The biased press?

Sadly, you don't have to marginalize the media. They did that to themselves.

But it is frightening to me to see him dismiss anything uncomplimentary as "fake news" and folks accept it.

This President is a bit stunning to me. I have had plenty of Presidents that I didn't care for, but none who seemed to say and do such outrageous things. Then, as you say, the press reports it and when you read what they say, you have to think they are making it up, when they aren't.

I will say that the press goes a bit overboard in some of the commentary. I don't understand why, when the truth is already outrageous enough!

criticism as fake or biased. It is easier to dismiss the attack if you can discredit the attacker. A parallel would be to the last administration when people dismissed any criticism of it as being racially motivated. As I said then,denigrating the attacker allows one to dismiss the argument. without ever actually addressing what might be valid points.

This administration has taken it to unrivaled heights.

Many people get tired of articulating their points when they are constantly dismissed as being racially motivated. For many, it is a losing battle, so why bother. For you that makes it a self fulfilling prophecy, they don't respond because of the constant accusations levied, therefore they must be bigots.

I have articulated many things I disliked about Obama and have received commentary regarding racial motivation in return. Often the conversation would end with something along the lines of , "If you don't think there are those racially motivated, then you are naive."

I have replied often that I am sure that there are, but that doesn't make any of the points invalid with respect to the topic. Just like I am sure that many people supported him for merely racial reasons, that doesn't mean that he might not have some valid points.

To dismiss the argument based upon your perception is necessary to avoid addressing many of the legitimate concerns. Just like those dismissing criticism of Trump by the media are avoiding the legitimate concerns of this blowhard.

I can certainly understand how someone may like Obama's policies. I can certainly understand where a lot of those policies came from, but that doesn't mean that because I disliked him for a wide variety of reasons, (the apology tour, Obama care, handling of the middle east, etc.) that I am a bigot.

Tossing that card out repeatedly makes for absolutely no dialogue. And it doesn't surprise me in the least that many would not want to respond to your queries based upon how often you have tossed that card out there.

to say that people don't respond to why they dilike Obama because they believe their answers will be dismissed as not truthful or as racially motivated, so why bother, but it is fact when someone says that the dislike of Obama is due to racism? I can accept that mine is conjecture even though I have felt that way personally and know others so I am indeed extrapolating here, but it is also the same in the opposite direction.

It is fact that racism still exists, o doubt about it. It is opinion and inflammation to say that it is not far removed from the attitudes of the Civil War era, especially in the deep south. I lived all over and racism and bigotry exist all over. The difference, in my opinion and based on my interactions, is that in the South they state it openly, in other parts of the country they say it behind closed doors. I would prefer it out in the open and not behind my back.

You said, "I sense you feel that your impartiality regarding African Americans is threatened when anyone suggests a dislike of the former president is/was based upon his race." and I actually chuckled a bit. Nothing anyone says about others has any bearing or relevance to me. I usually speak up because of the gross generalization in play. Just like I do when I here bigoted comments and jokes. And yes I do speak up and have even cut ties with people when I have found their bigoted comments to be more deeply rooted in racism than ignorance.

The comparison would be me saying, "I sense you feel that your impartiality regarding African Americans is threatened when anyone suggests a dislike of the former president isn't/wasn't based upon his race. That this somehow threatens your self view of being so inclusive." It is an absurd statement to me either way.

Yes, only I know. Just as only those making anti Obama statements know whether or not they are racists. So perhaps we should stop judging and dismissing every criticism of the man as racially motivated and judge the comments on their merit. Which has been my entire point for years. And it is routinely dismissed as being naive. I am very glad that you are finally coming around to my viewpoint.

First, I don't understand what the WHAT???? was for. I thought I was pretty clear. Is there something in particular you are having issue with?

Second, I disagree that we are how others see us. But yes, I do question not how I view myself, but whether or not I am being true to myself. If I am living up to the ideals I have set for myself. What others think about me is their issue and is often effected by their past and their views of things, (their lens of life). I can not control those nor do I particularly care. For example, you have placed opinions not held by me emotions not held by me, etc. on me, I cannot help that. I will try to correct those from time to time, but often there really isn't anything I can do about that. Those are you placing things on me, not what I am or what I have said. All I can do is be mindful of who I am and who I wish to be and control only those things that I can control. Worrying about how others view me or what they think of me is irrelevant and does nothing.

I am a pretty reflective person who is comfortable with who I am and those that know me are good with that. Those that are not good with me, are to a very large degree not relevant to my life and not really worth my worrying about how they feel about me. I cannot control that and do not wish to.

And with that, I shall slowly fade away as the summer approaches and life takes over with charity work, vacations, work, and just generic life.