I was born and raised in the deep south (U.S.) surrounded by conservatives. I retired in the south with 98% conservative colleagues. I spent 50 years turning the other cheek to conservatives, being patient, using the Socratic method, being a good son, a good grandson, a good brother, good friend and good neighbor to conservatives. Then Trump came along.
I now see how absolutely short-sighted and naive I was thinking the arrogant, unintelligent, bigoted, hateful, grinning monsters all around me could ever possibly become kind humans. Conservatives are exactly as evil as they appear. It’s not an illusion and they will never change.
Conservatives are biologically unable to experience empathy. This core understanding of conservatives explains so much about them. Their relationships are shallow because deep connections require empathy. It explains why bigotry and cruelty comes so easily to them. It explains how they can literally brag about killing a puppy and receive positive feedback from fellow conservatives.
I will never trust a conservative again as long as I live. I cannot unsee how genuinely cruel and evil they are and I can no longer be misled to believe they can change. It took a lifetime, but I understand what they are now and I am appropriately horrified by them.
This has been me, too, and it’s literally my entire family. Aaaaaall of them. Siblings, parents, cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles. My own children are the only exception. I’ve lost all respect for every last one of my family members, which is pretty lonely, but not something I can ever undo, since it’s so damn warranted.
As quiet as we all are in public about this, just know you are not mourning the loss of your family and friends alone. There are many millions of us experiencing this profound grief and upset. You are not alone in this, despite how isolating and lonely it can feel sometimes.
I was born and raised in the deep south (U.S.) surrounded by conservatives. I retired in the south with 98% conservative colleagues. I spent 50 years turning the other cheek to conservatives, being patient, using the Socratic method, being a good son, a good grandson, a good brother, good friend and good neighbor to conservatives. Then Trump came along.
I now see how absolutely short-sighted and naive I was thinking the arrogant, unintelligent, bigoted, hateful, grinning monsters all around me could ever possibly become kind humans. Conservatives are exactly as evil as they appear. It’s not an illusion and they will never change.
Conservatives are biologically unable to experience empathy. This core understanding of conservatives explains so much about them. Their relationships are shallow because deep connections require empathy. It explains why bigotry and cruelty comes so easily to them. It explains how they can literally brag about killing a puppy and receive positive feedback from fellow conservatives.
I will never trust a conservative again as long as I live. I cannot unsee how genuinely cruel and evil they are and I can no longer be misled to believe they can change. It took a lifetime, but I understand what they are now and I am appropriately horrified by them.
This has been me, too, and it’s literally my entire family. Aaaaaall of them. Siblings, parents, cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles. My own children are the only exception. I’ve lost all respect for every last one of my family members, which is pretty lonely, but not something I can ever undo, since it’s so damn warranted.
As quiet as we all are in public about this, just know you are not mourning the loss of your family and friends alone. There are many millions of us experiencing this profound grief and upset. You are not alone in this, despite how isolating and lonely it can feel sometimes.