I have 2 GOP parents, one that voted Trump originally and one that did not. Over the last 9 years, I have watched them both travel down the MAGA pipeline to become visibly fascist. The parents who taught me racism was wrong and to have empathy for others, have become openly hostile about immigrants, Muslims, and even parrot the Nazi “great replacement” theory.
Part and parcel with this, they refuse to have any discussions about the facts – like immigrants not stealing and eating people’s pets. They won’t hear it, they won’t even engage in the conversation…they just get angry and loud the second they hear anything that doesn’t fit into the Fox News narrative. Can you relate? How are you dealing with it in your relationships with your parents?
I’m… lucky?.. that my dad was a shitbag for other reasons. He was already on thin ice prior to 2016. My mom “isn’t interested in politics” but even that’s feeling unforgivable for me nowadays.
My parents have gone from seeing their 2 grandchildren biweekly, to me limiting visits with their 3 grandchildren to 3-4 times a year. Even those times are intentionally with my dad absent, and are only at extended family gatherings.
Fuck. Them. Both.
Yeah, definitely what they call a “mixed blessing” I have a buddy who decided he didn’t need mountains of shit from his dad, and blocked him…and he’s better for it. But it was easier because his dad is the world champion shit flinger…I have the mixed blessing that my dad cares about me and I care about him…but damn near everything else about his personality really hurts. You’ve got my empathy, and I’m proud of you for looking out for your kids and limiting their exposure to that poison.