OMG! I give up.....I just hung up on my twin....ignorance reigns!

Long story short: I was feeling a bit guilty having not contacted my BIL and wishng him good luck in his re-election bid in the state senate race in IN (republican). She is upset because of the personal comments made by the opponent. OK. I sympathized and said, "Yeah it's like the survey that says that 23% of Texans believe Obama is Muslim. THEN she informed me that she believes it too. Here's where it gets interesting: She asked me who's black in his family? I said his father. She said,"No"! For some reason she must think that his father isn't black but therefore can be Muslim????? Like black people can't be Muslim! She told me we couldn't talk about it even after I assured her I had seen pictures of his father! She' said she has too much on her plate and we can't talk about it! I said, "I do too" (a bit of a fib) but, then I hung up. How in hell does one battle THAT?

Our relationship has been more than strained for two years and in what I thought was an act of kindness and concern we're now in deeper! Is there anything I can say to her? Any suggestions?

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/

http://fightthesmears.com/


And here's a pic of Barrack with his father:



This undated photo shows Barack Obama and his father, also named Barack Obama. Obama's father left the family to study at Harvard when Barack was just two, returning only once. Obama wrote poignantly about this visit in his memoir, remembering the basketball his father gave him, the African records they danced to, the Dave Brubeck concert they attended. Obama, then 10, never saw his father again.



and with Obama's mother:




This undated photo shows Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama's father, also named Barack Obama, and mother, Stanley Ann Dunham (her father always wanted a son). Obama's father left the family to study at Harvard when Barack was just two. This visit, when Obama was 10, was the last time he saw his father. By then Ann had remarried.

she would view them as contrived.

The people who believe Obama is a muslim are the people who are hooked completely by Fauxnews, Rush and fundie mega churches. Only some catastrophic event will get them to question what they believe they, as the real Americans, know is the truth.

Stay away from politics. It is what I do with such minded close family members.

avoid politics when relatives are politicians! I have to draw the line somewhere. To say nothing is then assumed as agreement and that couldn't be farther from the truth. I don't think she could accept the truth even if a catastrophic event occurred. I think she has a degree in ignorance and probably perfect attendance on Faux News. Where or where is the Fairness Doctrine? Hope it can be resurrected someday. I should just take your advice and give up.

I'm experiencing this with my sister, too. I tried valiantly to educate her on the mistakes that Bush made in his first term, and she refused to listen, saying Bush was a man of God. I've decided during his second term that you 'can't fix stupid.' We get along in all other respects. She's a doctor and in other regards is very intelligent, but married a man whose entire family almost worships Bush and I guess has become indoctrinated in their belief. She is very depressed about this election and it's taking all my willpower not to gloat and say "I told you so."

:D

day to say, "Get over it!" I know that is awful but this last eight years has been hell for my husband and I. We're looked upon as being less and I guess that's what hurts....plus the fact that whenever the going in discussions gets over my sister's head then she just shuts the discussion down and won't even entertain a different point of view. My husband educated me and I learned how I had been manipulated into the covey of the ignorant. Fortunately, it wasn't an awful revelation for me because I had had periods in my life where I voted MY conscience contrary to the opinion of the family. But, I have paid big time for those beliefs. They're probably writing me out of the will as I write this. HA!

I'd like to hear how she explains that comment.

... questioning the GOPers' claims.


I guess because we know we've researched stuff and know the facts that we find it easier to try to explain, but we have to get away from that and put the burden of proof on the person who insists on spreading lies.

about the first thought this morning. Your 'solution' is the best. I cannot explain how much trouble this is going to cause in my family. When it happened my sister was with my 92 year old Mom who thinks the same as my twin. So, I'm certain they commiserated over how screwed up I am as soon as the phone call ended. I am the evil one stressing out my sister....again. If only I had said, "Where did you learn this?" and then gotten a source. (Probably a Rush Limbaugh program!)

I'm always on the defense with these family members and I have to learn to turn the tables on them! Thanks again.

That happens to people.

I can't do it this time. I know she's stressed but believe me we have stress too of a kind I hope she never has to learn.