A Gray Area

It’s far too easy to paint others in categories of “good” or “bad.” Our brains like to compartmentalize, label, and make sense of the world, but I have never met anyone 100% evil and I have never met anyone 100% perfect. Humans are more complex than that. We all have the capacity for both, and often simultaneously. I know I’ve been seen as a villain and at other times a saint, but I am neither.

With that said, I know a few Trump-supporters. Many that I was unaware of seemed to come out of the woodwork with the Charlie Kirk assassination. These are people I know from childhood or college or work. These are people who have generally been kind to me and my family. Some of these people currently work with children in schools and seem to have caring qualities, but it’s quite confusing to hold both notions in my head. The person who helped Penny improve her writing or the person who used to smile at me in the hallway years ago may be supporting hatred and ignorance. I can’t wrap my brain around it.

I hear cheers for Hitler and calls for the resurgence of gas chambers. Source

I hear about 500 tons of food meant for starving people in third-world countries being destroyed. Source

I hear about detaining helpless children in “concentration camp”-like facilities, tearing families apart, and deporting people to countries they’re not even from. Source

I hear about the gutting of the Department of Education and actively taking away support for children with special needs. Source

I hear dangerous misinformation about vaccines and medicine spouted from unqualified people, going against trained doctors and scientists. Source

I hear blatant racism, sexism, and homophobia shrouded in the disguise of “Christianity.” Source

Surely 40% of Americans (the current percentage of Americans who approve of this administration according to The Economist and Gallup) don’t actually support this, do they? Are there decent people who are just stuck on the idea that they are “conservative,” “Republican,” or “Right-wing” to the point that they’ve lost perspective? Is it more important to belong to your chosen group than to question whether or not it matches your true values? The idea of belonging has a powerful pull. We are social creatures. We all want acceptance and love. Does wearing that red MAGA hat scratch that itch? It gives you a group; and a powerful one at that. I don’t know. Maybe I’m totally off-base here, but I have a hard time believing that 40% of us are just full of hatred. Am I wrong? Am I too naive?

Personally, I find the current president and his cronies to be an embarrassment to this country: the late-night incoherent tweets, the rambling speeches of obvious lies, the attempt to silence anyone who opposes them, the policies and decisions that put people’s lives at risk, the sickening amount of evidence of breaking the law. It’s absurd.

But here’s what gives me hope- I know people who have switched sides. I know people who voted for Trump’s first term that didn’t vote for a second. There are well-known Republicans who openly oppose Trump. There are people who have lost their jobs or been negatively affected by these policies who are jumping ship. Not all, but some people are waking up, and that takes courage, self-examination, and admitting you made a mistake. That takes strength. Change is hard and I hope, rather than saying “I told you so!”- we can say, “thank you for questioning, thank you for looking within, thank you for risking your belonging!” The MAGA movement has many qualities that appear very cult-like to me, and overcoming brainwashing is a difficult task. I just hope that those caught up in extremism of any kind can get their wake-up call. 

Inclusion, kindness, equality, taking care of eachother- all those “liberal” ideas- they are the opposite of extreme. I feel confident I’m on the right-side of history, but I suppose those on the Right feel confident they are also correct. I guess my challenge would be: if your side promotes Nazis, violence, racism, bigotry, authoritarianism and fascism….you may want to do some reflection.

And maybe read a history book. 

***For those who end up reading this and disagree with my views, I am open to respectful dialogue. I am curious about your thoughts. However, I am not open to spreading misinformation or hatred so if that’s the goal, I won’t engage.