I attended my first protest yesterday, alone, while my wife watched my boy play at a park. Minus a couple of neckbeards in raised trucks sporting Confederate and tRump flags, it was a great experience. Lots of support from drivers as they passed by!
I was surprised at how many older people were there. No offense to anyone over 60 here, but until yesterday it felt like many older folks were fine with shit going down this way. I’m in a blue state, in a purple to blue location. I saw way more tRump shit last year than I had hoped to see.
That’s interesting, I’m in a red state, purple location, and it was the other way around. The first 2 protests I went to in April (Hands Off and another one), it seemed like over 80% were (myself included) 50+ yo white people. Then yesterday I was happy to see lots more younger people and more ethnic diversity (though still whiter compared to proportion of the population). I saw more couples with their kids there too, and there were twice as many people overall.
I had the same experience. First protest I’ve been to and besides one dude that drove by flipping everyone off and one crazy old dude with a “dems are pedos” sign (yes, with what’s happening in South Carolina literally right now, the irony was lost on this person), a very positive mood all around. Loads of folks driving by, waving and honking horns, some kids in attendance, and everybody getting along very well in support of a common cause.
I’m a firm believer that many in MAGA are under a spell. The only hope we have is helping them identify that brainwashing and welcome them back to humanity once they do. However, as I’ve discussed with my therapist, we can’t force them. They have to want to change. It really starts with pushing them from the hateful rhetoric of Faux News and the like. That propaganda is a powerful funnel for their hate, vitriol, and lies. It’s the hydra that we must slain if we are ever to fix this without more bloodshed.
I’ll see you out there in solidarity with the others who still see humanity as a fighting cause. I bounce between hope and despair, but the bounce on the hope side doesn’t seem to go as high as it used to.
You’re a brave person. If I had a kid and a wife I would have thought twice. Which I’m sure you did. Thank you for your service. I hope you had a nice time with your family after. Feel proud. Be safe. I’d buy you a beer if I wasn’t hundreds of miles away.
I appreciate the sentiment. I joined the Guard out of high school in 2004 to help my community and have a sense of purpose. Yesterday showed me that maybe it wasn’t in vain. I hit a pretty low place this week so seeing some positive affirmations of human commradery was a welcomed sight.
Stay safe and stay hydrated. Much love from the midwest!
I attended my first protest yesterday, alone, while my wife watched my boy play at a park. Minus a couple of neckbeards in raised trucks sporting Confederate and tRump flags, it was a great experience. Lots of support from drivers as they passed by!
I was surprised at how many older people were there. No offense to anyone over 60 here, but until yesterday it felt like many older folks were fine with shit going down this way. I’m in a blue state, in a purple to blue location. I saw way more tRump shit last year than I had hoped to see.
I plan on making yesterday a regular event!
in my suburb the local stuff was sorta sad because it was mostly old, but granted younger folks are more likely to trek downtown.
That’s interesting, I’m in a red state, purple location, and it was the other way around. The first 2 protests I went to in April (Hands Off and another one), it seemed like over 80% were (myself included) 50+ yo white people. Then yesterday I was happy to see lots more younger people and more ethnic diversity (though still whiter compared to proportion of the population). I saw more couples with their kids there too, and there were twice as many people overall.
I had the same experience. First protest I’ve been to and besides one dude that drove by flipping everyone off and one crazy old dude with a “dems are pedos” sign (yes, with what’s happening in South Carolina literally right now, the irony was lost on this person), a very positive mood all around. Loads of folks driving by, waving and honking horns, some kids in attendance, and everybody getting along very well in support of a common cause.
I’m a firm believer that many in MAGA are under a spell. The only hope we have is helping them identify that brainwashing and welcome them back to humanity once they do. However, as I’ve discussed with my therapist, we can’t force them. They have to want to change. It really starts with pushing them from the hateful rhetoric of Faux News and the like. That propaganda is a powerful funnel for their hate, vitriol, and lies. It’s the hydra that we must slain if we are ever to fix this without more bloodshed.
I’ll see you out there in solidarity with the others who still see humanity as a fighting cause. I bounce between hope and despair, but the bounce on the hope side doesn’t seem to go as high as it used to.
You’re a brave person. If I had a kid and a wife I would have thought twice. Which I’m sure you did. Thank you for your service. I hope you had a nice time with your family after. Feel proud. Be safe. I’d buy you a beer if I wasn’t hundreds of miles away.
I appreciate the sentiment. I joined the Guard out of high school in 2004 to help my community and have a sense of purpose. Yesterday showed me that maybe it wasn’t in vain. I hit a pretty low place this week so seeing some positive affirmations of human commradery was a welcomed sight.
Stay safe and stay hydrated. Much love from the midwest!
Lots of kids joined their parents at the one I was at. These were by design peaceful events. Cops and haters did things at a few, but that was it