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SO tired of talking to people and then hearing "the dumb" come out of their mouths...
We have next-door neighbors that we've had for over 20 years. We are both 45, and they are both around 65. We could NOT be more different from each other. We are Atheists and Liberal Democrats, and they are born-again and VERY right-wing. But they are really good neighbors. Bring us baked-goods, nice to us, etc. We do the same. But every once-in-a-while the wife says something bad about President Obama, or worse, something racist, etc. Once she asked me to sign a petition to help get abortion made illegal. I said I would never sign something like that. She HAS to know we are Democrats, we've seen each other @ the polls and she's seen signs in our yard, etc. SO. I just stepped over there today to tell them (and be friendly, because they are always complimenting our kids) that our daughter, 20, got a paid internship (YAY!), and our son who has been homeschooled (our daughter never was) got his GED on the first try (he got it because there is no diploma for homeschoolers in IL). I was proud and knew they'd be happy for them.
Anyway, to make a short-story long, she brings up President Obama and how he's a Socialist,drank and snorted cocaine (I pointed out that even if he did, which I don't know, so did her precious George W and she ignored that) and instead of just changing the subject, I decided to not be quiet. I just said well I am voting for Obama again, and we'll just have to agree to disagree. She just sort-of mumbled something and stepped over by her husband. Before THIS conversation, she said her pastors daughter was married to a , and she WHISPERED IT, black man. She is very racist. How 'christian' of her! She also has said everyone shouldn't get healthcare because if 'they' get it, it will take away from 'us'. WHAT? I said to her then "Well that doesn't seem very christian", and then she back-tracked.
I don't think she knows we're Atheists and I KNOW she doesn't know my daughter is bi-sexual or she would just die! I know they already wonder how such heathens raised two great young-adults.
I am NOT keeping my mouth shut anymore. Anything racist or stupid-religious (like when she said'god' sends the tsunamis because he's mad, etc. I am going to be very ladylike, but firm in saying that that is AWFUL. I will not just change the subject to avoid controversy with a neighbor that is literally a few feet from our house.
Thanks for letting me rant!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Russell Pangborn on -
I've felt the urge to do the same rant. I have relatives and other people where everything is cordial and they are really nice people in a lot of ways - but - you hear some dumb prejudiced stuff come out and it is a problem - because you want to take a stand. I have done that occasionally and really soured the relationship and then had it recovered. Then you have to pick your spots in the future. No one is going to change the others attitude, but you have to push back occasionally.
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Permalink Reply by booklover on -
You are right Russell. If she brings up politics or religion I will just nicely say "We had better not talk about that because we're on such opposite sides of the fence". BUT if she says one more racist, etc. horrible thing I AM going to say "I would never say something like that. I'M not racist, sexist, whateverist, lol".
Speaking of fences, if it weren't for my dog who loves to look through the chain-link fence, I think we would get a six-foot wooden fence around the backyard just to have one outdoor-area where we can relax and only visit with people who are invited back there. The front-yard would be fair-game! :)
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Permalink Reply by Napoleon Bonaparte on -
You sound cool to me.
I live in an apartment block and it's just all the usual things with neighbours. You know, a smile, good morning, the weather or the cat that lives in the garden. I avoid getting close with them.
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Permalink Reply by booklover on
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Thanks Napoleon :) I don't bring these topics up with her, but I think she hears me on the phone, etc. or talking to my Mom, and is trying to 'subtly' change me. HA! Like THAT could ever happen! :)
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Permalink Reply by dr kellie on -
I called my college age neighbor boys (they are really into loving the lord) over to help me with something the other day, and they invited me to a party they were having later. They tried to coax me into it by telling me that there would be no drinking or smoking, but there would be songs of praise. I instantly said, "Well, that is a shame, because drinking and smoking are my two favorite things. And abortion." I couldn't resist.
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Permalink Reply by dr kellie on
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Haha, yes. Until they come to my door with a bible, I'll keep my shirt on.
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Permalink Reply by Shawn on -
As a black man I feel the need to add my two cents. I hope you have room in your piggy bank. When I became an atheist it really opened my eyes to humanity as a whole. I used to view people as races separate from one another. I know culturally we all have differences but that's what make the human race so special. I used to blame white people for what happened to my ancestors during slavery. I used a blanket to cover all caucasians and say they were all evil wicked people who were beyond help. It also didn't help that I was a member of a particular religion that teaches white people are the devil incarnate who have been created to bring evil upon the earth. Once I left that religion I started to question everything. I accept the theory of evolution and it has helped me to understand that people "evolve". Mankinds view of our world and universe also changes with time because of advances in science and medicine.
I guess you could say I was a racist to a certain extent but now I know that people are people. I can't blame anyone living today for something that happened 400 years ago that they weren't alive to even challenge. Unfortunately there are people who will never see humanity as a whole. They will always use prejudice and hate to form their views of the world. Don't get me wrong, I realize that not everyone believes as I do. There are groups who would like nothing more than to remove all non white people from the earth. There are also groups who would like exactly the opposite. Both sides can play that game, but let's not play that game. I choose to see the commonalities in different races and focus on those. I am the product of a black mother and Italian father but I choose to say I am black because that's what I have always identified with since I was a child. Being from the south I have seen racism firsthand and I know it's far reaching effects. It only keeps people ignorant and creates division. Kinda like Christianity huh? I know Obama is a black president but to me that doesn't define him. I form my view of him based on his presidency not his skin color. It is nice to see someone like me in the White House because I never thought I would live to see it. At the end of the day though I'm not voting for him again because he's black. I'm voting for him again because I see no one on the republican side who I see eye to eye with. I give everyone the same benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong. When they open their mouth and say something racist or ignorant they have done me a favor. I can now see who I'm dealing with and act accordingly. I'm sick of shallow, narrow minded people regardless of race. I'm sick of it and even though I may not be alive to see it, I hope we can evolve as humanity and come together as a world. If not maybe we will die out long before the sun supernovas.
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Permalink Reply by booklover on
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Thanks for sharing your story Shawn. You are so right about being sick of shallow, narrow-minded people regardless of race. I'm just not going to Not say anything anymore. When someone says something racist, sexist, etc. I am going to speak-up. I don't want to let anyone think I agree with the horrible things that come out of their mouths.
Sadly, I don't believe people will all come together before humanity dies out.
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