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R.E.M. Political comment

Started by Mr. B, March 04, 2017, 01:19:48 AM

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Mr. B

One of my favorite bands of all time is R.E.M. I would count them in my top five. Lately, with all the flap about Jeff Sessions and Trump and the Trump campaign vs. Russians. I am reminded of this classic (to me at least)...



Seems, the Democratic Party is exhuming McCarthy. And here I was under the impression that they were the rational adults in the room.

Please, don't get me wrong. I am attacking them from the left because I was so close to becoming a True BelieverTM in the DNC.

I am disappoint because I was fairly excited about finally being able to identify with a party brand but then Trump got elected and now this hypocritical bullshit.

Now, back to square one.

I'm damn near declaring anarchy. 
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" - Evelyn Beatrice Hall

Mr. B

#1
While I don't fully understand the decision to split this out of the music thread I do understand that this is not my house.



I sometimes/often use music to help illustrate a point I want to make or ask a question.

Since this thread has now been moved to the politics section...If I want to use music to add emphasis to my thoughts or comments here, does it necessarily have to be political?

I'm not trying to be facetious and I am not angry about this. I just want to make sure I don't step on anyone's toes again.

I blend topics, that's just what I have always done. It takes concentration for me to separate one issue from another because in my view, everything is connected. Religion, politics, economics, personal relationships, you and me. If I had been more studious in my youth I may have developed the ability to communicate my disjointed thought process more succinctly but I wasn't and here we are. My brain is like a seive. I can't help it, I was born this way.

I'm the kind of man who has proudly worn a skirt in public while walking arm and arm with his girlfriend. I'm the kind of man who took his oath to protect and defend the constitution from all enemies foreign or domestic seriously. I'm the kind of man who fearlessly questions authority. I am also the kind of man who forgets what he's talking about sometimes. I am easily distracted.

So, after 41 years of living on this Earth I know where I stand on a few issues. The weird tribal divide between the Democratic party and the Republican party isn't one of the issues I am clear about. Other than the fact that they are at war with each other and will argue vehemently about everything from what the meaning of "is" is to the difference between Viagra vs. abortion. One says potato the other says "Fuck you". And they flip flop. Always opposing each other just because that is apparently what they were designed to do.

When it comes to political ideology and logic, my head explodes because when I try to use rational thought to question the arguments the left is using against the right, I see the same tactics used by the right to discredit my questions. Not always, but often enough. It works both ways. On other sites, when I try to use rational thought to question the arguments the right is using against the left...it's like looking at a mirror image. To me, it is utter madness. But I guess that's what I get for sitting on the fence being JAFO.

Right now, I feel like dedicating this song to my self.



 
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" - Evelyn Beatrice Hall

Arturo

Quote from: Mr. B on March 10, 2017, 01:45:06 AM
When it comes to political ideology and logic, my head explodes because when I try to use rational thought to question the arguments the left is using against the right, I see the same tactics used by the right to discredit my questions. Not always, but often enough. It works both ways. On other sites, when I try to use rational thought to question the arguments the right is using against the left...it's like looking at a mirror image. To me, it is utter madness. But I guess that's what I get for sitting on the fence being JAFO.
 

I think it would help if you studied critical thinking. There is a course on the free website khan academy under the philosophy section.
It's Okay To Say You're Welcome
     Just let people be themselves.
     Arturo The1  リ壱

Tank

Quote from: Mr. B on March 10, 2017, 01:45:06 AM
While I don't fully understand the decision to split this out of the music thread I do understand that this is not my house.

....

Nothing serious at all. The political element of your post made it more appropriate for this section of the forum. Simple. If you illustrate a political point with music it's still a political post. By all means post political music with a political point for political discussion in the politics section.

It's not my house either it's our house. And to extend that analogy if somebody shits in the kitchen they'll be asked to shit in the loo in future.
If religions were TV channels atheism is turning the TV off.
"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt." ― Richard P. Feynman
'It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.' - Terry Pratchett
Remember, your inability to grasp science is not a valid argument against it.

Davin

Quote from: Mr. B on March 10, 2017, 01:45:06 AMSo, after 41 years of living on this Earth I know where I stand on a few issues. The weird tribal divide between the Democratic party and the Republican party isn't one of the issues I am clear about. Other than the fact that they are at war with each other and will argue vehemently about everything from what the meaning of "is" is to the difference between Viagra vs. abortion. One says potato the other says "Fuck you". And they flip flop. Always opposing each other just because that is apparently what they were designed to do.

When it comes to political ideology and logic, my head explodes because when I try to use rational thought to question the arguments the left is using against the right, I see the same tactics used by the right to discredit my questions. Not always, but often enough. It works both ways. On other sites, when I try to use rational thought to question the arguments the right is using against the left...it's like looking at a mirror image. To me, it is utter madness. But I guess that's what I get for sitting on the fence being JAFO.
Critical thinking is very useful in these instances. My advice is to not take sides with any political party. George Washington (the one who was the first US President), was very much against political parties, you should take a read at his farewell address.

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CDOC-106sdoc21/pdf/GPO-CDOC-106sdoc21.pdf
QuoteIt serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

He also talks about how political parties end of up serving themselves at the expense of the people. I agree and see it, and wish that we could remove political parties, but we live in the world we live an and have to work in reality.

Now I see this sentiment of, "both sides are doing it." While I agree that you will find dishonest tactics used on either side, that is not a good way to compare.

There are traces of lead in most drinking water, and Flint, Michigan still has lead in its drinking water. So what is the problem with Flint? Why are they complaining about lead in their drinking water if you find lead in most other drinking water? This is essentially what you're saying about the political parties. If they both do the same things, how can you decide which side is better or worse? Well, which of the following bottles of tap water would you drink from?



Essentially, the Republican party is the bottle on the left and the Democratic party is the bottle on the right. Yes, you will still find lies, dishonesty, and other bad politics on both sides. What you should be looking at, is the aggregate not just seeing if there are traces in both,
Always question all authorities because the authority you don't question is the most dangerous... except me, never question me.