I appreciate your hopefulness, but I don't share it. It's been a full decade of Trump at this point, and he's done countless harmful things... if people have not found their limit, it doesn't exist.
Further, regarding their economic concerns or issues with Biden, this means that they were willing to overlook everything that would harm OTH…
I appreciate your hopefulness, but I don't share it. It's been a full decade of Trump at this point, and he's done countless harmful things... if people have not found their limit, it doesn't exist.
Further, regarding their economic concerns or issues with Biden, this means that they were willing to overlook everything that would harm OTHER people because they thought they would benefit them. So like, yeah those comments about Haitian immigrants endangered a whole community, but what really matters is MY investments. Or we might be stabbing our allies in the back and destabilizing the world economy, but there are fewer border crossings happening, so it all evens out. Support for Trump at this point is deeply selfish, not civic-minded.
So yes, I'd love to think their minds could be changed, but the available evidence doesn't support that. And personally, I'm done wasting energy trying to convince people. I'm instead using that energy to try to reduce the harm they're causing.
Back in 2016 I had someone tell me that I would change my mind about him when my husband's paycheck and our 401k went up. (I just need to point out that I also have a salary and retirement account, but they were just focused on my husband). I was horrified and offended. How could I care about those things when it meant promoting such hate?
Turns out the opposite happened and they switched to hating him when he mishandled covid so badly.
The mental gymnastics are Olympic-level for sure and I agree, the limit does not exist. Most of us live in communities. We share public facilities and resources and it doesn’t always go well. I think we’ve all muttered under our breath or aloud, a time or two, about the current condition of something that was once clean, tidy, and operational. Could be anything really, from a service lobby to a public park. For example-
I walk my dog twice daily in my neighborhood. From time to time, I see excrement on the property. Did they forget their bag? Did they not see it? Who knows. I’ve made it a point to carry extra bags and pick it up. Our HOA dues are astronomical. It’s a historic property, the upkeep is imperative to its longevity and frankly, who wants to see pet waste everywhere? Rather unsanitary but also unsightly, no?
Every now and then, there’s a mess (left by another dog owner) that I can’t clean up. There was one instance in particular, when I miscalculated the situation, and though I went in with my hand in a double-shield of my own fashioning, the yuck got all over me, my dog’s leash etc..
That example comes to mind because it reminds me that no good deed goes unpunished, but it also reminds me to sidestep the mess. See it for what it is, from far away if possible, and then avoid it.
Step over it. Switch course. Whatever it takes.
That applies to petulance. That applies to willful ignorance. That applies to dissociative disorder.
Skip it. Still doing my best for my community while sparing my sanity by actively avoiding exercises in futility. Win! Win!
Also, a neighbor’s camera has identified the culprit and guess what? He knows what’s happening. He’s holding the leash. He waits. He looks over his shoulder to make sure the coast is clear, leaves it and keeps right on walking. Turns out, we don’t all care about the same things. 🤷🏻♀️
As you noted in your last paragraph, and I agree, our energy is better served elsewhere. Onward!
Yeah. The fact that people are willing to accept an authoritarian regime if it gets them what they want has spelled that out in stone. I just wish folks here would be honest with themselves and others about what they value. It would help the conversation move forward. Pretending to value human life in Ukraine, for example, while asking Ukrainians to “come to the table” with their abuser isn’t honest. It’s manipulative.
yes. like you say it is a waste of your time. we can all use that energy in more productive ways even if that is just taking a nap! Or calling our congresspeople. or writing a letter to the editor..
I appreciate your hopefulness, but I don't share it. It's been a full decade of Trump at this point, and he's done countless harmful things... if people have not found their limit, it doesn't exist.
Further, regarding their economic concerns or issues with Biden, this means that they were willing to overlook everything that would harm OTHER people because they thought they would benefit them. So like, yeah those comments about Haitian immigrants endangered a whole community, but what really matters is MY investments. Or we might be stabbing our allies in the back and destabilizing the world economy, but there are fewer border crossings happening, so it all evens out. Support for Trump at this point is deeply selfish, not civic-minded.
So yes, I'd love to think their minds could be changed, but the available evidence doesn't support that. And personally, I'm done wasting energy trying to convince people. I'm instead using that energy to try to reduce the harm they're causing.
Back in 2016 I had someone tell me that I would change my mind about him when my husband's paycheck and our 401k went up. (I just need to point out that I also have a salary and retirement account, but they were just focused on my husband). I was horrified and offended. How could I care about those things when it meant promoting such hate?
Turns out the opposite happened and they switched to hating him when he mishandled covid so badly.
The mental gymnastics are Olympic-level for sure and I agree, the limit does not exist. Most of us live in communities. We share public facilities and resources and it doesn’t always go well. I think we’ve all muttered under our breath or aloud, a time or two, about the current condition of something that was once clean, tidy, and operational. Could be anything really, from a service lobby to a public park. For example-
I walk my dog twice daily in my neighborhood. From time to time, I see excrement on the property. Did they forget their bag? Did they not see it? Who knows. I’ve made it a point to carry extra bags and pick it up. Our HOA dues are astronomical. It’s a historic property, the upkeep is imperative to its longevity and frankly, who wants to see pet waste everywhere? Rather unsanitary but also unsightly, no?
Every now and then, there’s a mess (left by another dog owner) that I can’t clean up. There was one instance in particular, when I miscalculated the situation, and though I went in with my hand in a double-shield of my own fashioning, the yuck got all over me, my dog’s leash etc..
That example comes to mind because it reminds me that no good deed goes unpunished, but it also reminds me to sidestep the mess. See it for what it is, from far away if possible, and then avoid it.
Step over it. Switch course. Whatever it takes.
That applies to petulance. That applies to willful ignorance. That applies to dissociative disorder.
Skip it. Still doing my best for my community while sparing my sanity by actively avoiding exercises in futility. Win! Win!
Also, a neighbor’s camera has identified the culprit and guess what? He knows what’s happening. He’s holding the leash. He waits. He looks over his shoulder to make sure the coast is clear, leaves it and keeps right on walking. Turns out, we don’t all care about the same things. 🤷🏻♀️
As you noted in your last paragraph, and I agree, our energy is better served elsewhere. Onward!
We have work to do.
“We don’t all care about the same thing.”
Yeah. The fact that people are willing to accept an authoritarian regime if it gets them what they want has spelled that out in stone. I just wish folks here would be honest with themselves and others about what they value. It would help the conversation move forward. Pretending to value human life in Ukraine, for example, while asking Ukrainians to “come to the table” with their abuser isn’t honest. It’s manipulative.
yes. like you say it is a waste of your time. we can all use that energy in more productive ways even if that is just taking a nap! Or calling our congresspeople. or writing a letter to the editor..
There are fewer immigrants being removed now than under Biden
Correct, but there are also fewer coming in. My point is that that is worth the cost to a lot of people (for now).