I recently forwarded an article on the Huffington Post, "Woman Shouts 'Sieg Heil' to Jewish Man Praising Israel's Health Care System," to several contacts on my political email list.
"J in Wyo," an old law school buddy, responded. Our paths diverged since law school, as he went to the Right and I to the Left.
Here's J's reaction to the post.
Paul -
I am quite pleased that this woman confronted this gay, Jewish man.
The man is a fool and wants to destroy the America I know.
If the brave woman's confrontation of this arrogant fool caused him the slightest discomfort, then I am pleased.
The shameless, uncivil behaviour of you leftist kooks during the presidency of Mr. Bush was never answered; it was ignored by Mr. Bush and his staff - with dignity and self control.
I hope your type are squirming in discomfort at the contempt Americans have for you pompous twits like the gay, Jewish man; the plastic surgery queen from California; the plaintiff's attorney from Nevada; and most of all that black basketball player from (who knows where?).
Enjoy, and get used to, the abuse.
I had dinner last night in Morrill, Nebraska, at the Stockfeeders Restaurant. Your boy and his Democrat Party are held in great discredit in the far western Nebraska panhandle.
- J in WYO
And here's my line-by-line response:
Paul - I am quite pleased that this woman confronted this gay, Jewish man.
Sadly, it no longer surprises me to find that the party of your choice, the GOP, is rabidly anti-gay and anti-Semitic - not to mention racist and xenophobic. It is well-documented that the base of the Republican Party is now mostly elderly Southern white males.
The man is a fool and wants to destroy the America I know.
Admit it, you're scared out of your mind. The America you know is changing, and it's changing very fast. We've just elected a black president (gulp!) and whupped your Republican butt in both houses of Congress. Americans of color make up nearly 30 percent of the US population and the Members of the Tribe (my tribe) - Jews (gulp! again) - have eight times more representation in Congress than their (our) percentage of the population. If that bothers you, eat it. Or move to Iceland.
If the brave woman's confrontation of this arrogant fool caused him the slightest discomfort, then I am pleased.
You have no empathy (gulp! again) for those different from you. Does this cause you to yawn?
The shameless, uncivil behaviour (sic) of you leftist kooks during the presidency of Mr. Bush was never answered; it was ignored by Mr. Bush and his staff - with dignity and self control.
So why did The Bush Crime Syndicate arrest hundreds of protesters during his inaugurations with police brutality unseen since the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention? Why did they "out" Valerie Plame? Why did they fire dozens of US Attorneys who "weren't Republican enough"?
I hope your type are squirming in discomfort at the contempt Americans have for you pompous twits like the gay, Jewish man.
What makes you so sure he was gay? Was he wearing a sign saying "I'm gay" on his forehead? Was it how he dressed? His speech pattern?
the plastic surgery queen from California
Might you be referring to Michael Jackson? More (misplaced) homophobia? Or is your hatred based on the fact that Michael didn't bleach out enough of his blackness?
the plaintiff's attorney from Nevada
Another gay black Jew?
and most of all that black basketball player
You mean OUR president?
from (who knows where?)
You're "Birther" too? I rest my case.
Enjoy, and get used to, the abuse.
In the words of your disgraced hero, "Bring 'em on!"
See you across the barricades -
Paul