DU relentlessly mocks those whose ideas we disagree with [View all]

Last edited Fri Jan 16, 2015, 10:07 AM - Edit history (2)

Republicans and conservatives are routinely called names. Their most cherished leaders and icons are lampooned both in word and in image. There have been regular lists of top ten conservative idiots among many other forms of mockery and derision towards their ideology - and by extension, towards those who follow it. Very little care is given to avoiding hurting their feelings or being respectful to their ideology.

We recognize that not every Republican is as extreme as others. We recognize that some Republicans are perfectly nice people, some are members of our families or friends whom we love. But this does not prevent us from going at the ideology with no holds barred.

We regularly mock conservative Christians for not believing in evolution, for espousing Creationism (and building museums to same). We make fun of orthodox Jews who refuse to sit on an airplane next to a woman. We mock the ideology of Scientology and poke fun at those who practice this belief.

When we hear something that we think is BS - we call BS on it.

No one feels any compunction to pull back in their criticism against those who believe homosexuality is a sin and that gay marriage is an abomination. This is despite the fact that those who feel this way do so because they believe that to be an important component of their religious faith.

There are ideologies and belief systems that we criticize here relentlessly - with name-calling and worse. Just because an ideology calls itself a "religion" does not make it immune from such critical thinking.

We don't seem to care if it will hurt someone's feelings if we say that Ronald Reagan was a dick or that Dick Cheney is Satan. It doesn't matter than millions of people have very positive feelings about Ronald Reagan - and that he is no longer living. We are not going to hold back on calling him those names. Is there anyone who is afraid of being too provocative towards Republicans?

If someone wants to worship Ronald Reagan in the privacy of their own home, then good for them. But if they want to tell you that you can't say anything bad about Ronald Reagan - does that make you less likely to speak ill of Reagan? Are you provoking them unnecessarily if you do?

It just seems strange to me to read posts here that seem to be suggesting this about other ideologies.