Is EVERY critical comment BDS?

No. As both NC Cop and myself pointed out, it is possible to disagree with Bush and to be critical of his performance without becoming loons.

Where do you draw the red line of BDS?

Use common sense and recognize the symptoms.

If you’re inserting an anti-Bush statement into everything you say or do, you’re probably suffering from it.

If you have bizarre ideas that the administration is the equivalent of the Reich, you qualify.

If you bend over backward to gain approval from people who do suffer from BDS by joining in, then you’ve contracted at least a mild case of the disease.

And if you make a statement like this:

Unfortunately, the Bush brand of patriotism, where criticizing Bush means you are a traitor, seems to have penetrated a significant minority of U.S. bridge players.

then you’ve got a severe case.

Obviously, she wanted to address the opinions of specific matters among her peers; mainly, how she feels about all of those issues they were questioning her about.

This is all after the fact, and means nothing. Also, how does there little sign address the “specific matters among her peers”?? Yippie Skippy, they didn’t vote for Bush. That doesn’t address Gitmo or Abu graib or Iraq or Afghanistan or Iran or AQ or…… All it does show is that she pandered to the crowd, and gave into the collective BDS that was present. Yay for her. They expressed an opinion that the uninformed/deceived of this world have.

/Yawn, next infintile meme screed please, your 15 minutes are over please stand in line behind Natilie Maines, if we have an opening we might use you again. Talk about useful idiots, Stalin would be proud. – Lorica

Not everyone supported Bill Clinton during his eight years, yet I don’t recall anyone bashing him whenever they got their 15 minutes of fame.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I couldn’t care less what any other country thinks of us. As far as I know we still dish out more aid to countries than anyone else. As far as I know this country has freed millions of people during it’s history. As far as I know thousands of people across the world are still trying to come to America. For these women to claim that “there wasn’t the same warmth you usually feel at these events” is a sad, pathetic excuse for what they did.

It simply stated a position that almost 50% of Americans took in 2000 and 2004. Is EVERY critical comment BDS? Where do you draw the red line of BDS?

I will grant that the statement was political and perhaps inappropriate for an Awards Ceremony but their “sin” has been blown way out of proportion.

First, when you put quote marks around “we hate Bush”, shouldn’t it be an actual quote?

Nope. ST didn’t say it was an actual quote, nor did I. It’s a characterization, and a fair one. Go take a plunge in the sewer systems called DailyKos or DU, and then try telling us the far left isn’t a pit of foam-at-the-mouth hate. The comment I cited would fit right in there.

I’m just interested in the list of places where it’s OK to criticize America, as an American. China seemed like a great place

It is, if you’re interested in subverting America and giving the communists a PR win. Lorica’s right that politics should stop at the water’s edge, but the left long ago decided that love of power was more important than love of country. Respectful disagreement is fine – but blatant trashing crosses the line.

If you follow the link to the original article you will find they are most definitely being threatened with punishment by lawyers from the bridge federation.

And that happens to be the right of the bridge federation. Any organization worth the name enforces internal discipline for conduct unbecoming a member (the Democratic party seems to be the one glaring exception). That’s a far cry from prosecution and/or imprisonment for their opinions…although come to think of it, the left in this country supports any anti-American dictator who does exactly that.

It has nothing to do with making a statement about China.

Well then, Matt, you and JoeC had better get your story straight, since he’s arguing it was exactly that.

And I would hardly equate a Hollywood actor with handful of women I’ve never heard of who won some bridge tournament in Shanghai.

But I would, so I guess that’s my right as an American, right Matt?

As far as the punishment, that is up to their league and what they do. Nobody on this site demanded that they be punished. Let me QUOTE what ST has said “I’m ok with them continuing to openly spew their stupid “we hate Bush” nonsense – even if it is on foreign soil”

Is it clearer now? Your comment on punishment should be directed at the governing body that is considering it, not anyone here.

…nobody is demanding they be punished.

Not true. If you follow the link to the original article you will find they are most definitely being threatened with punishment by lawyers from the bridge federation.

Why not make a comment about Chinese “political re-education” camps…

They took advantage of having the camera on them to get some attention.

Nonsense. If you read what Ms. Greenberg said again,

“There was a lot of anti-Bush feeling, questioning of our Iraq policy and about torture…and there wasn’t the same warmth you usually feel at these events.”

Obviously, she wanted to address the opinions of specific matters among her peers; mainly, how she feels about all of those issues they were questioning her about. It has nothing to do with making a statement about China. And I would hardly equate a Hollywood actor with handful of women I’ve never heard of who won some bridge tournament in Shanghai.

Second, could I get a list of approved countries for speaking my opinion?

You are free to speak your opinion in any country you wish. These women didn’t speak their opinion. They took advantage of having the camera on them to get some attention. It’s no different than the Hollywood boobs who spout off their anti-Bush venom at awards shows or whenever else it’s not a political forum. Perhaps you could give us a list of approved ways in which we can criticize these women, or are we not allowed?

Sure they could have said nothing, giving the Chinese the impression that Americans, the free people, are compelled to behave exactly the same as the Chinese must feel compelled to behave when overseas. Just shut up and do your job.

Right. So I’m sure the Chinese government is wringing it’s hands at the “stir” these idiots have caused. I seriously doubt the Chinese could care any less about the expression of free speech that took place. They, more than likely, reveled at the propaganda that they received from them.

Sure they could have bashed the Chinese govt, but once again – what does that show.

It could have showed that Americans do cherish free speech, the ability to protest your government, the right to vote, etc. You know, all of the things that China denies its citizens, as well as all of the things that the left accuses Bush of. What a concept!

Now that is an inspiration to subjegated people. But here you geniuses come along and want them punished for that.
Absolutely mindless!

Again, Joe, if you think that this is somehow going to spark a revolution in China, you are the mindless one. As I recall, the Chinese people tried that and many of them were murdered by the government that these women chose to ignore. Such an inspiration.

Also, if you actually read the post, ya know with your eyes, you would have seen that nobody is demanding they be punished. I guess those kinds of details are irrelevant.

First, when you put quote marks around “we hate Bush”, shouldn’t it be an actual quote? Great White Rat has quote that he thinks means the same, but that’s not how I read it. What I read was “”What we were trying to say, not to Americans but to our friends from other countries, was that we understand that they are questioning and critical of what our country is doing these days, and we want you to know that we, too, are critical”" That’s pretty tame, voice-yer-opinion stuff, not hate. And neither is Rat’s quote. There is hate for Bush out there, but crying “hate” at every expression of discontent dilutes your message.

Second, could I get a list of approved countries for speaking my opinion? About the US, of course, I’m familiar with those countries who do not share our values. I’m just interested in the list of places where it’s OK to criticize America, as an American. China seemed like a great place, as Joe C. pointed out.

This is proof to the Chinese that you don’t have to be smart to win at cards.

As far as squelching free speech, perhaps we should ask Harry Reid why he wrote a letter threatening the free speech of a talk radio host, a private citizen? Something that even a “racist” Imus wasn’t censured for????

I have noticed the “it was a joke” defense. It’s always a joke, just not the way they mean…

Maybe if you actually read the linked article, you’d have noticed this little gem, written by the woman who held up the makeshift sign:

“Freedom to express dissent against our leaders has traditionally been a core American value” she wrote by e-mail. “Unfortunately, the Bush brand of patriotism, where criticizing Bush means you are a traitor, seems to have penetrated a significant minority of U.S. bridge players.”

Somehow, this doesn’t sound like anything you hear from the conservatives, or the moderates like Joe Lieberman or Chuck Hagel. So I’d say ST has this moonbat pegged accurately, wouldn’t you?

And that pretty much shoots down your laughable cover story that this must have been some courageous attempt to show the Chinese just how free speech operates in America.

The extremist left frankly doesn’t give a damn what the conditions are in the rest of the world – otherwise they wouldn’t be heaping fawning praise on the likes of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez. And they don’t particularly care about free speech either – witness their push to restore the “fairness doctrine” and how they try to squelch free speech and thought whenever possible…at the University of Delaware, for example.

Lorica has it right. This takes no courage at all. This jerk knew she would be lauded by the left-wing press and suffer no real consequences for her act. When she joins protesters in Myanmar, then I’ll be impressed.

But here you geniuses come along and want them punished for that.

Joe??? Who here is calling for them to be punished?? Dear Sis didn’t call for them to be “punished”, which we all know is a code word for “waterboarded”. You are the only other person who posted, so what other geniuses here are calling for these women to be punished?? And yet we are “absolutely mindless”. I love it when you all are the painters with the broad brush, yet you paint us harshly.

I do actually like your spin on this Joe, and I pray you are right. Sadly tho, I believe that all their little sign did, is feed the BDS attitude that was already present. It certainly is good that you “free thinkers” always pander to the lowest common denominator that is present in the room.

Lastly I just love it when there is some back lash from being stupid, Libs run to, “awwww shucks it was just a joke gone wrong”. Where have we heard that BS or BDS before??? Why do these people continue to insult everyones intelligence?? Stand up for what you believe you idiots. For God’s Sake grow a damn back bone. What a group of mindless amoebas. What really would have been cool is if they would have held up a sign that said in big bold letters “FREE IRAQ!! FREE CHINA!!!” Now that would have been a statement. – Lorica