New user here and I heard something today that disturbed me to the extent that I decided to search out a forum of some sort, to discuss what I heard, and gain some sort of perspective that makes sense.
A little background about myself for whatever it's worth. 60-year old male, military/Desert Storm vet, 2nd Amendment supporter (with limitations). With this background most folks would think I'd be very conservative, but without revealing my party affiliation, I'm probably right in the middle of the political divide.
So, in a very nice antique store today, having a conversation with a male (store manager) probably 10 or so years younger than me, extremely friendly, nice guy, seemly quite intelligent, who I have had general conversations with on many occasions over the years, none of which involved politics. But, he too must have assumed that I shared very extreme, right wing politics (he clearly assumed wrong).
So as guys often to, the conversation turned to guns, I said I own a collection of old military rifles, which I rarely shoot, explaining that I shot so much in the military that it's just not much of a thrill these days, nor do I hunt. He explained that he is a gun owner, shoots on his 500 acre farm, but doesn't hunt either. Now this is where things go off the rails. He said he does not hunt, but would really enjoy hunting Muslims, and he can't wait for the coming civil war, so he can hunt Muslims who he believes is trying to take over the U.S. and Europe. He adds that as much as he hates Muslims, Democrats are worse. I can only conclude from that remark, that during the civil war that he said he's praying for, Democrats would also be fair game.
Now, I have always believed that I'm a fairly good judge of character, but clearly missed the boat on this guy, inasmuch as I was totally stunned, and never thought he would be capable of saying something like this. I have seen war up close, and never want to experience it again.
So, help me make sense about what I heard today. I can't put this guy's comments off as coming from someone who is off his rocker (or maybe he is). Have I missed the boat in terms of current political events, in that our country really is this close to some sort of armed conflict? Has the political divide in our country gotten so bad that seeming decent people would think that civil war is acceptable. I don't follow conspiracy oriented social media; actually I'm not active on social media at all. So again, help me out on what I heard today and where talk of this nature is heading?
A little background about myself for whatever it's worth. 60-year old male, military/Desert Storm vet, 2nd Amendment supporter (with limitations). With this background most folks would think I'd be very conservative, but without revealing my party affiliation, I'm probably right in the middle of the political divide.
So, in a very nice antique store today, having a conversation with a male (store manager) probably 10 or so years younger than me, extremely friendly, nice guy, seemly quite intelligent, who I have had general conversations with on many occasions over the years, none of which involved politics. But, he too must have assumed that I shared very extreme, right wing politics (he clearly assumed wrong).
So as guys often to, the conversation turned to guns, I said I own a collection of old military rifles, which I rarely shoot, explaining that I shot so much in the military that it's just not much of a thrill these days, nor do I hunt. He explained that he is a gun owner, shoots on his 500 acre farm, but doesn't hunt either. Now this is where things go off the rails. He said he does not hunt, but would really enjoy hunting Muslims, and he can't wait for the coming civil war, so he can hunt Muslims who he believes is trying to take over the U.S. and Europe. He adds that as much as he hates Muslims, Democrats are worse. I can only conclude from that remark, that during the civil war that he said he's praying for, Democrats would also be fair game.
Now, I have always believed that I'm a fairly good judge of character, but clearly missed the boat on this guy, inasmuch as I was totally stunned, and never thought he would be capable of saying something like this. I have seen war up close, and never want to experience it again.
So, help me make sense about what I heard today. I can't put this guy's comments off as coming from someone who is off his rocker (or maybe he is). Have I missed the boat in terms of current political events, in that our country really is this close to some sort of armed conflict? Has the political divide in our country gotten so bad that seeming decent people would think that civil war is acceptable. I don't follow conspiracy oriented social media; actually I'm not active on social media at all. So again, help me out on what I heard today and where talk of this nature is heading?
