# Now is not the time to come together as Americans **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 11, 2016, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476 "2016-11-11T07:31:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/181 "2016-11-16T22:49:17Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > That sounds reasonable. And along with "reasonable’ it may be when they stop yelling all that “jail Hillary” bullshit, and stop wasting our time and tax dollars on bullshit _Investigations Into Everything Because Repubs Do Shit Like That Hoping To Find Or Make Up Something_. > > You want us to respect you and play nice? You first dammit. Repeated. No takers??? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/182 "2016-11-17T10:59:26Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > We’re not talking about Republicans, though. I have no problem working with Republicans (if they aren’t jerks). But these are Trumpists. > > The thing is, if you aren’t racist, you can’t vote for a racist candidate. One part of not being racist is caring about how people of other races will be affected by what you do. > > The only out is if you somehow didn’t know. If you’re one of the many poorly informed voters, and you just saw Trump as “the Republican candidate.” Then I can work with you. But if you saw what Trump said, and that made you want to vote for him, you are part of the problem. > > I cannot treat you like a fellow human being, since you decided to betray the human race. You decided your race was more important than the human race. I agree with this. Except the “We’re not talking about Republicans” part. On a Venn diagram, there is huge overlap between the sets _Republicans_ and _Trump voters_. GOP adults like Paul Ryan were tested and found wanting. When White Republicans cast their ballots on that fateful Tuesday, 91% voted for the misogynist child raper whose platform was to ridicule handicapped people. _ **Ninety.One.Percent.** _ The GOP party was respectable throughout most of the 20th century; McCain and Romney were fine men who I’d have been proud to call “Mr. President.” But the present GOP, like a fetid pile of human shit, needs to be flushed down a sewer to never see the light of day again. Those who scorned us for saying this a year ago now “have egg on their faces.” At this point, anyone who fails to denounce the GOP is contemptible and sub-human. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ > [@Steve\_MB](#): > > “26 million” … The most straightforward interpretation is … Let me dispose of this little mystery. “26 million” was a conflation from the 26% of Americans who voted for Trump. (44% selected the Don’t\_Care\_Enough\_To\_Drive\_to\_the\_Precinct option.) (Yes, my brain may be going — I lost my sense of smell several years ago.) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/183 "2016-11-17T12:17:34Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I’m sure you’ll be perfectly happy to join in with the raping and torturing and murdering. You’re a fellow monster. You know, just because the world takes one step toward the comic book fantasy hellscape you’ve always described it as doesn’t mean you need to twist your hyperbole knob from 11 to 99. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/184 "2016-11-17T12:33:21Z")
There’s never a time to come together, and there’s never a time to stand apart. There’s always a time to be good citizens, to operate in good faith, and to seek out others who are of a similar frame of mind and work out agreement where possible and keep communicating wherever it’s not. I will never come together if it means violating civil liberties and the spirit of our democratic republic. At the same time, I will never cover my ears and eyes simply because I don’t want to listen to another person’s perspective. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/185 "2016-11-17T12:50:43Z")
> [@TwiSpark](#): > > No, just no. You’ll end up with a second term if you keep up this divisive shit where you act like about 50% of the population are scumbags. > > Non-racist people voted for Trump. I have a friend who would’ve done, if he were technically able and no, he is definitely not racist no matter how hard you try and assert that he is (it’s mostly just preferring Trump over Clinton very slightly, and fear over Russia). Lots of people’s families did. They’re not all evil fascist mini-Hitlers, they’re human beings with hopes, dreams and concerns. It’s time to treat them that way. > > Addition: There’s also the argument that Trump is a businessman, i.e. Salesman++. I think a lot of people knew and expected him to exaggerate and bullshit his way along. > > If you think it’s something you can change people’s minds on, or ‘educate’ them about then to borrow a rant from the good Doctor: SIT DOWN AND TALK!! > Dismissing people as a bunch of horrible racists and screaming at them is counter-productive to getting them to listen and potentially change their minds, I really believe that. Hysterical shouting and name-calling is a sure sign that someone does not have a good argument. This is exactly right. One of the worst mistakes Clinton made was her “deplorables” comment. Though it was most certainly taken out of context and blown well out of proportion, the failure to understand the sensitivities and obvious insecurities that exist among the white middle class portion of the electorate is a glaring example of why democrats not only lost the White House but why they also continue to lose down-ballot elections. Yes, there were millions of truly racist people who voted for Donald Trump, and that’s disheartening, but that’s also nothing new either. There were millions of truly racist people who voted for John McCain and George W Bush. There are also probably millions of black and Hispanic voters who have jaded views of their white counterparts, which I would certainly understand given the historical context but nevertheless take umbrage to on some level as someone who happens to be white. I would say that a majority of Trump’s voters are not conscious racists but are instead what I would term ‘racially insecure’. They are living with rapid, visible changes to their country’s culture. They see ‘others’ making advances and inroads and question whether the same is true of them and their own children. And people are wrong to dismiss it entirely as a phenomenon confined to Toledo or Appalachia. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/186 "2016-11-17T13:11:54Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > The GOP party was respectable throughout most of the 20th century; Objection. Arguing facts not in evidence. The ones you consider respectable were some of the politicians and some of the more intelligent, reasonable grown ups who have a (R) after their name, some of which are on this board. And those people were more than happy to fundraise from and motivate to vote the much greater number of scientifically illiterate, hate-filled, scared, and dumb as fuck rural whites who turned out in droves to elect Trump. These people didn’t just magically appear out of the fetid aether, they’ve been a huge part of the Republican base for decades. And Republican politicians (and talking heads like Rush, Hannity, Coulter, and pretty much all of FoxNews) were more than willing to use them for their own benefits, whether votes or for money, but doing so quietly, with code words. What Trump realized is that these people are a much larger percentage of the Republican party than anyone thought, so he focused his rhetoric to them. And it worked. He played on their hate, their fear, their dislike at being called idiots (which they are), and their -isms, and it got him elected. The real face of the Republican party isn’t McCain or Romney or even Rush or Trump. It’s those people. And it’s really effin’ scary. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/187 "2016-11-17T14:22:56Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Sure. What’s the point of ‘winning’ if it means being deplorable. 😉 > > However, there is a narrative exemplified by the OP of this thread that says that all Trump supporters are intentional and hateful racists and misogynists first and foremost. > > I just don’t think that 1/2 the country is as nasty as many of my fellow Dems are insisting that it is. And, I think that people for whom racial justice does not rise to a priority over other issues that affect them more personally are still ok people. And, these are, I believe, most of the Trump voters, and are people who we Dems should be working on figuring out how to talk to about a rising tide lifting all boats, and so on and so forth. > > It’s not the people who voted _against_ blacks, gays, and women who we need to work at winning over. It’s the people who voted _for_ their own self-interest (as accurate or inaccurate as their assessments may have been) who are possible allies in our efforts, and whom are being written off by folks like the OP as scum. > > The short of it is that if we stay focused on painting with a broad brush so that no racist goes un-accused, then the collateral damage is going to be what ultimately might keep us away from political leadership in the short term, and what prevents true cultural/social change in the long term. IMHO this self-defeating self-righteousness is responsible, in large part, on the current situation. Are we to be surprised that when told _“If you don’t do as I want you to do, you are a racist, misogynistic piece of shit”_ a majority of people would answer _“Up yours”_? ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/188 "2016-11-17T14:56:36Z")
Trump is the embodiment of American culture. Vulgar. Thinks everyone loves him. Knows he can do whatever he wants. A win for representative democracy. Spinning apologia about “the good American” is cold comfort to their victims. On the other hand, it doesn’t seem sensible to blame populations for the decisions of their rulers. If you wouldn’t blame Soviet citizens for the deprivations of the Soviet Empire then you shouldn’t blame American citizens for the deprivations of the American Empire, whether led by a Bush, Obama, Clinton, or Trump. Over the last hundred years Americans have been exposed to some of the most sophisticated propaganda techniques yet devised. Look at their media or popular entertainment. They aren’t of sound mind. I don’t know how many times since 9/11 I’ve heard or read some variation of “we should just nuke the Middle East into glass.” Of course this culture would elect George Bush twice. Why not Trump twice? > [@xenophon41](#): > > Yeah, there’s been rioting and incidents of violent behavior in the name of anti-Trumpism or even progressivism. _This is anathema_ to progressives, and we’re forced to say that every time. A watered down progressivism fit for corporate sponsors and Sunday morning talk shows. What happened to the days when leftists would meet fascists with force or fight with the Pinkerton men? Guess they all turned into hipster bloggers who take pictures of their lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/189 "2016-11-17T18:56:18Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > Are we to be surprised that when told _“If you don’t do as I want you to do, you are a racist, misogynistic piece of shit”_ a majority of people would answer _“Up yours”_? They are racist misogynists, and refusing to call them that won’t do anything but make them worse. Refusing to admit that they are persecuting and assaulting people won’t make the persecutions and assaults stop; it just makes them worse because the people doing it know that not only will their opponents not stop them, their so-called opponents will actually \*shield \*them. Refusing to call them that does however encourage their _victims_ to stay home and not vote, because what’s the point? Do you think minorities and women\* like _being thrown under the bus like the Democrats are doing with all this "oh no, you can’t call them bigots, that’s_ mean"\* nonsense? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/190 "2016-11-17T19:12:31Z")
To me it is not the winning party that is to make that statement, but the loosing party, their privilege. The politics don’t matter in this, nor what side left or right, it is not a demand the winning party can make, only a concession the losing party can give - and is the choice of the losing party if they wish to make that statement. The winning party stating this is not right, and is also problematic. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/191 "2016-11-19T19:35:17Z")
> [@IBuildEm](#): > > The party that advocates for stronger gun control wants an armed revolution with the party that has all the guns. Some obviously regrettable vandalism and looting at some of the protests doesn’t constitute an armed revolution, so - no worries yet of a musketed insurrection. > [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > I do hope the Democrats use the filibuster with great restraint and simply vote no on all the really stupid stuff the POP wants to pass and be on record for their reasons on no votes. Indeed, it would be unfortunate to resort to the same obstructionist tactics that made the GOP so impotent, but then to idly sit by as items like the ACA and gay rights are eroded, is equally untenable. Slight bind, there. > [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > So many hurt butts. So many. I can’t help but laugh at all the retarditity. Congratulations this is probably the most retarded thread ever. And for The Dope that’s saying something. Hey that’s really useful because lazy Statler and Waldorf! And far as this quite laughable goofiness is concerned… > [@junior18](#): > > Given the actions of the so-called “Progressives” after the election, I think it’s time for all of you to shut the hell up. You lost. Get over it. Go to your safe spaces; huddle together; cry and bitch, and shut the hell up. This was a referendum. The rest of the country is sick of you idiots doing your damnedest to ruin this country. Trump was never called a racist, homo-phobe, or whatever you idiots want to call him until he ran against your beloved criminal Hillary. You desperate losers are grasping at straws… using whatever liberal rhetoric you can to justify your disgusting hate. Your disgusting, hate-filled actions have only served to illustrate to the sane people of this country why they rallied to defeat you America-hating degenerates. So please, keep it up. Continue looting. Continue threatening the life of President elect. Continue acting like petulant, entitled, immature, ungrateful losers. It’s amazing. Thank you. > [@](#): > > I think it’s time for all of you to shut the hell up. Well thanks Spencer Tracy for that homespun rock’em sock’em good advice. > [@](#): > > You lost. No u. > [@](#): > > Get over it. Um, in case you didn’t notice, a scumbag was just made president, so, uh, no - we’ll be a little pissy about for some time, actually. Guess you’ll just have to suck up our wrath, princess. > [@](#): > > Go to your safe spaces Which, for some groups, down the road, may take the odd body-check or two. Already, with much-documented Trump bullying in schools, there are children probably trying to look for some of those “safe spaces” you glowingly mention. Anyway - better than your fucked-up, delusional, rotten-to-the-fucking-core GOP bubble, **junior18**. > [@](#): > > cry and bitch, and **shut the hell up** Repetition - sometimes considered one of the more tedious forms of trollery. > [@](#): > > The rest of the country is sick of you idiots doing your damnedest to ruin this country. Ok - exactly _which_ lawn are you referring to?😛 > [@](#): > > Trump was never called a racist, homo-phobe, or whatever you idiots want to call him until he ran against your beloved criminal Hillary. Yeah? Do you think if someone is going to run for president, then maybe those already-documented qualities should be brought to light? Maybe? And resorting to fallacious breitbartisms as “crooked Hillary” is getting TIRED AS FUCK now. Are you fucking kidding me? And also - you’re _that_ fucking obtuse that I’m required to post cites disproving such a fuckwit claim? > [@](#): > > You desperate losers are grasping at straws Look in the mirror dude with all your really super-duper substantive input so far. > [@](#): > > …using whatever liberal rhetoric you can to justify your disgusting hate Well I guess we can at least rest assured that YOU (oh most definitely!) have not attempted ANY trollery to betray your MUCH appreciated empathy. > [@](#): > > Your disgusting, hate-filled actions have only served to illustrate to the sane people of this country why they rallied to defeat you America-hating degenerates. No more disgusting and hate-filled than your sad, pathetic attempt at baiting. “America-hating degenerates”? Really? Go back to reading your fucking Saturday Evening Post, gramps. > [@](#): > > Continue threatening the life of President elect. Oh? Kinda like the Orange One’s friendly Second Amendment “suggestions” from, what, six, seven weeks ago? And then “see what happens”? That kinda thing? > [@](#): > > Continue acting like petulant, entitled, immature, ungrateful losers Yeah, gee, I guess we just don’t _have it in us_ to express the gracious comments I’m sure you would have had if Hillary had won, right? Yes, quite laughable. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/192 "2024-11-09T16:41:24Z")
Dusting off an oldie but a goody. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/193 "2024-11-09T16:54:31Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Dusting off an oldie but goody. My favorite quote from the comments was comparing the USA to a _“unilingual medieval Europe”._ Comment attributed to @Bryan_Ekers ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/194 "2024-11-09T19:30:48Z")
Nevermind ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/195 "2024-11-11T11:44:45Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Dusting off an oldie but a goody. Took me five posts to realize the thread was started eight years ago, not yesterday. Would have taken longer were it not for the “BANNED” poster tags. I’ve never experienced such a Groundhog Day moment as I did just now. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476/196 "2024-11-11T12:37:07Z")
I too thought this was a new thread, except I was sort of like “there _are_ Republican saying we need to come together as Americans? Perhaps I missed it”. These days gloating seems more in style. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-is-not-the-time-to-come-together-as-americans/771476.md?page=9)