to the brim and Liz and I made our way west to Seattle, she had wondered if it was because Washington was a "blue state". The question made me angry, it had nothing to do with that. In fact, Washington could have been as red as Mississippi, and I still would have went, it had nothing to do with politics, I just wanted to get as far away from where I was.

Dad was a good man, but all he was to the "left" was just a bigoted asshole. They cast him aside so long ago as not worthy of anything... white trash.

Back in the early 80's he tried to get a job at one of the local union plants around town. It was a good job, good pay, good benefits, good life. He was denied the job because he wasn't of one of the protected classes. Because of Affirmative Action him and I both spent our lives in poverty. My father and I were just plain white trash, and I'd see him, every time he'd try to get ahead, "their system" would just knock him back down again.

They didn't give a damn about him or people like him. Then it draws to a head, and along comes Donald Trump, who gave my father and other people like my father, people that society just forgot about and cast aside, a voice. Suddenly Dad had an advocate. Now I have read enough of the scriptures to see right through Trump... but I do understand how he managed to enchant so many people.

I just hang my head because in my father's effort to be heard, to reach out to anything that would listen and give him a voice, he somehow turned into a angry bitter man would do things like throw his shoe at the TV when Hillary Clinton would walk across the screen, or say things like "transgenders have no business in heaven".

I think... the point of the story of Christ, is a story of love, compassion, forgiveness, charity, and humility. One of the most famous passages known the world over states that "whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life". This is without exception. The passage doesn't say, "except for Trumpies", or "except for Liberals", or "except for transgender women". The love is intended for all.

I've not had very good experiences with "Liberals" myself, but they're still human, they're still worthy of love and respect, and according to the scriptures, they are also God's children. I love my father, but I don't want to become an angry old man like he did. I can't bring myself to cast a stone at anyone, because I have been accused, and I am guilty, and only love and forgiveness will save my soul.

[TonautBrom]

For me personally...for my old age...I see as the best case scenario is a degraded society that is still limping along.

It's been that way for 40 years... and getting worse by the month.

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That’s appalling. Blocked.

[Spirou003]

Another topic turned into politics...

[moonshadow]

Another topic turned into politics...

It's not politics.

Politics is debating about issues pertaining to society.

We're just talking about life, how the world is falling into chaos, and how we're managing navigating it.

I've spoken to Carl, he knows where I'm at. He's been a good friend.

[Elisabetta]

Another topic turned into politics...

It's not politics.

Politics is debating about issues pertaining to society.

We're just talking about life, how the world is falling into chaos, and how we're managing navigating it.

I've spoken to Carl, he knows where I'm at. He's been a good friend.

I don't think they mean you Moon I believe they mean the above Meme. Correct me if I'm wrong. The above Meme that Fred shared wasn't needed and was extremely offensive.

You shared a story about your father when you were asked a question.

[Uncle Al]

Moon,

Your story rang true to my heart. B. T. D. T.

Memories;
In the end, my dad & I did see 'eye-to-eye' on many things
He passed at 81years, 1 month.(1984) Instead of mom & dad
coming to Texas to visit us, and our 'new-to-us' first house,
my wife and I flew home for his funeral. As a tribute to him
for his love of music, and his full support in my musicality,
I provided(played live) the organ music for his service
(and mom's too).

These are memories that I will always have.
I can empathize with your 'situation'.

Let the ones who want to conflate your story with their political views,
take a back seat to your experiences.

There is part of my Lodge's Valediction, if you will, which is(paraphrased)

Friendship, Love and Truth are the basic guides for all humanity.

You may not feel this, but, in many ways, you follow these guide lines in
your every day life. The "little things" you do, really shows that you care.

In many ways, you could've been my physical brother, yet,
you ARE my emotional(Spirit) brother.

I think I need to go back under my rock and watch for further landslides

Uncle Al

[moonshadow]

In the end, my dad & I did see 'eye-to-eye' on many things

That's the worst part for me... for you see, my dad and I did get along for the most part. In my youth we seldom bickered or fought. He was a good teacher, a good role model, a good dad. We could easily discuss the "issues", where we broke off was mostly regarding what I considered "meanness" regarding people who were "not like him".

On the one hand, I would have sworn he would disown me if he ever saw me in a skirt, until the day I showed up in his house in one and he never said a word about it. That didn't do it.

No, in the end, I became the very person I despise... a person who puts politics over friendship and blood... politics, such a waste. I hung up on him, and because of my own pride and ego, I never called him back, until it was too late. I will endeavor to NEVER shut someone out of my life over STUPID POLITICS ever again!

I can not cast a stone. Fred is my friend, and while at first the meme jarred me, the more I look at it, the more the politics of the matter seems to fade, and the funnier it gets. I'll never block Fred, no matter what. I also appreciate Uncle Al's response too. This thread is turning around and it's beginning to lift me up again.

Maybe... it's not as bad as it seems... maybe mom and I WON'T be in separate countries by the end of the decade.

https://youtu.be/vDeVonv3kY0?si=b-Vw4zkBL6XK8avr

[crfriend]

If this thread can be a "healer of wounds" I'd be very happy.

Just because we disagree on political matters should not divide us, for that gives absolute victory to those who would -- and with their own corrupt intent. We can cogently debate ideas and topics, but should never call one another out or call each other names. We're better than those who we may be sometimes be discussing, and we -- as a people -- should always strive to take the high road. It may cost us dearly in the long run, but at least our consciences will be clear.

Mark Twain summed it up marvellously, "Always do the right thing. It will gratify some and astonish the rest." Those are words I try to live by.

[Grok]

One I will openly share however is how I lost my father, a matter that I regret deeply. He was a good man, all the way until the day he died. He wasn't perfect, he had is prejudices, a little bigoted, definitely racist, and just about every kind of _____phobic there was, and as you might expect, basically gave himself over to right wing politics.

My father was a good man, but he was a forgotten man. He had a rough upbringing and that led him to be the racist, bigoted man he appeared to be towards other people. But he was more than that, he also taught me the value of a good job, he taught me to work hard for what I have, give things away when I can, never take advantage of anyone. When my mother went through a rough patch when I was eleven years old, he took me in. He gave up his drinking and his party life and took care of his eleven year old son, and for the rest of my youth, him and I were together, trying to survive.


Dad was a good man, but all he was to the "left" was just a bigoted asshole. They cast him aside so long ago as not worthy of anything... white trash.

Back in the early 80's he tried to get a job at one of the local union plants around town. It was a good job, good pay, good benefits, good life. He was denied the job because he wasn't of one of the protected classes. Because of Affirmative Action him and I both spent our lives in poverty. My father and I were just plain white trash, and I'd see him, every time he'd try to get ahead, "their system" would just knock him back down again.

They didn't give a damn about him or people like him.

Thinking back, "white trash" became Officially Disrespected as early as 1971. The television series All in the Family ran from 1971 to 1979. The character of Archie Bunker was a caricature.

[Grok]

Got a glimpse of something on television recently-an attempt to bridge the political divide by having people go rafting together. The idea that people can find common ground even if they disagree on political issues.

I hope it works. I am cautiously optimistic.

[Grok]

So sick of it.

I wish that we could be living in a time when politics are bland and boring. God, I hate politics.