https://www.reddit.com/r/ChicagoSuburbs/s/Ge4lBr9uKs
Credit to OP for the post, but I can't stand it anymore. Don't look away now, this is who we've become. I've always tried to be an advocate for others over myself. Sorry if it's a repost.
Originally Posted By u/WoahDude876 At 2025-09-30 02:17:50 AM | Source
I'm guessing that most Republicans would get an erection and gleefully explain this to their children, unaware how scared they were at seeing ICE
I feel like this assumption is driven by mostly online interactions. I do know at least one republican, and he really is only that way because he lives in a rural town where all his friends are republican, and he just listens and trusts what they say. He doesn't directly interface with Fox News, but he's constantly volunteering and helping his community.
I'm sure there's a little bit of racism there, but these people are in a separate reality, and when I've shown him stuff he's generally really receptive and agreeable. The problem is that I only see him every few months, so whatever I tell him is chipped away at by his more insane friends.
It does not excuse their behavior, and there certainly are actual people that fit your description, but I've never actually seen them at that level of bigotry and hatred, and I have to visit a fairly red small town a few times a year. It's mostly just willful ignorance, and honestly it's a bit of empathy overload (since they don't have much to begin with).
Idk the solution, but I do know that SOME of them aren't complete monsters incapable of change. They just are fed and believe a different set of facts and are brainwashed to reject opposing viewpoints. I have more pity than hated for them, and I think hating them instead of the people who did the brainwashing is maybe not great.
I have ties to a red area too, where I grew up. Most people there are Republican and aggressively against facts that contradict anything they believe. I know several people who are very racist and who aren't receptive at all to hearing anything but fox news talking points. For years I tried debating them and talking civilly. It never worked. So now I'm just bitter. A lot of these people are former best friends and family. It's fucking awful but some are so far off the deep end I can't even really talk to them (about anything, let alone politics). They bring up wacked out conspiracy theories or racist shit and it's all they want to talk about. It sucks.