I completely relate. I have seen this a lot with friends in the U.K over Brexit. I know people who have actually ended friendhips over that! Madness! When I was young you didn't care much if someone voted Labour or Conservative. That's if you even knew (since people generally avoided discussing politics too much) And even when they did discuss it, they didn't end friendships over political or ideological differences. The attitude was generally 'Live and let live' and 'That's their business' except for maybe a small number of radicals. But now, your beliefs define you and mark you as good or bad, liberal or bigoted. No nuance, no in betweens. With us or against us. I really hope this is a short-lived nightmare, and people wake up.
Recognize that what is happening now is a divide and conquer strategy by the Oligarchs that run the USA in order to subjugate and more effectively rule over their most despised enemy, the American Middle Class. They use climate change and bigotry as excuses, but they don’t actually care about those things, except insofar as they can be used as weapons. it’s really just that they are mad that we elected the Bad Orange Hitler and we need to be punished for our rebellion. “Keep your slaves scared, stupid, sick, and poor, and they will never revolt or leave the plantation, comrade B. Gates.”
I feel this so much. I wish more people would put aside their differences and just be kind to one another. Regardless of how they may feel on a particular issue, they’re still human.
I don’t encounter this IRL very much at all; I must live a blessed life. My family and friends are more about conflict avoidance and smugly dismissing the politics of others.
Another person who is nothing but naive - and ignorant of American history. No, this country has NOT been a place where people listened to each other. Look at our history. We became a country after the British colonists split with some seeking independence from Great Britain and others remaining loyal to the king. The "patriots" hung "Tories" or drove them out of the country to Canada and the Caribbean. Then western farmers rebelled against George Washington's government over taxation of their whiskey. There were conflicts over tariffs then the whole country went nuts over slavery. Then, of course, there was a war, a war allegedly between North and South although there were Northerners who supported the Confederacy and Southerners, many of whom were slave owners, who were Federals. Leftist and died-in-the-wool Democrats loved FDR but conservatives hated him, even those in his own party. There was conflict over civil rights then along came the Sixties when many college students openly supported communists and identified as communist. In short, nothings changed. The only difference is we now have the Internet and social media, where people with knowledge of not much spout off about things they do not know.
Also thanks Bridget for always being inspiring in my sobriety. I found you when I started 2 years ago and haven’t touched anything since. It’s a real help to have your work in these troubling times.
I completely relate. I have seen this a lot with friends in the U.K over Brexit. I know people who have actually ended friendhips over that! Madness! When I was young you didn't care much if someone voted Labour or Conservative. That's if you even knew (since people generally avoided discussing politics too much) And even when they did discuss it, they didn't end friendships over political or ideological differences. The attitude was generally 'Live and let live' and 'That's their business' except for maybe a small number of radicals. But now, your beliefs define you and mark you as good or bad, liberal or bigoted. No nuance, no in betweens. With us or against us. I really hope this is a short-lived nightmare, and people wake up.
Recognize that what is happening now is a divide and conquer strategy by the Oligarchs that run the USA in order to subjugate and more effectively rule over their most despised enemy, the American Middle Class. They use climate change and bigotry as excuses, but they don’t actually care about those things, except insofar as they can be used as weapons. it’s really just that they are mad that we elected the Bad Orange Hitler and we need to be punished for our rebellion. “Keep your slaves scared, stupid, sick, and poor, and they will never revolt or leave the plantation, comrade B. Gates.”
I feel this so much. I wish more people would put aside their differences and just be kind to one another. Regardless of how they may feel on a particular issue, they’re still human.
So many people who have become disconnected and it's really sad.
I don’t encounter this IRL very much at all; I must live a blessed life. My family and friends are more about conflict avoidance and smugly dismissing the politics of others.
Another person who is nothing but naive - and ignorant of American history. No, this country has NOT been a place where people listened to each other. Look at our history. We became a country after the British colonists split with some seeking independence from Great Britain and others remaining loyal to the king. The "patriots" hung "Tories" or drove them out of the country to Canada and the Caribbean. Then western farmers rebelled against George Washington's government over taxation of their whiskey. There were conflicts over tariffs then the whole country went nuts over slavery. Then, of course, there was a war, a war allegedly between North and South although there were Northerners who supported the Confederacy and Southerners, many of whom were slave owners, who were Federals. Leftist and died-in-the-wool Democrats loved FDR but conservatives hated him, even those in his own party. There was conflict over civil rights then along came the Sixties when many college students openly supported communists and identified as communist. In short, nothings changed. The only difference is we now have the Internet and social media, where people with knowledge of not much spout off about things they do not know.
This is 100% my life.
Also Rascal Nick is spot on!!!
Also thanks Bridget for always being inspiring in my sobriety. I found you when I started 2 years ago and haven’t touched anything since. It’s a real help to have your work in these troubling times.