Ordinary people do fucked-up things when fucked-up things become ordinary.
First, he proudly displayed his Sean Hannity book and expressed general sycophantic approval of the man.
"My parents love Sean Hannity."
"I love your parents."
"You do that."
Then he wandered over in my direction about an hour later and I tried to ignore him, but he sat next to me and, despite how many times I told him to leave me alone because I wasn't interested in his party line, he ignored me and pulled out some photo manips he'd apparently just made. What were they?
The first was a Wanted poster. "WANTED FOR TREASON: OBAMA BIN LADIN". Guess what was below it? Barack Obama's face pasted between Osama's turban and beard. He thought he was a comedic genius.
"Isn't that great?!"
"No, not really."
"Do you know who Obama is? Do you know who Osama is?"
"Yes. That joke's already been made and it's still not funny."
"Wait, I have another one."
This time, he pulls out a manip of Hillary Clinton wearing an SS uniform, a toothbrush mustache, and a swastika band on her arm. The caption read something like "Hitllary Clinton" (I don't remember the exact way he spelled the "Hillary-Hitler" pun.)
"Isn't that funny?!"
"No. Leave me alone."
Oh, but he wasn't done yet.
"I want to start a club for Conservative Republicans."
"We already have Teenage Republicans; we don't need another one!"
"No, they're no good because they don't do anything like - like fight the Gay-Straight Alliance."
"Ohhhh my god. Go away. Go. I D NOT WANT TO TALK TO YOU."
"Don't you think I should do it?!"
"NO. I think someone needs to fight YOU!"
"Fight me?" He looked at me like I was crazy. "I see it like this: They're bringing sex into school and that's wrong, especially when it's UNHOLY sex!"
I'm completely ignoring him at this point.
"I'm going to do it. You should join. We're making membership packs now - talk to me and I'll get you one!"
I'm practically twitching with revulsion.
"You should join. I'm making anti-global warming posters now!"
"GO AWAY."
He left to make his propaganda posters.
Why are these people drawn to me?!?!? FDIHNFOIFGNMJOIJGMFJOG
My brains were bubbling in my head. I haven't got politics all figured out yet, but I know that I'm progressive/liberal when it comes to all of the big controversial issues. I can't wait to verbally destroy him. I'm too patient.
I bet he masturbates to the State of the Union address.
Hope Springs Eternal. Linking all of these reasons together is the title of the final part of this book. It expresses my conviction that humans are, by nature, a forward-looking species, always seeking greater levels of happiness and satisfaction. Unfortunately, the collary is that humans are all too often willing to grasp at unrealistic promises of a better life or to believe that a better life can only be attained by clinging to intolerance and ignorance, by lessening the lives of others. And sometimes, by focusing on a life to come, we miss what we have in this life. It is a different source of hope, but it is hope nonetheless: hope that human intelligence, combined with compassion, can solve our myriad problems and enhance the quality of each life; hope that historical progress continues on in its march toward greater freedoms and acceptance for all humans; and hope that reason and science as well as love and empathy can help us understand our universe, our world, and ourselves.
- Michael Shermer, Why People Believe Weird Things.
And that is why I am not on Anthony's side.
I made the newspaper staff for next year. Score!