<p>Thank you Marite. Yes, I am a conservative, and no, Ann Coulter does not represent me. </p>
<p>I did not attend the CPAC conference, obviously. </p>
<p>Although I’m not a fan of John Edwards, I would not use that term to describe him. </p>
<p>However, I will say though, that since I’m a college student on campus, that word is used frequently, as is “gay” to describe something that is stupid. Why don’t you guys teach your children that “gay” should not be used in that context if you guys are going to criticize the f-word she used? They’re both offensive, when they are used in that context, are they not? (The f-word means a bundle of sticks…unless used as a slur while gay means homosexual or merry).</p>
<p>“The cheers and applause for her after those remarks is what I find most disturbing, and telling.” </p>
<p>Listened to the video and I thought given the size of the audience that she got polite, not rousing, applause at the end of her comments. I thought the response after the the earlier sentence with the reference to ■■■■■■ was mixed. Some oohs, but also some eeuws. But that was just my take on the video.</p>
<p>Nevertheless I think she is drifting not just to the right but to the lunatic fringe right. I listened to her talk to a group of young conservative women (I think they were interning in Washington) on CSPAN and she really went off the deep end on the subjects of evolution in schools, atheism, etc. Her refutation of evolution revealed that her understanding of the scientific process and of the evidence for evolution is laughably rudimentary. But then it would have to be for anyone to hold the positions she does. She has an audience but I think it is shrinking in number, as are the nmber of conservatives willing to turn out to vote for the current crop of Republicans. </p>
<p>“There are good Republicans out there. Please take back your party.”</p>
<p>I don’t think we will get it back until the party loses a number of elections and realizes that not all conservatives share the current leadership’s belief that the state should be a blunt instrument to be used by one group for the imposition of its religious beliefs, morality and standards of personal behavior on the general populace. Even if I hold my nose I can’t bring myself to vote Democratic (they want to use the state as a blunt instrument for other purposes), so I may just sit out the next few elections.</p>
<p>To say of something that “it’s so gay” is very different from saying that someone is a ■■■■■■. I don’t like hearing “it’s so gay” but I can understand that many young people use this sentence unthinkingly without meaning to give offence. In fact, some gay people have commented that they’re so used to hearing it in that way that they don’t even notice it. But calling someone a ■■■■■■ is totally different. And Ann Coulter did not say it unthinkingly or lightly.</p>
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<p>Which “you guys” are you addressing here? Do you know how any of us–liberals or conservatives, Republicans or Democrats-- raise our kids and what we tell them what is or is not appropriate?</p>
<p>Why would they be shocked? They invited her knowing that that’s how she talks in public. She called Al Gore “a total ■■■” in a televised interview.</p>
<p>Nowhere did I say that this is the fault of young people, although this level of outrageousness seems to be coin of the realm in the new media. I’m saying that someone figured out some time ago that this kind of shock talk sells; it has mushroomed in the blogosphere and there is going to be cross over. It’s not going to go away.</p>
<p>They’ll issue their statements condemning Ann, and then they’ll invite her to be the keynote speaker at another conference or convention. If they didn’t want to hear her to say hateful things, they wouldn’t keep inviting her to set the tone for their gatherings.</p>
<p>With all due respect, I did not tell you how to do anything. I made a suggestion, not an order. Please stop putting words in my mouth. </p>
<p>I see you are attacking Coulter in “do as I say, not as I do”, kind of way. You can wag your finger at her for saying “■■■■■■”, but you will accept the fact that people use “gay” to describe something stupid and then accuse me of telling you how to raise your children. They’re both offensive to homosexuals when used in that context and should not be uttered. </p>
<p>That is like denouncing the use of the N-word, and saying that it’s okay that people use the N-word but in another way. (You know what I mean, I just don’t know if the mods will accept that word if I type it).</p>
<p>“Why don’t you guys” is a suggestion, whereas the phrase “Tell your children not to use the word gay…” would be a command or a direct order. </p>
<p>Nice try though.</p>
<p>Anyways, I’m going to stay off the parents forum, since I don’t belong in here. The thread caught my attention though which prompted my response.</p>
<p>Smurfette:
Good thing you’re still in college. Where did I say that you were ordering or even suggesting? I asked you to clarify your usage of the phrase “you guys.” Which you have not done.</p>
<p>for anyone to be surprised that coulter would say something like this hasn’t read much of her stuff</p>
<p>this is who she is, and that was her audience</p>
<p>as for the derogatory use of the gay word, there is a thread about this</p>
<p>I find it offensive when people use Gay to knock something they find weak, lame, or whatever</p>
<p>its a way of say that homosexuals are the same</p>
<p>and its pretty lazy as well</p>
<p>as for getting used to it, why should we? whenver I hear one of Ds friends slip, or my Ds hear a classmate use derogatory words, they speak up
and they are just HSers…too bad many adults just look away</p>
<p>In response to your post 32, I meant all people regardless of race, sex, gender, national origin, and/or political affiliation.</p>
<p>Sheesh…how in the devil did saying that you guys should teach your children proper language so they sound educated, come out to “you’re telling me how to raise my children?”?</p>
<p>And you must’ve been editing your post while I was responding, so please stop being antagonistic towards me.</p>
<p>I’m going to assume that your response about me still being in college was not a threat and not notify the mods about your post. I don’t appreciate you attacking my character, since I’m just a stranger to you.</p>
<p>I am just wondering whom Smurfette was addressing when she wrote “Why don’t you guys…” That looks like a suggestion to me. I’m still wondering to whom it’s directed. It seems to assume that the “you guys,” whoever they are, are not already doing what she suggest they do. That particular post, by the way, sounded a mite hostile to me.</p>
<p>And the comment about my possibly reporting Smurfette to the mods or threatening her is downright laughable. I was merely suggesting that Smurfette has more time to learn the difference between saying “it’s so gay” and calling someone a ■■■■■■. (And for the sake of clarity, I do not approve of saying the former and definitely not the latter.)</p>
<p>So basically, you are questioning my intelligence. Now that is laughable. </p>
<p>And I believe you were the one who was being hostile towards me by accusing me of saying that I’m not allowing parents to raise their own children; that I’m telling them what to do. I offered my two cents in and that was it. If you or anyone else does not like my opinion, that’s too bad for them. It’s my opinion, and I’m not forcing anyone to agree with me.</p>
<p>Also, I believe I told you who I was referring to, so how can you can still be wondering? You <em>want</em> it to be directed towards people on this forum and I’m sorry, but I didn’t direct it towards anyone in particular on this board.</p>
<p>So why don’t you answer citygirlsmom’s question and quit attacking me? Enlighten us with your thoughts.</p>
<p>what is happening is instead of saying , don’t be such a ■■■■■■, people are saying, don’t be so gay</p>
<p>both are hurtful, both insutling a segment of the population, and to think they aren’t almost the same thing is missing how they are used</p>
<p>kids think they can get away with they gay insult, and often do because people brush it off, whenit fact it is away of insulting and hurting people that aren’t even being directly addressed</p>
<p>using the word gay in the context of weak, effeminent as we often hear is not just innocent fun</p>