Free Speech: It's not just for you!

I hate arguing. It's not because I am afraid of conflict or other people's anger. It's not because I don't have any opinions. It's because I truly believe that most people are too stupid to argue coherently and I don't want to waste my time and energy. Life's too short! Yes, this probably makes me a huge asshole. But you know what? I don't care. I am not a "people person," despite what I said at my last job interview.

I believe everyone has a right to his or her opinion. And I'd gladly hear your opinion if you could state it and then hear mine…and we could agree to disagree if we just don't see eye to eye. But you know what? Seventy five percent of the people who want to argue with me do NOT want to do this. It becomes painfully clear that they don't feel I have a right to evaluate the evidence myself and form my own opinion. They just want me to get in line with them. Fuck that.

Here is what usually happens when I do not agree with one of these people. For the purposes of this rant, let's call my hypothetical person "Dumb Ass" and just for laughs, we'll say that Dumb Ass is a guy.

1) Dumb Ass and I are talking and we realize that we do not agree about something.

2) Dumb Ass tells me that I am wrong and he proceeds to make his case. I say that I do not agree. Here is where the discussion generally dissolves.

3) Dumb Ass begins to argue the same point over and over. Hey, he's telling me the same stuff he just told me! Déjà vu, man! I cannot stop my eyes from glazing over.

4) Dumb Ass realizes that he's not making any new…or interesting points, so he starts pulling things out of his ass to back up his original assertion. But Dumb Ass has forgotten that I am not stupid just because I happen to be female and blond. Oh, Dumb Ass! Why are you so foolish?

5) Dumb Ass' argument becomes rambly and nonsensical. It also becomes loud. When I point out that he is not making sense, Dumb Ass gets pouty.

6) Dumb Ass begins to get emotional and personal about things that are not personal. This is usually where Dumb Ass accuses me of being a commie, un-American, a baby killer, a bleeding heart, a lesbian, a bitch, etc.

7) Dumb Ass will not let it go. Dumb Ass DEMANDS that I agree with him…and he keeps talking forever and ever and saying the same stupid things over and over and over until I want to slit my own fucking throat just so I won't have to hear him blather anymore. SHUT UP DUMB ASS!!!!!

I have had variations of this type of "discussion" since I was in high school about such topics as abortion, the death penalty and the movie Titanic. The subject really hasn't mattered. These things seem to end in the same way…with me being bored and annoyed to the point of suicidal ideation.

This type of thing has been occurring more frequently these days due to the war our country is engaged in. Everyone is discussing it and we all have opinions about it. I have an opinion. Here it is: I don't think we should be in Iraq. I am against this war. I don't think we should go to war unless our national security is at risk. I don't think that Dubya has made a convincing case for this. The way he mentioned 9/11 in every other sentence in his speeches leading up to this war, when there is no proof that anyone in Iraq had anything to do with it, makes his motives all the more suspect to me. And please: "Operation Iraqi Freedom"? Seriously? Well aren't we the humanitarians?!

I feel that we are being lied to and our freedom is being taken away bit by bit. I think our government is taking advantage of our post 9/11 fears and using it to restrict us more and more. And we are just letting it happen and squelching down anyone who wants to question things. It's really fucking scary.

You may not agree with me, and that's fine. It doesn't seem like a lot of the country agrees with me and feels that we should be there. And we are there, so hey, you win! But I still think it's an enormous mistake, and I have the right to think so. You are not going to change my mind by talking me to death, yelling at me, calling me a crazy bitch or telling me that my views are un-American. Keep in mind, that when you refuse to allow anyone else to express an opinion, when you bulldoze anyone who sees things differently, you are forgetting why our country was founded in the first place. Who's being un-American now, Dumb Ass?

Gigi 3.24.02