Accidental Politics | 38 comments (38 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

hmmm .... "scumbag lawyer" ...

I wonder ... if he were a wedding dress designer and promised to give away free wedding dresses to gay couples in atonement for his vote (an equally silly idea) ... would you have automatically used the phrase "scumbag wedding dress designer". Probably not - it just doesn't flow. You probably would have called him "your scumbag cousin".

We lawyers tend to notice little things like that.

by Maryb2004 on Wed Nov 5th, 2008 at 06:33:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Accidental Politics (4.00 / 2)

Or even better, maybe trying to avoid insults altogether could be an idea too, even when it's about an issue we feel passionately about (given that insults are the spoken equivalent of the slightly more physical fist in the mouth).

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! (Martin Luther King)

by ValentinD (walentijn arobase free spot frança) on Wed Nov 5th, 2008 at 06:42:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Accidental Politics (none / 0)

That's a fine idea, however I felt like punching my idiot cousin when he told me. That said, I refrained from name-calling in the diary (I think. I don't want to re-read) and also in the hour long argument.

That said, I haven't waded into this portion of the comments till now because I understand Helen's depth of feeling on the matter and the impulse to hurl strong words at such times. If you can't vent among friends, when can you? It didn't seem the time to bicker over words.

I'm not gay, but I understand having your rights violated feels very, very personal. Like an assault. And I do feel that organized political 'violence' is more harsh than verbal insults.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Nov 5th, 2008 at 07:51:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Accidental Politics (none / 1)

Yeah but what about my own aunt Helen, a non-practicant Christian and not a gay hater, but would never agree to gay marriage (call her antique, all you like, she approaches 70). What if she reads over my shoulder, you think she deserves the kind of rants present here (or on the other thread discussing Prop.8) ? You're right, I would probably protect her from this, tell her there are all kinds of intolerant people online, probably this Helen is young, had ugly experiences blah blah. The usual excuses. Oh well.

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! (Martin Luther King)

by ValentinD (walentijn arobase free spot frança) on Thu Nov 6th, 2008 at 02:52:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Accidental Politics (none / 1)

Have I mentioned how much I like lawyers? Even my scumbag cousin, most of the time...

http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/relationships/37706prs20081105.html

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Nov 5th, 2008 at 07:41:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Accidental Politics | 38 comments (38 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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