The following is a post pulled from Facebook:
Flickr / Gage Skidmore
I understand why someone would vote for Trump. I don’t mean that I can see his appeal, because I can’t. But I do understand why someone who normally votes Republican would cast a vote in his favor. However, I’m not sure this understanding goes both ways. I’m not sure that you, Trump voter, really understand why we non-Trump voters are so distraught.
A lot of you think you do — understand, that is. You think it’s politics. No one likes to be on the losing side of an election. And that’s why so many of you — and to be fair, I’ve seen Clinton voters share this same sentiment, in an attempt to restore rationality — have scolded people on my side for the unpatriotic heresy of disconnecting from Trump voters on social media. You see it as childish, sore loser stuff. You say, “Can you really not have someone who disagrees with you as a friend?”
You’re missing something vital though. You’re just happy the election is over, and that now you’ll have a government that pursues the conservative policies you prefer. All of which is fair. That’s a normal consequence of an election, and while the rest of us are understandably upset about that part, it’s part of the program. You win some, you lose some. We’ve been there before.
But this election includes extracurricular material. And that’s why, Trump voter, your more progressive friends are questioning whether or not they can keep you in their lives.
Donald Trump has given credence to the belief that Muslims must be assumed to be terrorists until proven otherwise. Now my friends who are Muslim (or even just of Middle Eastern descent) are at greater risk of violence and harassment.
He created a myth that Mexican immigrants come to this country to commit crimes. Which again puts my Latino friends at greater risk of violence and harassment.
He chose one of the most virulently anti-gay politicians in the country as his vice president and threatens to undo the progress the LGBTQ community has seen in the last eight years.
He caters to hate groups and has spread anti-Semitic messages throughout his campaign. My wife and daughter are Jewish. I take that kind of thing personally.
He has been plausibly accused of multiple sexual assaults, which is something he has admitted on tape to doing. He’s bragged about it. That our society would look past that and elect him puts women and girls at greater risk.
Shall I go on? You see, this isn’t just disagreement about boring policy stuff like taxes. I see a lot of “We have to come together now as a nation” messages floating around, but the subtext of this election is that a lot of Americans aren’t actually invited to the unity party. And look, I can handle complexity. I don’t think voting for Trump means that you’re a racist, misogynist, homophobic, anti-Semitic bully. I’m not accusing you of that. But it does mean that you are — at best — insufficiently troubled by the people that are those things, not least of whom is our President-elect.
You are probably a good person. You wouldn’t be reading this otherwise. That you’ve read this far — that you’re willing to hear me out — is a testament to that. And what I imagine you’re thinking right now is that all of the bad things I just described are exaggerated.
I’ve witnessed the dialog whenever an unarmed African-American man is killed by police. I know the script. But I’m not interested in debating this stuff with you, at least not now. Instead, I want to offer you a deal. You’ve got your guy. You want those of us on the left to participate in your calls for unity? You’ve got to do something for us.
The threats against gays, Muslims, Latinos, African-Americans, females, the stuff that you think isn’t really happening? You’ve got to promise to prevent it. You have to state for the record that you’re not going to tolerate people being attacked for their race or religion or sexual orientation in this country. You have to guarantee that you will stand in the way of not just rapists, but “casual” sexual assault as well. If you really want unity, then you have to say that you’ll help make this country a safe place for everyone.
Here’s the thing: You can think I and other liberals are overstating the problem if you want to. Right now, I’m only asking for your words. If you prefer to think of the Left as a child who thinks there’s a monster under the bed, fine. Just say you’ll protect us from the monster. Don’t mock us for being upset. We’re not being petulant. We’re fucking terrified. If you value the friendship of those you “disagree” with, then it’s high time you remembered what friendship really means.
Don’t argue with me about any of this. Just say the words. And then say them to the other people in your life who need to hear them. Say them to other Trump voters too. If you can’t do that, then our differences go way beyond our willingness to disagree.
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VERY well said, thank you!
There are two sides to every coin. Now answer me this silly question. Why is it when we can’t agree, do I suffer in silence (a vote) instead of “taking to the streets” and burning, beating, shooting, and ranting with fear? Forgiveness is just over the (capitol) hill.
I’m going to “say the words” but , in the spirit of openness and sincerity, let me say this; it would have been nice to see this appeal 6-8 years ago. I’ve been harassed by the revenue service, had my car keyed, been publicly called a racist (by strangers), and had my daughter yelled at…..
…for publicly petitioning the government to stay away from the private contract I had with a health insurance company.
I watched a Democratic State Senator threaten a pizza place, because they responded to a news reporter’s hypothetical question about a violation of religious beliefs, when there were 27 pizza places within a ten mile radius. Liberals made no effort to understand the situation because they felt empowered because they controlled the monopoly on force.
I’ve watched people hunted, chased down, and beaten because they wore a stupid red hat in public (and I’ve watched a FEW good liberals try to prevent them from being beaten).
I’ve watched people have vegetables and water bottles thrown at them for asking their government to enforce existing immigration law. I’ve seem mobs, waving the flag of a foreign country chase down the Americans wanting enforcement of immigration laws
Let me be clear; you caused a Trump Presidency. Rather than debate ideas with openness and sincerity, you attacked dissenters and forced them into silence. Michael Moore understood this–he knew what would happen
Trump isn’t going to build a wall, he’s not going to repeal Obamacare, and he’s not going to use a religious test for admission into this country. He’s a fake conservative who found a way to speak to good people who felt silenced by the mob.
It’s easy for me to take the pledge because I am believe in the Constitution. I won’t let conservative mobs do what liberal mobs have been doing for two decades because it’s wrong, it’s absolutely wrong. If Muslims, gay people, or people of color are targeted by the government, I will continue to stand up for them…even if it means I have to stand up to people who share my political beliefs.
I’ve “said the words” and I have made my peace. I don’t expect y’all to give Trump a chance but it sure would be nice. If you’re interested in honest debate about ideas, I’m game
Nice job of false equivalency, Brian. Based on your behavior in the past, I know your real motive was to “stir up the natives.”
There is a difference between people losing their tempers and lashing out than what’s going on out there right now.
The difference, metaphorically speaking, is somebody reacting violently to having their spouse called a slut and having a president who surrounds himself with people that encourage this kind of behavior.
I don’t remember the Communist Party or the Black Panthers calling for a victory parade when Obama won in 2008. I do know that the KKK is organizing a celebration of the election results.
I do know that the most likely candidate for Chief of Staff ran a platform that gave encouragement to antisemites. I do know that school children around the country are being taunted based on the color of their skin or their last names. I do know that women all over the country have been accosted by gropers who are openly saying they have the right to do this now.
I do know that people around the country are signing petitions, going to protests (the vast majority of them peaceful), and making their dissatisfaction heard.
In 2008 and 2012, what I heard about–and it’s backed up with sales records–people unhappy with the election results went out and bought guns.
I (we) will come to grips with the uncivil and unruly amongst us. Your side has never tried.
And, no, I’m not interested in a debate.
The fuck you typing? All that “I’ve watched people” shit. I’ve watched this government and people like you do all that stuff you just typed to Mexicans (with and without documentation) for the last 46 years of my life. GTFOH!
Well Brian, you finally let your hair down… and it turned out to be a wig. You’re not a conservative or a Libertarian, you’re a sucker for assigning a moral and intellectual superiority to rich guys. To support your arguments you go to a hover map and find the number of pizza joints in a (presumably) circular zone around an oven that won’t serve gays, or whomever. You say your car got scratched by a person who was opposed to your health care preferences. I doubt that, and I doubt that you’ve seen “mobs… chase down the Americans wanting enforcement of immigration laws…” The only reason Donald is not what you call “conservative” is his refusal (anticipated by you) not to build a wall against Mexico and his (also anticipated) refusal “to use a religious test for admission into this country.” Is any of that a test of conservativism? Please don’t tell me you have a gun, ’cause they’re not conservative either.
You guys don’t get it; I am not necessarily HAPPY about Trump. I’m thrilled it isn’t Clinton but, and let this sink in…Donald Trump is about the be sworn in as the 45th President. Donald freaking Trump.
I’m not trying to stir things up but y’all are stifling any kind of reasonable debate with this behavior. Keep in mind that I am one of the few people from the other side who will actually engage with you. The rest of the people I know look at me and say “Why do you even try to speak with them? They are just going to call you a racist”
I freaking HATE that the KKK is parading because of Trump’s victory but what am I going to do…shoot them? It’s a free country and they can do that.
Let me be clear though; I won’t tolerate people being attacked for the color of their skin, their religion…or their political beliefs. I might stop talking with you but I won’t let you be attacked.. I think THAT was the point of the post
Uhh…. Thanks for dropping by?
Brian, you sure used the word ‘watched’ an awful lot. Trouble is, how much can you really see with tunnel vision?
Thoughts?
Message from Mr. Dennis Kucinich. A “true progressive”
You need only to read today’s New York Times editorial to see that the establishment media is driving hysteria over Russia. One of the surprising aspects of the presidential campaign is that Hillary Clinton engaged in confrontation with Russia, whereas Donald Trump promoted diplomacy and engagement. Clinton’s campaign strategy was rife with Cold War rhetoric, blaming (without proof) Russia for hacking the DNC and the Clinton campaign, and depicting Trump as a dupe of Putin.
Now that Trump has won, he should be encouraged to engage with Russia in a mutual effort to achieve global security, peace and nuclear disarmament. The Western policy of “encirclement” and subterfuge must end. NATO must stop rattling its (American-paid for) sabers. US foreign policy of interventionism and regime change has been an unmitigated disaster. There is no need for more brinkmanship which can lead to miscalculation and more war.