Ok, my first real FREEPER encounter to share

First a little background. I am a veteran. I served 1 year in the Army National Guard (Infantry) and 4 years in the United States Navy acive duty where I served as a Gunners Mate aboard an AEGIS class cruiser, spending some time in deployment both in the Persian Gulf and in the Red Sea off the coast of Somalia. I got out of the service 10 years ago, having enlisted for the first time at the ripe old age of 17 (for those of you keeping track, that makes me 32 yrs old).

On the back of my car I have following stickers:

Democratic Underground

Tis the times plague when madmen lead the blind - William Shakespeare

Unlimited Growth in a limited world is NOT a sign of success.

A "Peace" symbol.

...and finally the kicker and by far largest sticker on my vehicle...

Bush Lied
Thousands Died

Here is my experience...

I was driving home from work today on the NYS Thruway minding my own business, tooling along with some tunes playing (Carbon Leaf, great band, give 'em a listen) when I noticed in my rear view mirror a car driving aggressively a few vehicles back. I was in the right hand lane.

Still not paying it much mind I continued along as this vehicle pulled up even with mine. I glanced over at this guy, probably in his late fourties, as he promplty glared menacingly at me and shot me the universal "your number one" hand gesture. At that moment I was mildly amused, and promptly returned his gesture.

At this point I thought the situation over, and chuckled to myself about my first true negative reaction to my stickers, all others up to now had been positive.

Ahhh... dear reader, alas the tale is not yet told.

As traffic in my lane slowed, I shifted over to pass some vehicles, at this point I began again to approach the aforementioned gentleman. He noticeably slowed as I neared and began to roll down his car window. I expected I was in for some deragotory language, and having been a swarmy sailor myself was still not particularly concerned, mostly amused. At this juncture, I again glanced over at the irate man in the vehicle next to me as I was passing him, but instead of verbage, he reared back his head and forcefully spit at me with a look of total contempt and disgust on his face. Surprised, but at that instant, non-plussed, I gestured towards him again as I pulled ahead. That is where my interaction with him ended.

As I continued along, I began to become increasingly upset with the spitting. I am still seething about it to be honest and make light of it a bit to cool myself. I have served my contract honorably. Served in combat areas. Manned a .50 cal machine gun as I travelled to and from the Gulf on the fantail of my ship. I now for the first time truly understand what many vets must have felt as they returned from Vietnam and faced an angry public.

Is this not America? Is this not the land where differences are at least TOLERATED if not appreciated? Is that not what I served to preserve? Apparently, and sadly for many, that answer appears to be "no".

Now in all honesty, this man does not know me to be a vet. My Veterans for Peace sticker was weathered and had to be removed. I do not even have a problem with him gesturing and disagreeing...but to spit...it is good my anger kicked in a few minutes later, or he might have gotten to see my non-peaceful side. My emotions about it continue to swing back and forth between amusement, sadness, and seething hot anger.

In my America, we don't spit at people just for disagreeing, without any discussion or dialogue.

In my America you make sure your government tends to it's citizens, soldiers, environment, and more by voicing dissent when you see something afoul.

In my America we are free.

Sadly, we appear to live in his America.

Olaf

Edited for spelling

these people get crazier by the day.

everyday. But it is worth fighting for, and we will prevail.

I'm so sorry you had to go through that.

He has probably never served in the military.

I'm biased, but I've never seen a progressive key a car, or spit at someone. I have several progressive friends who have been victims of Conservative "Christian" rightwingers' aggression. One kept getting in her face and trying to say she assaulted him at a peace rally.

It has been my experience that those CCR's (if you will) are not very well-educated people.

I put "Christian" in quotes because we all know that they are cultists, not genuine Christians. They are Bushbots.

little boys get hitty when they have a crush.

Maybe the next time you encounter him he'll throw a note in your window:

"will you go with me, check the box Yes or No"

these bonehead neanderthals up!!! It's the only way! They have to suffer personally in order to understand.

Empathy is something they are genetically lacking.

where a veteran got spat on.

Too bad it was "their side" spitting on a liberal!

the spray!! :)

Olaf

It's a thought! Listen lunatics have always existed and it's shocking to see them face to face. Not making light, it is shocking.
This type, the bushbot fringe, have been empowered for the first time in their lives by their little bush, and they feel that power slipping away. I think their behavior will get more aggressive, but I consider that aggression a sign of their weakness.
So cheer up! Getting spit at was actually a good sign (I say at rather than on because I hope it was all blowback). :hi:

You ought to track him down and file charges.

Actually, there are as many (or more) of us than there is of them. We just have to learn to counter their violent outbursts.

people, but I may be wrong. The only thing I can say about your experience is that I bet it reinforces your pride in NOT being a repuke. You're a rebel and you're a threat to stagnation & repression and I think you're just great!

What's scary is that these creatures have always been out there, disguised as human beings. Who knew?

People v. Terry, 553 N.W.2d 23, 25 (Mich. Ct. App. 1996) ("spitting upon a person is a battery, which is a consummated assault"); Ray v. United States, 575 A.2d 1196 (D.C. 1990) (spitting in an officer's face constitutes assault)

Legalities aside, it's a tacky weak gesture by a tacky weak person.

that is a horrible story. sadly we share our nation with lunatics so filled with hatred they are unable to even hold onto a thought process based upon logic. i am so sorry this happened to you.
btw, my dad and my grandfather are both Olafs.

Your experience would make an excellent letter to the editor in your area. Maybe the neanderthal neocon who insulted you will not read it, but many people will, and they should know that this happened to a veteran. And please replace your Veterans for Peace sticker - it gives an added impact to all your other stickers.

I know the sick and angry and frustrated feeling of dealing with these aggressive yet braindead freepers. As someone asked, "Who dresses them in the morning? Are they allowed to use metal utensils?" That's about the quality (loosely speaking) of those who still angrily support Bush. Of course there are a lot of rich greedy corporate types, but they don't get emotionally entangled with public political confrontations - just keep checking their stock portfolios.

offender might be embarrassed to read about himself in the paper. Though he probably doesn't read.

order it tonight. I'll see if I can set the letter up for a LTTE. May need some re-wording.

Just had one published in the Syracuse Herald about two weeks ago now I think. It was my first LTTE ever!! :)

Olaf

In case you need any more encouragement. Go For It!

Your story is a powerful 'stereotype' breaker for those who put down liberals and it will display one fundie in an appropriately powerfully negative light.

:kick:

This needs to be said, read, and spread.

I'm gonna get one of those two

even better, I want one that says

PROUD Liberal Veteran!

Encounter with Bush Supporter

I am a veteran. I served 1 year in the Army National Guard (Infantry) and 4 years in the United States Navy active duty where I served as a Gunners Mate aboard an AEGIS class cruiser, spending some time in deployment both in the Persian Gulf and in the Red Sea off the coast of Somalia. I am now 32 years old.

I am politically active, do lots of research and would consider myself well informed, on many government issues. I also happen to utilize my freedom of speech by placing some bumper stickers on my car, with the largest and boldest being simply:

Bush Lied
Thousands Died
The tragedies to which that statement applies continue to grow.


Today I had this experience...

I was driving home from work today on the Thruway minding my own business, tooling along with some tunes playing (Carbon Leaf, great band, give 'em a listen) when I noticed in my rear view mirror a car driving aggressively a few vehicles back.

Not paying it much mind I continued along as this vehicle pulled up even with mine. I glanced over at this guy, probably in his late forties, as he promptly glared menacingly at me and shot me the universal "your number one" hand gesture. At that moment I was mildly amused, and promptly returned his gesture. I know, bad me, but he started it!

At this point I thought the situation over, and chuckled to myself about my first true negative reaction to my stickers, all others up to now had been positive.

Ahhh... dear reader, alas the tale is not yet told.

As traffic in my lane slowed, I shifted over to pass some vehicles, at this point I began again to approach the aforementioned gentleman. He noticeably slowed as I neared and began to roll down his car window. I expected I was in for some derogatory language, and having been a salty sailor myself, was still not particularly concerned, and mostly amused. At this juncture, I again glanced over at the irate man in the vehicle next to me as I was passing him, but instead of verbiage, he reared back his head and forcefully spit at me with a look of total contempt and disgust on his face. Surprised, but at that instant, nonplussed, I gestured towards him again as I pulled ahead. He had just legally assaulted me after all. That is where my interaction with him ended.

As I continued along, I began to become increasingly upset with the spitting. I make light of it a bit to cool myself. I have served my Country honorably; in combat areas manning a .50 cal. machine gun as I traveled to and from the Gulf on the fantail of my ship. I now for the first time truly understand what many vets must have felt as they returned from Vietnam and faced an angry public, spat upon or not.

Is this not America? Is this not the land where differences are at least tolerated if not appreciated? Is that not what I served to preserve? Apparently, and sadly for many, that answer appears to be "no".

In my America, we don't spit at people for political differences. In my America we have dialogue. In my America you make sure your government tends to it's citizens, soldiers, environment, and more by voicing dissent when you see something afoul. In my America we are free. Sadly, we appear to live in his America. Tonight I ordered my "Liberal Veteran" sticker.


I edited it down, and actually ran a spell check <smack>. Me grammar not as good as me thinks. :) First post should say edited "badly" for spelling!

I am sure they will chop it more, but hey, what can you do? Thanks for the encouragement.

Olaf

I hope your local paper prints it and the knuckledragger reads it--assuming he knows how to read, of course.

--constructive ways to deal with the anger of feeling attacked by a stranger. If it's not possible to turn it back to them directly (by legal means, not physical)--then it helps to come up with a way to use the experience more positively rather than letting it fester. One way is just what the OP is doing here--tell people, get support, know that there are others out there fighting the good fight for true democracy. We have reached the time when it's heroic just to put bumper stickers on a car. The OP's story and his bravery and honesty may influence others.

Maybe it's birds of a feather or something... Like attracts like?

Just saying...

He committed assault.

You should have taken down his plate number, called 911 on your cell and reported a dangerous driver imitating a cobra.

Seriously. It would have been fun to call the cops on him.

Spitting on someone is considered assault. Maybe even assault and battery.

Great Read , Good writing.

references? Of course they were spat upon.
It was a disgrace.

Nobody can come up with solid evidence it ever happened (i.e. first-hand accounts). It appears to be a conservative urban legend.

I don't know if there is still any video documentation.

YEARS later, I had a VN vet friend who either wrote himself or someone else did (it's hard to tell because they went through hell) on his car "baby killer". There is no denying that.

It is sick. Yes. Well take a look at Ira*q and tell me all is fine.

You don't train people for and execute mass murder and expect everything to come up all rosy. Do you?

Fonda's fictional film "Coming Home" and then pimped for all it was worth by the first bush administration's war drums as lead up for the first gulf war.

I'm not putting up with this crap again.

I'm sick and tired of this crap, quite frankly. Every time someone "discovers" Lembke's crap it's like they've gotta play Paul Revere. I've dealt with this on DU several times. It seems to break out every 3-4 months like Herpes. I speak from personal experience - not rumor or some half-assed book. I lived it.

I payed close a attention to the "Peace protest" back then ,I was Drafted as a Conscience Objector, I never went to Nam, but I was alive back then too. I've worked with many Vets in the late 60's and 70's mainly in logging camps in Alaska, where many were trying to get their heads back together. I did do a search but there was no links to "TahitiNut spit on by Peace Protesters" if I had more specifics I'd love to read you account. Peace!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1097390&mesg_id=1104246
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2248879&mesg_id=2250078


I wish folks could be REQUIRED to read such threads before again pouring salt in old wounds.

No wonder you are close to out of patience.

Thank you very much :hug:

I was alive at the time and saw video footage.

It sure as hell happened. And worse.

since he was never able to find ANY documentation of the myth.
Are you sure that you're not half-remembering a TV broadcast of "Coming Home"?
"Memory" can be a funny thing

It remembers the young man I dated during the 70's who had one of his hands damaged in the war. He liked me. He said, "I would give my best hand for you". I remember the startle response of all those young men then. They told me they sleep with one eye open. And I believe it.

I remember the stories that a friend told me YEARS later about things he experienced in Nam. More than I ever hoped to know. I finally asked him to stop telling me. He lost his sense of smell in Nam. He can't even smell COFFEE! He was so scared one time he literally shit his pants. I won't tarnish his experiences here by saying more.

Oh. And I remember my friend who was a medic. He died of throat cancer. Agent Orange and all ya know?

The thing that scares me about this situation is that the same thing ( and it did happen . why don't you believe first hand reports? )
IS that it could happen again. How the hell are we ever going to get out of Ira*q? Anyone have a clue? Didn't think so. I do NOT want to see the same treatment for those young men and women coming home, and I WANT THEM HOME.

Does the word "anti-war" mean anything to you?

and ps I have no idea who Lembke is and I do not care what he has or has not documented. I LIVED THERE! Listen to people when they tell you their stories.

in any court in the land. These things did not "happen" to you, but were instead TOLD to you. Or you witnessed the very real and tragic results of people's service, but it appears YOU NEVER WITNESSED THE SPITTING
Jerry Lembke wrote an incredibly detailed exploration of the myth. It is called "The Spitting Image" He TRIED to find valid documentation of this. Zip. Nada. But he did find ample evidence of the propagandistic use of the story.
Hell, you were the person up thread that was insinuating that combat veterans become so warped by their experiences that they may come back as homicidal killers! My incredulity when faced with the spitting urban legend seems rather minor compared to that.

insinutate anything of the kind. I've known them. Loved them. I never experienced any kind of homicidal tendicies in them. (unless their lives depend on it ... WHICH IT DID!)

If you did read the thread you may recall that I saw video footage of this thing happening. There are first hand accounts on this thread and links to two others that indicate it did.

Was it caught on tape? It was at one time. I saw it (first hand if you count t.v. - no photoshop in those days). Is it now? I have no idea.

Again. Why do you dispute first hand accounts?

Why is this so important to dispute?

to DISCREDIT the ant-war movement. Odd that you want to help propagate this myth. Odd.

If it had ever EVER been captured on tape, don't you think we would have seen it a million and one times? Think about it.

I'm very curious about this new pheonom, which I have just now learned about. I did not know this issue was in dispute.

My concern is that is could happen AGAIN!

Give me some facts. Help me out here.

For example. How could this discredit the anti-war movement?
Sometimes my dots need help getting connected.

Another thing. The VN war was evidently not always 'unpopular'.
I was young, but have those memories. It took a LONG TIME to resolve.

When it turned unpopular, the American people turned on the VETS!
Now that is propaganda, because most of them were drafted. They didn't have much choice. So. When they served, fully and with atrocity, they come home to be disgraced. Exactly how does that discredit the anti-war movement?

I'm at a loss, but willing to learn.

"The Spitting Image: Myth, Memory, and the legacy of Vietnam" published in 1998. Written by Vietnam veteran and Holy Cross professor Jerry Lembecke. Lembecke set out with no other agenda than to explore the possible validity of, propagation and uses of this long running urban legend.
The only documented occurrence of this "frequent" practice was when PRO-WAR loonies spit on ANTI-WAR VETERANS during a protest march in 1967. The only time.
He traces its actual roots to a similar "stab in the back" hysteria myth in postWW1 Germany, through its well-known use by pro-war conservatives in the Vietnam era, to its revival as a propaganda tool in the days leading up to the first gulf war under the first bush president.
I highly recommend the book.
I want to apologize if our exchange has gotten heated, but it drives me mad when people continue to repeat this canard. It has always been used as a propaganda tool by those who favor war.
The burden of proof, is not on those who greet it with skepticism, but on those who assert that it did happen. However, this never-dying myth is seeming exempt from "put up or shut up"

peace,
mitchum

the anti-war movement

Most vets joined the ranks of protesters and were given sympathy for the horrible things they endured. The Swift Boat people were a small group in denial that bad things were going on even when there were indictments and convictions... (Calley Trial or Mai Ly as I recall??).
Someone please correct my spelling, I can't remember the exact names and places.

KL

but I don't think so.

Can someone please explain to me how discrediting Vets has anything to do with discrediting "anti-war" protesting?

My view from that time tells me that actually the true hippies made it stop. It sure as hell wasn't the politicians. Their hides were on the line and we know what happens next there.

I do not doubt for a moment that this could have been and was used by unscrupulous men (politicans) for their own gain. It should be obvious that nothing is sacred to them.

I just hate to hear that people are disputing a heartbreaking situation.

Prove me wrong.

It intends to be a sign of "strength". It is not.

But, don't get caught up in road rage. That's dangerous.

Never let the bastards get you down.

so filled with anger they take it out on anyone for any reason. Maybe his life has been filled with failure and he is blaming you because you have ideals. I am sure glad to have someone like you voicing your dissent over the direction this country is being led. Thank you!!!

But personally, I wouldn't have flipped him back off, that's just going down to his level.

It's got to be hard to take someone like that seriously.

While I'm sure it pissed you off, and rightfully so, you've got to know that guy was dumb as a brick.

Anyone who would spit at someone over their bumperstickers is in desperate need of someone or thing to put them out of their misery.

Congratulations, you didn't take the bait.

nt

I was recently called up from the IRR and, if my delay is approved, will report after New Years for the unknown.

I have spoken to several military people since my call up, and every one of them is outraged at the national leadership.

These freeper scum believe it when Rush tells them the military loves Bush. It couldn't be farther from the truth.

You say you want a revolution
Well you know
we all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know you can count me out (in)
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

You say you got a real solution
Well you know
we'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

You say you'll change the constitution
Well you know
we all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well you know
You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

http://shell.wspice.com/~dpannell/beatles/revoluti.htm

This is a rickety sound track. Anyone have anything better?
I've been wanting to listen to this song more and more.

Pity these people. Their pain is great, and they are finally coming to the head-splitting realization that George W. Bush is not the Second Coming; the U.S. is far from perfect. Things fall apart.

They've been suckered like a country rube at a circus midway, and they are blinded with anger. Poor bastards.

Just goes to show you
Republicans aint worth their weight in spit

"on the bumper of my SUV"

Story is a gal gets flipped off because she has a sticker of the US marines on the bumper of SUV.

All seriousness that is pretty sick stuff. I removed my gay pride sticker for fear of reprocussions similar to that.

congratulations on a well developed medulla oblongata. Thanks for your service. The tone of the country will change if a democrats votes are ever allowed to be counted.

... you are lucky it did not turn into road rage. Next time when he flips you the gester just try to ignore it, but I know it can be hard.

A few years back I was driving up a four lane road. There was this slow poke in front of me, and he eventually pulled over to the right lane. As I passed him he tossed a cigarette butt out of his window, which happened to land on the hood of my truck and then roll off.

When we stopped at a traffic light I rolled down my window, a told him to watch where he threw his cig the next time. He started ranten on about how he was going the speed limit, blah, blah, and I don't think he heard me or had realized what he had done. He kept on ranten, so I told him to go ^%$ himself.

At this point he got out of his car. This was one big dude! He walked in front of my truck and started toward my drivers door. (For a second I actually thought about stepping on the gas when he walked in front of my truck.) I could not go anywhere as the light was still red and traffic was behind me. I thought this guy was going to kill me!

He reached in with one arm and grabbed my shirt, and as he did this I hit him square in the nose as hard as I could. He fell straight down on his butt and began to cry. As he got up his nose was bloody and he was screaming "You broke my nose!" His wife (who was bigger than he was) ended up picking him up and dragging him back to his car.

I got lucky that time, and the lesson I learned is to ignore it when ever you can.

Perhaps you realized you were lucky you weren't charged with assault?

He reached in and grad me, and I could sense that a punch was coming. I wasn't going to give him a chance to hit me first. I stayed in my car, he is the one that approached me. What would you have done?

I was lucky he didn't get the upper hand on me. If he would have punched me first, I'm not sure I would have lived through it. The next guy like him may have a gun or something, you never know. That is the lesson. Stupidity on both are parts.

The man approached him in traffic and grabbed his shirt by reaching into the truck? If that's not menacing, I don't know what is. In fact, it is battery with the resulting action being completely justifiable self-defense.

Spitting at someone is not an expression of speech; it is an attempt to assault with intent to cause harm.

They are supposed to be all about law and order - let them experience some for a change.

and smile at them. Actually seeing their anger makes for great entertainment...

Nothing pisses off a child more, than to laugh when they are pitching a fit.

sign, it drives them IIIIIINNNNNSANE!!!!

a good response to the "finger"

Blowing kisses, flashing peace signs, etc. is best. Not only do you get to preserve your anti-violence stance, and you also get to show how superior you are by not getting your panties in a wad, but you also get them even ANGRIER!

Prove that you're a tree hugger! Blow them a kiss!

after Vietnam, is that they were spat on by Republicans. Ah...the eternal return...

and wandering in the forests!

Fer gawed's sake. It was a tragedy. Just like now.
That was one major reason I opposed this FUBAR-osity from the beginning. It destroys young men/women/children/wildlife/society (to name a few), etc.
And what is the point?

No one knows! Gwb has his own agenda which is unfathomable to me.
Is it oil? Is it Power? WHAT GEORGE? Exactly what do you need to be happy? World Destruction? Cannot give you that. Sorry. Get a set of Lego's. Build a sand castle and knock it down. Something. Anything! But this.

Sounds like something he would do.

The question is, how come all the psychos are wingnuts? What is it about wingnuttery that attracts psychos? Is it the macho posturing, or the underlying fear and paranoia?

FL a freeper hellhole from the 10th circle.

Actually, they all do.

If you cannot resist yelling back, just yell 'Why do you hate my freedom???!!!'.

It will probably take them another few hours to understand why you yelled it, but...

Kidding. Hope all's well. And be glad that no one so far has faced a response for an anti-NRA sticker.

Unpopular for sticking to the truth no matter what? Join us and get used to it. It's another price to freedom.

I have almost the same stickers, especially DU and Bush Lies, People Die (that's what mine says) including "How many lies can YOU take?" etc. Also "So where's bin Laden?"

Nothing but one glare. ONE glare. That's it.

I'm rather disappointed, I have to say. ;-)

Sorry about Nasty Spitting Guy. He obviously has personal problems. No matter how YOU feel about his spitting, I guarantee you he is MUCH more unhappy about your stickers. Take comfort in that, it's true.

Well, two. One, it didn't escalate into a road rage incident. And two, be thankful you are not the wife or child that have to live with this man. It's a terrible thing to live with someone whose anger is that close to the surface.

Okay, third thing is you didn't get hit by that lugie. Ugh! Spit is so gross!! :puke:

it wasn't something even worse than spit.

You havent lived until you've had shit flung at you for your "liberal" politics. This happened once to me while I was at a peace shrine in a public place (erected during "Operation Desert Storm"--the made-for-TV war). Anyway we were standing around in a circle just looking at the candles and flags and flowers. It was a very somber moment. Suddenly this guy drove up in a big white pickup truck, flags literally flapping. He jumped out and ran over to the group with a black garbage bag and methodically hurled dog feces at everyone in the group. He abused and cursed us nonstop. When he finished the bag, he left.

The dozen or so people in the group never said a word, never flinched, never responded, did not run. We all stood completely still. Some of us were shaking afterward. We were just glad he hit us with dog turds instead of bullets.

They're out there.

No, the honorable country you served well no longer exists. After two stolen elections, attacking, conquering & colonizing a country that didn't threaten us, and destroying long-standing alliances, the Neocons in power have shown their utter contempt for America's culture, history and traditions.

on the freeway. Mind you, the man was not "reacting" to bumperstickers on my car because I have none. The guy just had a case of road rage that is so common on the freeways of Los Angeles, but even when he acted like he was going to hit my car, I found the spitting the most upsetting, so much so that I promptly wrote his license plate info down and reported him to the Los Angeles Highway Patrol. I'm not a fan of the police, but in this case I really hope they pulled him over and gave him some of that great customer service Los Angeles cops are known for:).

I must say that your post confirms why I absolutely cannot have bumperstickers on my car....because if someone negatively reacted to them, let alone spit at me because of them, I couldn't handle it. I give you much credit for not flipping-the-fuck-out right there. I am pretty sure I would have.

Phase cancellation and all that.

Their world is falling apart and they cant handle it so they lash out like drunken fools do.

I idenify with,"what many vets must have felt as they returned from Vietnam and faced an angry public." I, 15 months.

We drive the stretches between NYC environs and Poughkeepsie mostly. A few times a year we drive between Syracuse and Buffalo where I have family. Thanks for the heads up. We have gotten a few, hard stares but nothing like you describe. The spitting is just beyond the pale. It reminds me of what Dan Savage said on Bill Maher a few weeks ago. The Left is snide and sarcastic while the Right is dangerous and violent.

In George Bush's America, there is no tolerance. The Right has little ability to disagree without being disagreeable. It is so damn pathetic.

Some young white punk spat on me one evening as I was riding my bike along the road some years back. Whomever was driving the truck slowed down just enough for him to do this and then sped away. I forgot about this incident but everytime someone brings up being spat at I remember how upset I was by this.

edited to add: The reason I included that he was white is because I was in the south, more than likely he didn't like black people and I was minding my own business, I couldn't figure out why someone would do that since I was visiting in the state and didn't know this person.

they do! That's the kind of low class gargoyles the bushwa attracts..too bad there are so damn many of them.

I enjoyed reading about your encounter with the brainless one and I know it's cathartic to write about it. It could have been me..we were coming back home from Canada on the NYS thruway yesterday with Kerry/Edwards, bush/nothing accomplished stickers on my friend's car.

Not one incident from Maine to New York..in Canada they get the real news so, of course, they know what a murdering asshole is squatting in the white house.

You referred to that man as a "gentleman" - something he most assuredly is not.

I'm sorry you were spit on for displaying your opinion.

spat upon when coming back from Nam... that said, I suspect that if this occured it was somebody like the A-hole you met today... just a suspicion, and for the record I have had my encounters... but the enlistment papers usually stop them, PRONTO

what pissed him off?

That kind of stuff happens here in CA (along with freeway shootings) all the time, but not for political stickers.

Wow!

They have nothing left except rage.

Both figuratively and literally, and this shows it to be so.

And, if we ever did find one of those Vietnam era spitters, I'd bet they became today's angry rabid right-wingers.

If you criticize their dear leader or his policies, you are criticizing them. It's really personal to them, as if you are critical of their daddy or mommy or little kiddie.

Psychologists must have an explanation for it.

in Crawford and say with my own eyes behaviour like this. Yes, I have a bring em home magnet on my car and will be putting appropriate stickers as they strike my fancy. I too am a vetran and feel that I have more than earned the right to express my opinions, as does everyone. But in the America I grew up in....you did't spit on those you disagreed with. And as you rightly judged.... we no longer live in that America.
I took down my copy of the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and Constitution when we invaded Iraq-we no longer had a moral high ground. I have not replaced it.
I will give it a really good go...but if things don't change in the next 2 election cycles (I have already done 2), this dyed in the wool-bleeds red white and blue daughter of the Republic that loves her country with all of her heart will leave. It will break my heart..I truly will be a woman without a country. I always had a premonition that I would die in a foreign land and never really thought it was a possibility ---- until the last 8 years.

I tracked him down, unknown to him. I watched him get out of his van, an overweight, fat-bellied redneck looking guy. I made my plan to go get him.

At the last second, the thoughts of physical violence were racing through my head: the pain in your hands after beating on someone, the blood, the surrounding property that would be destroyed and, I called myself off.

Chances are your "spitter" is just killing time in between doing time, in jail.

Good choice.

But, you know, I'm at my wit's end with these people. I too have had encounters with right-wingers, but nothing quite as dramatic as your story. I used to wonder about the ramifications of "debating" with these types, opting for a more balanced approach to debate ("I appreciate your point, however..."). No more. Now it's "F*ck you, Freeper, you're wrong. Just plain wrong" and that's it. No debate. What are they going to do, beat me up? I just don't care, anymore.

There's a point when one stops being civil to the opposing views and opinions of others: I have passed that point.

I've been told that if I didn't want to support the troops and the president of the US, to hit the road. My offense? To kindly point out to a supervisor that promoting his political viewpoint to subordinates and expecting them to feel likewise was unethical and against DoD policy.

it isn't the best idea to answer the one finger salute with another.

For being a veteran.

And for speaking out for what you think is right.



I have one suggestion: maybe you should add another sticker that says something along the lines of 'You are looking at a Combat Veteran for Peace' or something like that.

God and then run crosses over with their trucks? My experience lately has been that when they loose the argument because they lack eloquence and education, they resort to childish actions and that's the only way they are capable of expressing themselves.

our country. But whether you're a veteran or not, you still deserve common courtesy, as a human being.

I had some raging asshole pull up beside me as he was about to make a right-hand (!!!!) turn - and I was continuing straight through the intersection. He threw me a wild and circular fuck-you finger and shouted some sort of unimaginable invective (I had my radio turned up kinda loud to my favorite rock station, with my windows rolled all the way up, so I didn't hear what he said, just saw his twisted, angry face and his mouth moving). Hard to react quickly to something like that, but I do remember smiling back at him, and then laughing hysterically to myself afterwards! He had zoomed up in traffic so he could get alongside me and be sure I'd see. What a moran. And what really struck me as ridiculous was the fact that, as this guy was making his turn (completely away from me in direction), he was still yelling at me and gesturing out his window, looking back at me WHILE he was turning. Not sure someone like that is gonna last very long behind the wheel, if it's more important to look behind him to cuss somebody out than to watch the road and the traffic ahead of him. But hey, I can't say I care too much.

I had one other experience on the freeway, when I was in the carpool lane and a big-ass pickup truck pulled up alongside me. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see he was looking directly across at me, with a REALLY sour, outraged expression on his face. I backed off the accellerator just a tad, so I'd fall behind him. He tried doing that, too, so he could keep abreast of me and keep giving me dirty looks. He failed, because traffic was heavier in his lanes than in mine and the flow of traffic forced him to head onward. But I noticed that, as he proceeded farther down the road, he had me almost constantly in his side mirror. I could see his face, fully, reflected in it, looking back at me with that same sour expression. I just smiled sweetly at him, making eye contact, and continuing my best Cameron Diaz shit-eating grin. Made me feel truly happy to be an annoyance to this hothead, and I knew it probably bothered him too that he hadn't provoked me or made me visibly upset. Good! It made me smile at him harder and wider.

My bumper stickers, incidently, are taped to the inside of my rear window: "bush knew" "War is Not the Answer" and "Dean for America" - in that order. Terribly offensive, aren't they?

You're not alone. Your sentiments aren't alone, either. Unfortunately, neither are people like these. However, the way they drive, not hesitating to show their aggressions to other drivers with NO thought given to road safety, tells me we probably won't have to worry about seeing too many of them on the road for too terribly long...

FUCK 'em. Make 'em madder by not reacting. They're trying VERY hard to pick a fight. Just like the "man" they worship. When you smile benignly, it frustrates the hell out of 'em because they're hoping to bully and frighten and intimidate you. I WON'T be bullied that way. I REFUSE to play their game.

Just go about my business and occassionally run into someone out of control on the roadways. I'm thinking, if I'm having a bad day, I should just stay out of the car.

For the most part, I find the drivers in my local area friendly. Let you merge without menace. That kind of thing.

All I did the other day was turn into a grocery store parking lot and the passenger in a car coming out was having hysterics at me for some unknown reason. Wha? It didn't phase me. I used to go with a guy who had so many speeding tickets and seemed incapable of slowing down, I resorted to, "I'll take my own car! See you over there."

Talk about WMDs. Don't you think a car might be one?

...common tactic for the slimy bigots to use against Black people and Freedom Riders in the struggles during Freedom Marches and Protests during the 1960's...

You haven't seen anything until you see a grown man spit on or at a child....


Tikki

the VietNam War.

Not really. But its amazing how irrational they are about this GOP cult they belong to. Bizarre.

:hug::grouphug::pals::hug::grouphug:

Where did you get the William Shakespeare quote bumper sticker? I need one of those!

Nice to meet a fellow "weapons puke" :rofl:

Anyway, what a shitheel that guy was. And it's just that sort of mindless, idiotic, kneejerk, fear-based obedience masquerading as patriotism that led me to liberalism when I was in the service.

Oh, and funny how it wasn't so important to "respect the Commander in Chief" when it was Clinton, remember?

Norse culture a hobby of mine.

Olaf

I am sitting here with Michael Barnes' "A new Introduction to old Norse: part 1, Grammar"

Oxford University Press.

I also have about 15 other Viking and Norse books, but that is the only one I have on language. Was considering taking an Icelandic language course since it is the closest existing language to Old Norse.

Olaf the Viking

He must have gotten out of the doghouse early. No pun intended! :crazy: