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No. I have friends who range from conservative to liberal and to both exremes, and I don't allow their politics to have a negative impact on our friendship. We are tolerant and respectful of one another's views, and are able to laugh about it in the end. For what it's worth, I think it's much easier to lose a cyber-friend over politics (on forums like this and any other) since their is something missing in the written word as opposed to having a face to face discussion.
I get more upset with educated friends who don't know anything at all about politics (don't know hot issues, don't know who Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid are, don't know heads of countries or people in the President's cabinet, or anything they've done) and yet they still vote Democrat on Election Day. I don't discuss politics with them because they don't know anything and that's how they stay my friends.
I get more upset with educated friends who don't know anything at all about politics (don't know hot issues, don't know who Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid are, don't know heads of countries or people in the President's cabinet, or anything they've done) and yet they still vote Democrat on Election Day. I don't discuss politics with them because they don't know anything and that's how they stay my friends.
To be fair, I know several people who vote Republican as well without knowing anything about politics... I used to ask who the Secretary of State was and actually got the response "Dick Cheney".
How can you lose a friend over something that requires every 1 or 2 elections cycles that you to turn around and defend everything you just blasted your opponent on for 2 or 4 years? That would mean whoever decided to end the relationship also has a hard time seeing the hypocrisy of American politics, or at least as it has been for a few decades now, probably longer.
Example... all the harking over Iraq and the "neocon" movement. Those people are trying very hard to deal with the new "neoliberal" movement. Some will admit it, many will not.
To be fair, I know several people who vote Republican as well without knowing anything about politics... I used to ask who the Secretary of State was and actually got the response "Dick Cheney".
Absolutely. Both Republicans and Democrats are guilty of this.
My biggest issue with either side is when someone takes quotes out of context and tries to imply something that was never meant in the first place. Unfortunately, my (extremely conservative) dad does this all the time. He is an intelligent man, but he falls for some of the strangest stuff.
I also think it's wrong to paint people with a broad brush. Not "all" Democrats don't feel the same way about all things, nor do "all" Republicans feel the same way. There are varying degrees of all political views. I am quite conservative on some issues, and much less so on others. I would say most, if not all, of my real life friends are the same way.
When we look at things as only black and white, we do (IMHO) a great disservice to ourselves. I am fortunate to have friends who I can agree or disagree with and still maintain a wonderful relationship. I can't imagine losing a single friend over politics.
How can you lose a friend over something that requires every 1 or 2 elections cycles that you to turn around and defend everything you just blasted your opponent on for 2 or 4 years? That would mean whoever decided to end the relationship also has a hard time seeing the hypocrisy of American politics, or at least as it has been for a few decades now, probably longer.
Example... all the harking over Iraq and the "neocon" movement. Those people are trying very hard to deal with the new "neoliberal" movement. Some will admit it, many will not.
"My armchair quarterbacking is better than yours"
I guess it depends on how intense the issues are going through the current election cycle. The true colors are truly revealed. It never occurred to me on how a couple of the friends I no longer correspond where so racist...
I guess it depends on how intense the issues are going through the current election cycle. The true colors are truly revealed. It never occurred to me on how a couple of the friends I no longer correspond where so racist...
I did find myself very shocked at some of the racist things I heard from people in my life during this election. None of them were people I really consider friends, but I was still quite surprised. If they had been friends, they would be no longer. I do not want racists in my life.
You were hanging out with people you had no clue were racist? That has nothing to do with politics.
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Sort of!
