AS DEFINED BY OTHERS

AS DEFINED BY OTHERS
By Nancy Greggs

After listening to the right-wing pundits, talk-show hosts, and the GOP itself, I have put together a summary of who I am, based on their definition.

In the aftermath of the Lamont win, I have been reminded, ad nauseam, that I am disloyal because I don’t support the candidacy of fellow party members who betray their own constituents.

But wait, there’s more:

I am anti-American because I believe in the Constitution, and the concept of a president upholding it after he has sworn an oath to do so.

I am unpatriotic because I believe in a transparent government that adheres to the laws of my nation, and a voting system that isn’t operated behind closed doors.

I am disrespectful of the office of the presidency because I believe it should be occupied by someone whose policies are aimed at the betterment of my countrymen rather than the sole benefit of his own cronies.

I don’t support the troops because I believe they shouldn’t be placed in harm’s way based on lies, nor be under-equipped when sent into combat.

I am selfish because I think the interests of my fellow citizens should come before the interests of Big Business, Big Oil and Big Pharma.

I am a coward because I don’t blindly support military aggression advanced by people who themselves refused to serve in a time of war, or by those who profit from it financially.

I am unethical because I believe politicians should debate their opponents on issues, rather than concocting smear campaigns against them personally.

I am anti-Christian because I do not accept that people who invariably display un-Christ-like behavior should be called Christians, nor should they, or any other religious group, have influence over my government.

I am sympathetic to my country’s enemies because I don’t support torture, or the killing of innocent civilians.

I am stubborn because I insist on thinking for myself, instead of allowing myself to be told what to think.

I am an intellectual snob, because I seek out the truth, instead of accepting what I am told without questioning the motives behind it.

I am an elitist because I believe in being well-read, well-educated, and well-informed, and do not want my country being governed by those who are clearly none of those things.

I am a cut-and-run pacifist because I don’t believe that inflaming my alleged enemies’ hatred by killing their families and destroying their way of life makes me any safer.

I am a bleeding-heart because I believe that diplomacy, rather than killing children, is more likely to lead to peaceful co-existence.

I am irresponsible because I believe that those in charge of my government should be held to account when their incompetence and their ulterior motives cause harm to my country.

I am naïve because I believe that political corruption should be rooted out instead of being accepted as business-as-usual.

I am an unyielding skeptic because I continue to question where millions of taxpayers’ dollars have gone when no one is able, nor willing, to explain it.

I am obviously guilty of something because I refuse to willingly accept being wire-tapped or spied upon.

I am heartless when I mourn the loss of my fellow citizens and an entire American city, instead of focusing on the inconveniencing of those who were in a position to assist and ignored their cries for help.

I am ill-informed because I do not accept biased media news coverage as being the last word on any topic.

I am ill-advised because I want to hear both sides of an issue, and not just the side I am told is the correct side.

I am stupid because I don’t believe that every Muslim in the world spends their every waking hour thinking about ways to kill me.

I am a communist because I believe the wealthy should pay their fair share of taxes instead of placing the entire burden of the national debt on the back of the working middle-class.

I am a socialist because I believe that in a country as wealthy as mine, children should not go to bed hungry and people should not die because they cannot afford medical care.

I am thick-headed because I question the veracity of things said by people who have been proven to have lied to me over and over, and over again.

I am godless because I believe we should respect every person as a child of God, regardless of how they choose to worship Him.

I am a bigot because I refuse to hate people on the basis of their income, their color, their ethnicity, or their citizenship.

I am immoral because I judge people on the basis of who they are and not on the basis of their sexual orientation.

I am short-sighted because I do not foresee that after trillions of dollars spent, tens of thousands of lives lost, and escalating chaos and violence, ‘victory’ in Iraq is imminent.

I am a snob because I do not see the president of my country acting like a clown in public as being charming or funny.

I am an enemy of the state, because I am a proud member of one the country’s two political parties – just not the ‘right’ one.

I am a Democrat. This is how I am defined by others. I think the hypocrisy of that definition is self-evident.

‘Nuff said?

Priority One of Democrats is not to change their way of thinking; it is to change the thinking of those who support a corrupt administration that is determined to undermine our democracy.

How's that for timing?:loveya:

:toast: Most excellent!

You are angry because 3 years after confirming that Iraq has no WMDs, 50% of Americans believe otherwise.
:mad:
You are a lunatic because television pundits contort facts and skew opinion so that this administration is still being treated with kid gloves.
:crazy:

Sincerely,
one of the 60% of Americans who live on the fringe

I forgot that I was part of that handful (60%) of lunatics who are against the war.

But better that than being one of those in-the-know types who still believe Iraq had WMDs (psstt: THANK GOD that story is STILL being suppressed by the Liberal media!)

is that after that EXHAUSTIVE list you so artfully created, a few items were missed!! Only half way through I was sure that the list was going to end, but on and on it went; and still there is more to be said!

:banghead:

:hi:

You have once again said it all!

I read each and every line carefully. And, as usual, you're right.

But I'm staggered at the sheer volume of lies and distortions told about Democrats/progressives/liberals.

And you've pretty much cataloged most of of them here. The hypocrisy, the exaggerations, the absurdities and the projections - they're all there.

I regret that I have but one recommendation to give you.

Thanks.

:toast:

That is pretty much how O'Lielly, Faux News, and all of the other Repuke-worshipping idiots who blather on the media wish to present thinking people.

To me, it's chilling to hear all the hate-mongering that passes for "news analysis." Apparently when the state of Connecticut says NO to Lieberman it is because of American-hating, left-wing extremists have taken over the Democrats. On the front page of the local paper, "Primary show MODERATES in both parties need to be concerned" Somehow Lieberman is a MODERATE. hmmmm.

And that's what prompted this particular little rant.

I am so weary of being analyzed, scrutinzed, inspected, second-guessed and ultimately DEFINED by people who know NOTHING about me, my party, and my fellow like-minded citizens. And the irony of the positions they adopt is laughable to the point of being almost entertaining.

Methinks the GOP should try to get a grasp on what their OWN people are thinking instead -- but then, these days I guess they'd rather NOT know.

And a warm welcome to DU!

:toast:

I've come to the conclusion that the right-wing folks I know are operating in some alternate universe. And it's an alternate universe I REALLY don't have any interest in visiting.

:hi:

I think I'll throw myself out of my own house, and hope the authorities pick me up first thing in the morning.

cause each one of them helped me understand just what you wrote.. oh yes, throw in some sunday school teachers,a couple of ministers,a few dam fine school teachers,and some really good friends that taught me about diversity...ya i`m a democrat and i`m dam proud of it.

Kicked and Recommended...

Nuff said. ;)

Thank you.

This is a priceless piece. I love it and find it inspiring and true and something every democrat should have a copy of. Post it on the fridge, the wall of your office, whatever. Just to have a copy of it and use it whenever you are attacked by the foaming mouth wingnuts. I also think a copy should be sent to the Democrat party to use as talking points.
"nuff said?"

Thanks for sharing your wonderful mind.

:hug:

DemEx

The real problem you address is the way that the news media always take the Republican view of events.
Here's the latest from Tony Snow talking about the Lamont victory: "I think instead it's a defining moment for the Democratic Party, whose national leaders now have made it clear that if you disagree with the extreme left in their party they're going to come after you," ONe lousy primary in a relatively minor state and they use it to define the whole Democratic party with it!
Why is HIS view of the event the one that gets said? Don't the Democrats have any snappy comebacks to this, not even "Awwww your mother wears kneepads!" They sure don't get printed in the media, all we get is the Republican view of things.
Whats really intersting is how the Republicans praise Lieberman but the Democrats don't. Doesn't the press get this? Why would we choose the same Democrat for Senator that Cheney, Hannity and Coulter would? THEY can't pretend to admire the two party system can they? Why don't we have "our" "leaders" making some comments about this? Where are "our leaders" in responding to Cheney's comments about this.
Why do the conservatives always get away with defining our party by any kind of BS they want bullshit and our leaders just say nothing about it.
Time for some new leaders of the Democratic party!! Thats what Democrats think and thats what the LAmont victory shows. The media will play it right off the Republican Talking Points however, right up to the time we dethrone the Repubs in November.
Time for us to start defining ourselves

So, you are admitting to being a pink commie?




:loveya: As always...good stuff Nance.

I believe the heavy-handed, militaristic policies of the Israeli government, which lead to the deaths and maimings of thousands of civilians including women and children, are not the way to bring peace and security to the Middle East or the United States.

I am obviously an anti-Semite. :eyes:

... another peace-monger!

Welcome to DU, gaijinlaw!

:hi:

At the end of each day I devoutly hope you're proud of who and what you are because you have every right to be. Your list was thoughtful, thought-provoking and beautifully written and I thank you for it. As a matter of fact, it should be required reading for every American who gives a damn about our country and the direction it's headed in. I'd like to think most would aspire to be what you already are (and the rest, of course, would accuse you of aiding and abetting terrorists with a treasonous rant like this :-) )

And welcome aboard!!!

:toast:

At the risk of being labeled a commie, immoral QUEEN, that was FABULOUS! I immediately cut and pasted it and printed it out. Couldn't have said it better.

And a warm welcome to DU!

:hi:

I've been a member for awhile now. just don't post much.

Summed it up very neatly.
I'm with ya, all the way!

"Methinks the GOP should try to get a grasp on what their OWN people are thinking instead "

Methinks the GOP has a strong aversion to their adherents thinking AT ALL !!
Robots function best when other do their thinking for them. There is a
reason that Fox "news" has so many followers (including the follower-in-chief).
Intellectual laziness leaves more time for golf and removing brush weed. Besides,
Roger Ailes is only too happy to do your thinking for you--if you'll let him.

The reason I added that the GOP probably DOESN'T really want to know what their own are thinking is because, as the polls keep showing, more and more of them are thinking about voting for a Dem in November.

That odd sound you hear is from my fingers crossing and re-crossing....

that you can, and continue to, write so well.

I stand in awe.

Redstone

:blush:

People should see this!

:applause:

you always hit the nail squarely on the head. I salute you!
:toast: :bounce: :kick: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot:

sadly it is too late for me to add another rec

... but I remember reading someone, somewhere, who said that the worst crime is the attempt to defame excellence by calling it "elitism."

I am an elitist because I believe in being well-read, well-educated, and well-informed, and do not want my country being governed by those who are clearly none of those things.

Nance, you are excellent!

that you're all hopped up on dope!!!

;-)

You said:
"I am an enemy of the state, because I am a proud member of one the country’s two political parties – just not the ‘right’ one."

So I thought:
So, what does it mean if I think we need more parties, or I REFUSE to align myself with either party? Does that make me wishy-washy?

Personally, I am neither Democrat or Republican; I see fault with both parties. That doesn't mean, however, that I can't see sense in what someone, who can think and string logical sentences together, will say. Like you, Nance.

I always thought the "Democratic" in the "Democratic Underground" represented a PRINCIPLE, not a PARTY. I always wince when the title gets associated with the party.

In other words, if you have something sensible to say, it's okay to say it. Just don't flame about it.

Good ideas withstand the test of impact and abuse. Bad ideas should not.