Well, based on the members of my extended family who falls into this category, the answer seems to be “Liberals hate America and want to destroy it”. When pressed for further detail, the underlying assumption is simply that liberals are evil, deluded, stupid or all three. It is not a particularly rational or well-evidenced position, but then this is the demographic who thinks that Jeanine Pirro repeatedly screeching “DEMONRATS!” at the screen is worth watching.
The sad thing is that (some of) these family members are intelligent, accomplished individuals, and some of them I respect greatly for things they have done. But get them onto the political narratives they’re being fed by FoxNews day in and day out and suddenly they lose all ability to think critically and go into hate-filled rants about the immigrant invasion instead.
Because they have been told to (repeatedly, over and over again) by media sources. The axiom is that a message repeated often enough eventually sinks in, and if you inject the message with enough emotional content (outrage) then is will sink in faster and deeper.
A “locust” is an insect; a “thorny locust” is a tree.
(Description may not literally apply to the poster of that name.)
Admittedly, I doubt it would be useful to refer to all Republicans as being trees, either; though it would more likely lead to confusion than to insult.
Turn the other cheek! Let them for years call you not a “real American”, disloyal, America-hating, etc. but don’t dare say a single bad thing about them or you’ll lose their support! :dubious: Ignore that they’re not merely talking but using those slanderous characterizations of a significant part of the American populace to justify their leaders’ increasing disenfranchisement of anyone not like them. :rolleyes:
One of the characteristics of Homo Sapiens is that it modifies its environment to suit its desires, I think that’s at play on the issue you describe.
As far as I have seen Trump is a consequence of the behaviour shown on the OP and many of the replies in support of it. that kind of mentality doesn’t spring into existence out of nowhere.
These people posting in this thread that don’t wholesale condemn dehumanzing those they disagree with as stated in the OP, says a lot more about them than the target of the genocidal ire:
Smapti
GuanoLad
BobLibDem
Mr. Greenjeans
octopus
TriPolar
Horatius
bobot
enipla
Gyrate
El Kabong
cmyk
Babale
Little Nemo
Anny Middon
manson1972
Icarus
SteveG1
John Bredin
Ale
Actually, I wouldn’t even use the word “insects” to refer to the people I *am *in favor of killing. They’re human beings; no matter how loathsome they may be, they were still made in God’s image, and if you’re conscience can’t deal with their demise, maybe you should reconsider your beliefs.
Bone, what the hell? I’m sorry if I didn’t come off as sufficiently angry for your tastes, but I find it hard to believe anyone could read my post as supportive of the OP. Nevertheless, I am for clarity, not confusion. I therefore “hearby” condemn asahi for posting unreasonable, outraged shit in that bastion of decorum the Pit, of all places. I hope that puts me back in your good graces; I’ll pretend I give a rat’s ass.
Liberal politicians want power. In a democracy you can get power and riches by pandering. Why do you think educated politicians promote policies that they know are counterproductive for society as a whole?
You honestly think I agree with asahi on the subject of Republicans being insects? I disagree that the best way to change asahi’s mind is through vitriol or strong declarative statements.
In a thread where people are being characterized as vermin, you know, like the Nazis, you think it’s the appropriate time to talk about border walls and taxes. The only response to someone pushing genocide that is reasonable is condemnation. Anything less is contemptible.