ms

I ran across this in the Current Events section of the Boards. Of course I replied to it.

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Un-American is a an overly spat term of endearment used by those who know that their ability to persuade or defend any given point (whether it be left-leaning or right) is lost. In a last ditch attempt (the proverbial Hail Mary) the term Un-American is applied because of the stigma associated with it. The same can be used with any other label. Be it Liberal, Democrat, Republican, Bleeding Heart, American, so on and so forth.

As far as for the original idea as to why this post was started, the term "American" has a different meaning to everybody. Some may view it in a negative light while others view it as a positive.

Of course the public (World) opinion of Americans will flip-flop (learned from watching Liberal Democrats) based on our actions (spearheaded by Staunch Republicans.)

I would say that I'm an American. I don't support our invasion. I'm vegetarian. I'm a Pro-Choice advocate. I'm atheist. I'm adverse to having a gun. I don't believe that Civil Unions are a fair replacement for an actual marriage. I do support our troops stationed all over the world. If somebody wants to eat meat then let them. If a person would rather bring a child into the world and give them up for adoption because it conflicts with their abortion views, then let them. If somebody believes in a god/gods, then great for them. Buy a fucking elephant gun if that is what floats one's boat. If one wants to maintain a "man plus woman equals marriage' attitude then that is fine by me. Do expect me to question why such actions are being taken or views are held. I would expect the same in return.

I would say that being an American is not only being tolerant of other people/groups that do not support one's ideas, but welcoming the chance to debate and speak to others that do not support those views without resorting to bashing or defaming the other person/group based on personal traits. Being an American is expressing the views that one holds and defending them until one concedes defeat (or at least recognizes a stalemate if neither side holds the trump in whatever is being discussed.)

Of course I would expect somebody here to have a conflicting idea of what it means to be an American. But even if that view is presented that just means that the person who presents that view will have proven that I was right because they are trying to defend their view of what being an American is. So either way, I win. Ha ha, motherfucker.