Facebook Follies of Friends and Families

[crazy canuck]

Where did I say Trump was blameless?  You said "Americans" in a statement that was a blanket statement "The Americans have not exactly been our friends these past 3.5 years."  I argued that saying "America" would have been an accurate or "some Americans" because as it is worded you implement the group "Americans" as a whole.  Hell, using "American Government" would have been accurate - you continue to paint with too broad of strokes.

If one can only blame a country for what people in the country do, you then need to carve out an exception for blaming people in the country.  I suppose we could call that the Trump rule.  But why not stick with a consistently logical position that it is always the people within a country who do things.

As for your point that the rest of the world should not refer to "Americans" when referring to acts being done by people within your country, that is linguistically challenging.   Using a term as narrow as "American Government" is also too narrow.  It is not just your government, there are a large number of non governmental actors who also share the blame.

So Americans seems a pretty good way of describing a large group of people who are Americans.

[Syt]

I'm so confused right now. I see signs all over saying black lives matter. I'm just trying to figure out which black lives matter. It can't be the unborn black babies. They are destroyed without a second thought. It's not black cops. They don't seem to matter. It's not my black conservative friends. They are told to shut the **** up if they know what's best for them by their black counterparts. It's not black business owners. Their property does not mean anything. It's not blacks who fought in the military. Their statues are destroyed by the black lives matter protesters with disdain. So which black lives matter again?

I can't keep up. I just can't. I'm exhausted trying to figure out what we're all supposed to do, believe, and be offended and outraged by next.

Two months ago, First Responders were all the rage. In fact, they were heroes. We gave them free coffee, meals, and cheers as they drove by.Today we hate them and want them defunded because they can't be trusted.

Two months ago, truck drivers were the heroes, as well, for keeping America moving and the grocery stores stocked. Today we block the roads with protesters, drag them out of the cabs and beat them half to death.

Nurses and Doctors are still cool for now. But they may be unemployed. They too are heroes, unless of course they truly believe all lives matter. Then they're filled with hate and are part of problem like so many others.

Just 45 days ago protests weren't "essential" and were considered criminal, selfish and a murderous activity. Today they are gloriously critical and celebrated. All of the obvious criminal and murderous activities are simply ignored. If you protest about lockdowns for freedom, you are selfish and you will spread a virus. If you protest, loot, and riot for social justice, you are a warrior and the virus cedes.

Trust the experts. No, not those experts. Don't wear masks ... wear masks, but only good ones. Wait, don't wear masks, wear anything as a mask. Nevermind on the masks. Not sure, but if you don't, you hate people because you could be an asymptomatic spreader. Wait. That's not a thing anymore?

For 3 months, NOTHING was more important than social distance. In fact, we gave up all of our liberties for it. We canceled schools, medical and dental procedures, yet allowed the murder of babies, canceled activities, closed businesses, eliminated every spring rite of passage from prom to graduation, denied people funerals, even at Arlington, and we wrecked the economy for it. Then came social justice, and social distance was no more. Now things are more cut and dry though. A thousand people at three memorials for someone they never even met. It's a matter of "respect". But you can only assemble 100 or less people.

Black Lives Matter. Of course they do. Then multiple black police officers and individuals were killed during the "peaceful protests". I don't see any outrage. Black individually owned businesses burned to the ground. Silence. Deadliest weekend in Chicago. NOTHING!!

I'm really confused now. Look at the data, NO, not that data. Do the math. No, you can't do the math like that. Only the experts can understand the data and math. What do you mean other cities/states/governors are interpreting the data differently? Pools are safe in Indiana, but not Michigan? Playgrounds are safe in your town but not mine? Amusement parks are safe in Florida but not Ohio, nor Michigan.

Just listen to the black community leaders. No, not them.

If you are silent you are part of the problem. If you speak, you are part of the problem. If you have to ask, you don't understand. If you don't ask, you don't care.

It's all so predictable, tedious, and exhausting. Nothing adds up. It's one gigantic common core Math life problem, with ever changing denominators that I'm sure the media and politicians are eagerly ready to solve for us....until the next "crisis".

So for now I pray. I pray God will heal our land and bless the United States of America.

***Copied From A Friend***

[Razgovory]

Where did I say Trump was blameless?  You said "Americans" in a statement that was a blanket statement "The Americans have not exactly been our friends these past 3.5 years."  I argued that saying "America" would have been an accurate or "some Americans" because as it is worded you implement the group "Americans" as a whole.  Hell, using "American Government" would have been accurate - you continue to paint with too broad of strokes.

If one can only blame a country for what people in the country do, you then need to carve out an exception for blaming people in the country.  I suppose we could call that the Trump rule.  But why not stick with a consistently logical position that it is always the people within a country who do things.

As for your point that the rest of the world should not refer to "Americans" when referring to acts being done by people within your country, that is linguistically challenging.   Using a term as narrow as "American Government" is also too narrow.  It is not just your government, there are a large number of non governmental actors who also share the blame.

So Americans seems a pretty good way of describing a large group of people who are Americans.

So, how would you describe the majority of Americans who are not too blame?  Do we call them Americans as well? 

"The Americans are to blame, but not the Americans" is pretty confusing.

[Syt]

[merithyn]

Sure, but it is the flag of your country.  Which raises the question why someone who is not a citizen of your country and is not living in your country feels the urge to put it on their flag pole.

It's clear that you don't understand. That's okay. But you not understanding doesn't mean that BB should change his mind, or feel like he should have to defend doing so to you or anyone else.

It's okay to let other people do something you don't agree with.

[Admiral Yi]

Looooking good Speesh. 

[The Brain]

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[Valmy]

Funny how they go from bemoaning people being pissed off and praying for healing and then talk about how great it is people are pissed off.

Of course those two posts might be from different people.

[Razgovory]

It's the foundation of Trump support.  He inflicts harm on those that conservatives were told to hate.

[Valmy]

It's the foundation of Trump support.  He inflicts harm on those that conservatives were told to hate.

Only he doesn't really do much to harm me directly (or anybody...well I guess except non-citizens), except to the extent he turned the entire country into a shameful disfunctional wreck which harms everybody not just people conservatives don't like.

[merithyn]

It's the foundation of Trump support.  He inflicts harm on those that conservatives were told to hate.

Only he doesn't really do much to harm me directly (or anybody...well I guess except non-citizens), except to the extent he turned the entire country into a shameful disfunctional wreck which harms everybody not just people conservatives don't like.

You're his target audience as a cis, het white guy. He's not trying to harm you. Women wanting medical help, immigrants wanting human rights, and black people wanting dignity,  however.... they are being directly harmed by Trump.

[Eddie Teach]

He talks a good game though and gets the twitterati riled up.

[Valmy]

It's the foundation of Trump support.  He inflicts harm on those that conservatives were told to hate.

Only he doesn't really do much to harm me directly (or anybody...well I guess except non-citizens), except to the extent he turned the entire country into a shameful disfunctional wreck which harms everybody not just people conservatives don't like.

You're his target audience as a cis, het white guy. He's not trying to harm you. Women wanting medical help, immigrants wanting human rights, and black people wanting dignity,  however.... they are being directly harmed by Trump.

Are they? I am sure he would love to harm those people but he fails to even do that. Instead those people are making real strides while he rages on twitter like an idiot, his legislative agenda dead in the water.

[The Minsky Moment]

There are plenty of cis het white guys that have to purchase their own health care or like to drink clean water or not be infected by a pandemic the federal government is neglecting.  I could go on further but the main point is that staggeringly incompetent management of the federal government hurts all races, classes and genders, although admittedly not always with same effect and intensity.

[Josquius]

An admission. Interesting