NialScorva

I just save time and filter all email from non-immediate family to the trash.

Iamthebeerking

Yeah, go on with your bad self and denigrate American dead from WWII.
Vive La France! As long as they don't have to defend it for themselves. Bunch of ingrateful backstabbers.

Godless Dave

The fact that they're trying to frame it that way is what's so offensive. "If you don't agree with G.W. Bush you're denigrating dead American soldiers!" I can't speak for France's motives, which I suspect have to do with France's national interests (as well they should), but my motive in opposing Bush's march to war is I don't want American soldiers to die for no good reason. I'm not really into killing Iraqi soldiers and civilians either.

Blake

She didn't denigrate the American WWII dead. But hey, don't let that get in the way of your preconceived notions.

bg, all support to you. I know it's scary (well, actually, I don't entirely know, since the only time that happened to me, I did it on purpose, & it wasn't to my family), but I bet it won't be as bad as you expect--witness the reply from your cousin. Well done!

livius drusus

Kindly quote this denigrating comment you speak of, because I see nothing of the kind in the op or anywhere else in this thread.
Do you mean to say that countries should forever be beholden to any and all countries that helped them in war, regardless of time passed, governments changed and the specifics of the situation? If that is your implication, then why aren't we still doing France's bidding for supporting the nascent US at great fiscal and political expense during the Revolutionary War?

The fact is that France is not some US satellite and they have every right to not play along with Bush's reindeer games.

Good job, blondegoddess. Your reply was even-tempered and accurate. You have nothing to reproach yourself for nomatter how your fundy relatives react.

Alonzo Fyfe

I can understand the fear and the importance of family relationships -- this risks a great deal of personal costs the anxiety could be palpable.

Except for the word "fundie agenda" quip, there is nothing in the message that is particularly bad. You have stated an opinion. And even in the latter case, it is more likely that you will simply be asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Even I cannot guess specifically what you mean. Two thoughts that come into my mind are:

(a) Bush wants to start the next crusade, and use this as a springboard for a Christian vs. Muslim holy war that provides the opening for spreading Western (Christian) values through the middle east. Because religious wars are notoriously bloody and unending, there is a great deal to be afraid of here.

(b) Bush believes that we are in the Final Days, and so his actions -- however ill informed -- have no long-term consequences, in which case those who will in fact have to live with those long-term consequences have a great deal of reason to be concerned.

Perhaps you have something else in mind.

Whatever it is, how well you answer THAT question will be far more important than what you have done so far.

I wish you the best of luck and hope that this accident brings you more benefit than loss.

beth

I have both of these speculations in mind. I have my pastor (I have to attend church.) saying that the end-time will be a war between Christianity and Islam and that this will usher the Anti-Christ in. I think that perhaps Bush truly sees this as the end-times and might try to 'help' god along.


edit: I barely know the cousin that replied. I only see him at funerals. So I don't know what his political views and religious philosophy is, and thanks for trying to cheer me up. I'm still screwed, I think.

B34RZ0R

I second this earlier reply

You are my hero for today.

Be Well
-=Bear=-

StrongMan

We've all been there. I get a lot of godspam from friends and I just usually reply to them politly, telling them I don't want this stuff anymore and most stop sending it to me. Once I got 3 in 1 day from a friend and I finally had it so I replied (replied all) to him. It was one long pissed off rant. It went to all my friends then all these people who I had no idea who they were. I got tons of mail back 99% nasty, but a few said they agreed with me. It felt groovy to get replies from people who agreed with me but didn't want to say anything. I now make it a point to reply all whenever I get this crap.

Feather

Listen here, blondgoddess. You've got all us "family" right here at II.

If your biological family cannot accept your view and in fact shun you for it, then, well, you know what good they are to you (i.e. none). If they genuinely care as family, then you have nothing to fear. Others have commented that your e-mail wasn't "that bad."

There's always SL&S.