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On Belief, or, How to Answer Stupid Questions
I am a Vegan. For what ever reason, many of my lefty acquaintances assume that makes me a lefty as well. I never hide my gun-toting harsh libertarians ways; but the combination of being an Indian woman and vegan carries some assumptions on other people’s part – left and right.
Some of my lefty friends consider themselves to be environmentalists. I think I am one too. However I was always suspicious of the Global warming alarmist. The assumption that I am lefty continues, of course, because I have a whole house solar system. My motivation is perhaps not the same as that of others. I live in Florida, have lived through many a hurricanes, and I also buy zombie killer ammo and hoard grains – but I digress…
So, when people ask me: “Do you believe in Global Warming?” my response is always: “I did not think it was a matter of belief.” I leave it at that and let them build their stories around it.
Am I saying that climate changes? One would be a complete moron to think that climate does not change. Am I saying that we should create Government programs to do something about it? A resounding No!
So, when I see Republican politician after another being asked stupid questions like “Do you believe in evolution”? I am troubled. Why not answer “Is it a matter of belief?” Really is it? I am not one of Claire’s silent ladies, so my response probably would be more confrontational; but taking this whole “belief” question to task NEEDS to be done – by someone.
The problem with these questions is that they are not about any real policy or concern – they are about a belief system – it is a litmus test question – it is a “are you in or out” question. IMHO, these questions themselves need to be challenged. They are stupid at best, and vicious at worst. So, they must be treated like a stupid question and should be challenged on their validity.
In my facebook dialogues, I often ask (regarding bills and policies) – how many degrees will this bill reduce the Earth’s temperature? Or will evolution stop if we all hold hands and shout “I don’t believe”? Will the national debt go down if we do? Or – will the national debt go down if we all held hands and shouted “I believe in evolution”?
I know, I am silly. After all, I buy zombie ammo.
Published in General
You have you given me food for thought for all my lefty relatives and friends, the few I have left that is.
A female, gun-toting, libertarian, vegan Indian? You may well be unique on planet Earth! :)
Oh! Oh! This piece is AWESOME !
Thank you Barkha!
(once I’ve collected myself -I may have a more considered response;)
Great post.
I really like the “how many degrees will this bill reduce the Earth’s temperature” question. I’ll bet no one has ever given an answer.
Regarding evolution and other gotcha questions the media always seems to toss to conservative politicians, here’s what I wish they would do in response, which to answer the question with a question: “Is there a specific issue of public concern to which the answer is relevant? If so, why don’t you ask me what my position is on that issue. I’ll either answer it right now or, if I need to think about it, I’ll get back to you.”
In other words, I think politicians would do themselves a favor by forcing the media to relate their off-the-wall questions to a real public issue. If they can’t do it, tell them it’s none of their business.
Maybe this is why I’d be a crappy politician.
Thank you kindly.
No – that makes too much sense. I think anyone who asks that question should be ridiculed. To make is serious is exactly what they want; I say play with them a bit.
This needs to be written down and then stapled to the forehead of every contender for the GOP nomination if that is what it takes in order to drill it into their brains.
You mean regular ammo won’t work on zombies? Is that just your belief or can you prove it?
I told you I would be crappy at this.
Better to be prepared, don’t you think?
The response I get to that sort of query is something along the lines of “Ugh! Don’t be such a troll! It’s not the outcome that matters here, it’s the principle! We have to start somewhere….” Then they descend into a rant about how evil I am, etc.
On a serious note regarding the zombie ammo, thinking back to the liability discussion we had with a lawyer in my CCW class, I’d be leery of using this in your carry weapon. Honestly, there are some prosecutors out there who will attempt to gin up charges in defensive shooting cases on some interesting grounds (Mas Ayoob has recounted some of these in his books too):
I know it’s stupid, like the conventions against soldiers using anything but JHP ammo. Any good defense lawyer would get this stricken, but when the prosecutor is looking to make a case (that is get people in a courtroom, regardless of whether a conviction is likely), the fewer things they can grab the better. I know that it makes no difference if the ammo comes with a green tip from a Z-Max box, or a plain tip from an ordinary box, but the anti-self defense people really get hung up on this.
Reagan was a good speaker. We have yet to find one as good as him (and Clinton) since. Yes, using stupid questions asked by the press to ridicule them is a strategy I would advocate. People really want to be wealthy without feeling guilty; they want to feel smart (re: evolution questions), they want to feel like they care about the environment AND want stuff.
Someone needs to give them permission to vote Republican while feeling smart and caring.
A way to do so would be to make the alarmism on climate / science look silly and talk about real issues. Yes, controlling the conversation matters. Making people laugh matters. We need someone like the late Breitbart advising Republican on how to speak.
(I should be a political adviser – wait no – I already admitted to hoarding zombie ammo. Darn!)
My carry weapon only has JHP; but there is always boxes of Zombie max readily available. One of the advantages of being an Indian woman who is crazy gun toting libertarian is that I look like a an Indian woman. All I have to do is show up in a court and make the (most likely white) lawyer look like a schmuck.
That’s true. Us middle aged white guys operate at a disadvantage in that regard.
“super extra lethal ammo” – love it!
Wish I’d coined it, but Mas Ayoob actually recounted a prosecutor attempting to use that against a retiree who drew (but did not fire) against some thugs. Mas was an expert witness in the case and pointed out to the judge that the local police department used the exact same ammo. The charges were subsequently dropped, but then the prosecutor demanded that the weapon itself be confiscated anyway (that one earned him a censure from the bench). No substitute for stoopits.
I’m a carnivore, so people naturally assume I’m a knuckle-dragging, right wing heterosexual, Christian white male kook. Oh wait . . .
I’ve never tried the Zombie ammo, I like the Hornady XTP/FTX lines though . . .
And yes, great post!
They have green tips! What is not to like? (Did I mention I am an environmentalist?)
LOL! And green is a typical vegetable color . . . just don’t eat the ammo – lead poisoning!
Hey Barkha, I just realized . . . my middle name is Herman!
Okay, I’m slow. Must be an old white guy thing . . .
Hornady makes great ammo. Nice post.
It’s OK not to believe in guns because superior firepower believes in you.
Their pricing is pretty good too, and they make weird calibers like .50AE.
Agreed. More than just voting Republican, people need encouragement or permission just to consider right-wing ideas. So often they don’t even know what our ideas actually are. They really think we just don’t care about the earth, for example.
Bingo. Climate does change and the fittest survive. Speaking from one Floridian to another, there is a reason dinosaurs are extinct and gators are not!
+1 to the Hornady love, even the overpriced zombie stuff.
So when approached by these lefty greens and anarcho-socialists, does your ignorance of the secret handshake and greeting throw them? Or do they assume that a vegan with solar panels may simply be too busy to keep up with the latest codebook?
What do you call a vegan who comes home early and unannounced from a business trip only to find his wife and family sitting down to to eat a nice prime rib?
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
Chuck Roast.
While there’s no such thing as a typical Indian, there are few countries more likely to produce vegans. (It’s the only country I’ve been to where people often react as if I’d said something very praiseworthy when I say I don’t eat meat). India also tends to produce women who are highly competent and willing to fight for themselves. That Barkha is of Indian origin surprises me not one bit.
There is nothing worse than media “gotcha” questions and all Republican candidates would do well to have a Gingrich style premise questioning response at hand.
Skipsul succinctly summarized leftism when noting this all too typical response “It’s not the outcome that matters here, it’s the principle!” People of science and pragmatism indeed! Hah!
I carry only hollow points in my pistols. It has nothing to do with being more lethal and everything to do with avoiding over penetration.
There was a masked robber who tried knocking off a restaurant in Akron years ago. The owner shot him 7 times in the chest and the guy still stumbled out and made it down the block before he died. Was shot with full metal jacket rounds, 4 of which went right through him and through the store window. Fortunately no one else was around.