"I HATE liberals"

Saw something that I just couldn't let go today: the featured columnist on Advicenators, MikeCFT, has a line in his profile that jumped out at me.

"Iam also a cadet for the NYPD and I HATE liberals."

I worried it over in my mind for a while, and finally sent him this question:

Subject: Hate?

"I HATE liberals."?

No offense, but that really sounds bizarre, particularly from someone who presumably wants to serve and protect the public - a public which in NYC is probably at least 40% liberal, if not more.

How can you treat all citizens fairly and with respect - as you'll be sworn to do - when you've already decided that you hate many if not most of them?

To be honest, that sounds as crazy as if you'd said "Iam also a cadet for the NYPD and I HATE Italians" or "Iam also a cadet for the NYPD and I HATE construction workers". You're free to dislike individuals or even groups, of course - it's a free country. But just so you know, that sort of blanket condemnation comes off as really irresponsible and immature.

It doesn't enhance your credibility, and if you go into the NYPD with that sort of attitude, I believe it will make your life harder. Not because it's LIBERALS that you hate, particularly, but because hating a whole group - ANY group - will probably make your life a hell of a lot more stressful. Stress is already high enough for anyone on the force, without adding to it.

And it just doesn't make sense. I'm a liberal. I'm also a family man, a taxpayer, a voter, and a father. Most people who know me think I'm a decent guy. You don't know me, you've never met me. But you hate me.

Seriously, does that make sense to you?

I honestly mean no offense, by the way. And you don't need to worry that I'll down-rate your answer, or anything like that: I give you my word that I won't rate any reply you make AT ALL.

I thought long and hard before writing this. Maybe I shouldn't have bothered. But I thought it was worth a try.

"I HATE liberals"

Saw something that I just couldn't let go today: the featured columnist on Advicenators, MikeCFT, has a line in his profile that jumped out at me.

"Iam also a cadet for the NYPD and I HATE liberals."

I worried it over in my mind for a while, and finally sent him this question:

Subject: Hate?

"I HATE liberals."?

No offense, but that really sounds bizarre, particularly from someone who presumably wants to serve and protect the public - a public which in NYC is probably at least 40% liberal, if not more.

How can you treat all citizens fairly and with respect - as you'll be sworn to do - when you've already decided that you hate many if not most of them?

To be honest, that sounds as crazy as if you'd said "Iam also a cadet for the NYPD and I HATE Italians" or "Iam also a cadet for the NYPD and I HATE construction workers". You're free to dislike individuals or even groups, of course - it's a free country. But just so you know, that sort of blanket condemnation comes off as really irresponsible and immature.

It doesn't enhance your credibility, and if you go into the NYPD with that sort of attitude, I believe it will make your life harder. Not because it's LIBERALS that you hate, particularly, but because hating a whole group - ANY group - will probably make your life a hell of a lot more stressful. Stress is already high enough for anyone on the force, without adding to it.

And it just doesn't make sense. I'm a liberal. I'm also a family man, a taxpayer, a voter, and a father. Most people who know me think I'm a decent guy. You don't know me, you've never met me. But you hate me.

Seriously, does that make sense to you?

I honestly mean no offense, by the way. And you don't need to worry that I'll down-rate your answer, or anything like that: I give you my word that I won't rate any reply you make AT ALL.

I thought long and hard before writing this. Maybe I shouldn't have bothered. But I thought it was worth a try.