Disgusted

[democrank]

Some of the things written here about Barbara Bush since her death yesterday are shockingly disgraceful. The heartless descriptors are vile, the callous attitude toward a family's grief is truly awful. It's hard for me to believe that anyone on a Democratic website could call Mrs. Bush a pig or find demeaning rages about her amusing.

A Democratic website, a place that should encourage empathy and compassion.

I cringe at what newcomers here or visitors to this site might think since there are times when civility and common decency needs to prevail. We're better than this.

If President and Mrs. Obama and President and Mrs. Clinton can pay respects to Barbara Bush, so can I. Her place in American history....noted, her devotion to her family....admired, her push for literacy....appreciated.

Rest In Peace, Barbara Bush.

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. That is your right. I respect your right to think as you will.

I would expect the same when I say I have no sympathy for that family of criminals.
And no, I would never call her a pig.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Me, too. I've never been a fan of the Bush family, but

I will not dance on her grave or call her a pig or evil, because she was not. Very few people are truly evil; most are capable of acts of decency and love. Barbara Bush was obviously liked and even loved by many people, and she clearly loved her family. She also did some affirmative good by promoting literacy while she was FL. IMHO, anyone who is capable of love and has been loved is not evil. While it's true that she said some things that were, to put it mildly, elitist and pretty deplorable, those bad things she said are not the sum total of her life. I had no problem with Rachel Maddow and other liberals saying nice things about her because there were aspects of her life that justified those nice things.

There's too much binary thinking here: Some insist that any Republican is necessarily evil and undeserving of kind words even on their death. And anyone who dares to say something positive about a Republican must be compromised or stupid or a troll. But that's not life and it's cruel and foolish. Buddhists say that every sentient being is deserving of compassion. Dislike them, disagree with them, but don't dehumanize them.

When Donald Trump goes, however, I might be tempted to dance on his grave, at least figuratively, because Trump shows no signs of being able to love, or empathize, or care about anyone but himself. He's a sociopath and I don't think it's unfair to say that he really is one of those rare evil people. If anyone outside his family said nice things about him if he died, I'd think they lost their mind. But that attitude might be my own weakness- my inability to extend compassion to someone as damaged and dangerous as Trump.

In any event, Barbara Bush was a flawed person, like all of us, but she was not evil. She wasn't like Trump. The viciousness her death has provoked here on DU is really disappointing; I'd hoped we were better than that.

[Beakybird]

3. Well put

[EffieBlack]

5. Beautifully said!

You speak for me.

[sl8]

15. Well said. n/t

[nolabear]

32. Yes.

Thank you.

[Dorian Gray]

36. She's a flawed human being

just like I am.

I've said some pretty callous things in my life, and I've been called out on them. I've thought about them and have tried to be better.

BB absolutely said some problematic things. But those don't fully define her. She's said some positive things, as well. She's had an impact on this world. She's fierce. She championed some causes we can get down with. (Literacy. And she was pro-choice.) And she said things that really point out her privilege in life. (Post Katrina comments. Iraq war body bags comments.)

She's a sum of the many parts.

I am not mourning for her. I didn't know her nor was I a huge fan. But I do have respect for her life and hope that she is in a good place. If there is a good place after death.

[EffieBlack]

4. I am totally with you on this.

It is absolutely disgusting and not even close to what aourbparty represents.

[Croney]

6. I'm inclined to tolerate all viewpoints about her.

Dying happens to everyone, and if you didn't like her before, I wouldn't expect you to change your opinion because she died. I didn't hate her before and still don't. You are welcome to your strong feelings, in any direction. Who am I to tell someone else how they should feel?

[oasis]

7. "The evil that men do lies after them, the good is often interred

with their bones, so let it be with Ceasar". Shakespeare speaking through Marc Anthony, had the right idea.

[Blue_true]

8. I, like you am dismayed by the vile insults from some.

If she was not a good person, she knows that by now, earthly insults add nothing to that. I am not a Christian or some other organized religion type, but I believe our deeds are tracked and we face a recockoning when we die, not the Christian or Muslim hell, though.

[Equinox Moon]

9. I wonder if it is trolls?

Are the people posting regulars on DU? I realize even some long time DU users could be trolls as well though.

[DemocracyMouse]

10. Imagine if we were all to begin eliminating adolescent speech patterns...

.... (cussing and whatnot), the trolls would stand out like a sore thumb.

[Equinox Moon]

12. Agreed!

[Stargazer99]

16. I believe it is the trolls..in general Demos are not of that nature

Don't let them (trolls) fool you

[ecstatic]

25. I agree. At best, they're converts

from the gop who lack the natural empathy that most democrats have. At worst, trolls.

[RhodeIslandOne]

23. I havent kept track completely....

.....but one I noticed this evening has been here for years and is notorious for wishing death on anyone connecting to the GOP. I’ll leave it to others if they consider them a troll....

[Wednesdays]

29. I was about to say...

Over the years I have put a fair number of people on "ignore" whom I considered to be trolls and disruptors. Is it a coincidence that I've never seen posts such as described in the OP?

[Honeycombe8]

11. I haven't seen those negative posts, but I agree with your thoughts re The Silver Fox.

She wasn't perfect, but I liked a lot of aspects of hers. May she rest in peace, and may her husband not suffer the loss too much. But I suspect he will follow shortly, without her there.

There's a time and a place for derogatory comments about someone. But during the time of her death and loss being felt by the family isn't it. It's disrespectful. She was someone's beloved wife of 72 years, someone's mother, someone's grandmother.

[gibraltar72]

13. To quote her. This is working out very well for these people.

[whathehell]

18. What people would those be?

..and yes, I remember the original quote.

[HipChick]

14. In death

Everyone is accountable for their action and deeds...good or bad..
and look where the "Better Than This" got us...President Trump

[spanone]

17. K&R...

[amuse bouche]

19. Meh

[MontanaMama]

20. Thank you for the thoughtful post.

I agree wholeheartedly. I didn’t support her politics but as a fierce mama, I can find common ground with her. My condolences to her family. The loss of a beloved mother and grandmother is painful and if we can’t acknowledge that, we’ve lost our way.

[Billsdaughter]

21. Fine

If anyone wants to feel sad about a woman who chose to play golf after her daughter's funeral service, admonished her surviving children to ever utter Robyn's name, and thought it perfectly acceptable that 1000's of our citizens be kept like animals in a pen at the Houston Astrodome not knowing if family, pets, and friends were dead or alive and stating "this is working quite well for them" then fine.

As far as thinking anything of her? And I quote "Why would I pollute my beautiful mind with that? "

[gopiscrap]

38. totally agree I did a post about that

Rachel Maddow went on and on about her and it pissed me off.

[pazzyanne]

22. You are absolutely right IMHO.

I couldn't agree more with you. Barbara Bush was a strong, straight forward person who stated her opinions, and when necessary, gave her husband and sons her honest opinion of what they were doing right or wrong. I found her to be a person of substance, who I did not always agree with, but could still admire. That is not something I can say about most Republicans.

[edhopper]

24. Death shouldn't release someone

from criticism.

Will we all gush about how nice a guy W was when he passes?

What about Cheney, or Trump.

Scew that shit. She wasn't a nice person.

[question everything]

33. Fine, then just stay quiet

She is dead. Is there really a need to pour vile on her?

Why not just move to other topics?

[edhopper]

37. I didn't start any threads about her

but I see no reason not to respond to one.

Fuck that "if you can't say anything nice" shit.

And we're on DU, it's not like I'm going to the funeral to tell Poppy Bushnhis wife was horrid.

But yes, there is a reason, to remember what horrible people lead our country.

The "they weren't so bad" stuff needs to end.

[Rorey]

26. I know I don't have a right to tell anyone else how to feel

I respect every individual's right to their own opinion about Barbara Bush. Some people were more offended than others by her actions and words, and perhaps their feelings are based on their own experiences and backgrounds and beliefs. I can't judge them for that, just as I can't judge those who speak well of someone who has died simply because they don't want to be disrespectful.

Personally, I just really am not too moved by her death. She was fortunate enough to live a very long, full life and she was ready to leave it. Her family is going to celebrate her life, as they should.

While I'm sure they don't revel in the fact that some people are not kind, I doubt it impacts them all that much. She was a public figure who was controversial at times. Criticism comes with the territory. They know that. And besides, we're just talking among ourselves here at DU. We're not making public statements about it.

[aeromanKC]

27. Thanks to my Mom, this is what I have to say about Barbara Bush:

[Rorey]

30. Well stated.

[happy feet]

35. Me too.

[peggysue2]

28. Thanks for that, democrank

I think we can be better than some of the disparaging posts I've been reading. I recall being furious at ugly, unseemly comments from Republicans after Ted Kennedy died. This is not a case where tit for tat gains us anything. Except make ourselves look small and petty.

Besides, we have plenty of ugly sitting in the White House right now to vent our spleens over. And that's far more to the point.

Let the dead rest in peace.

[ProgRocknProgPol]

31. Yeah, been seeing some vile epithets on the newly departed Bush family matriarch across the internet

Fortunately, 90% of what I've read regarding her has been at least respectful (not that she'd regard the remaining 10% with anything more than biting humor). The disrespect, though, seems to come from both the far-left and far-right. The horseshoe theory in action again.

Anyway, not that the bush family would see this, but rest in peace Ms. Barbara Bush. You were certainly one-of-a-kind.

[Raine]

34. Totally agree

but I saw worse on another site that makes this one look classy, still it's sad to see any on liberal sites.

[malaise]

39. A Democratic website, a place that should encourage empathy and compassion.

You left out the most important word
TRUTH

[DesertRat]

40. I agree with you

I cringe to think of the hateful comments that will be posted on the internet when Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter or any of our Democratic leaders pass away. I agree that as Democrats we should, as you say, encourage empathy and compassion.

In other words, if you can't post a simple "R.I.P.", in the days after her death, then don't post anything about her.

Rest in peace, Mrs. Bush