I have always formed friendships with people who have common interests and politics has never been a factor. I don't forsake them when I fand that some of their views are in radical opposition to mine. They might not remain as close, but I maintain contract and communication even when it is depressing. As a result, I hear honest thoughts…
I have always formed friendships with people who have common interests and politics has never been a factor. I don't forsake them when I fand that some of their views are in radical opposition to mine. They might not remain as close, but I maintain contract and communication even when it is depressing. As a result, I hear honest thoughts of people I know pertaining to other issues beyond the political or worldview, rather than some isolated thoughts they write on the internet. It keeps me out of echo chambers and gives me a lot to consider.
One of those things is that I get to see why they hold beliefs that I don't agree with and would consider them to be nutcases if I didn't know more about them. A common theme is that they live in an echo chamber where I am a turd in their punchbowl that they allow out of friendship.
I am not a mind reader, and I don't view members of racial, national or political tribes to be a monolith. My diverse group of friends reenforces that view strongly.
I should add that some of my MAGA friends are not just friends, they are kin. From a long line of Democrats, the party changed. They moved away from the city of their childhood, St. Louis, which became what Trump would properly call a shithole. In many ways what they see as a redeeming value of Trump falls under "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." The Democratic Party became what lower/middle class white people, even the ones with black children like in my family, now think of as their enemy as far as values go.
They know that the far right is not all that the left says that it is, but they believe that the far left is thanks to its own words. Things that you have mentioned about the right using. Call them racist, fascist, haters enough and Christan as they may be, they'd vote for Satan himself to vote against a Democrat. Along came Trump. They are the twins of the "vote blue no matter who" crowd.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
and
“Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.” -unknown
I have always formed friendships with people who have common interests and politics has never been a factor. I don't forsake them when I fand that some of their views are in radical opposition to mine. They might not remain as close, but I maintain contract and communication even when it is depressing. As a result, I hear honest thoughts of people I know pertaining to other issues beyond the political or worldview, rather than some isolated thoughts they write on the internet. It keeps me out of echo chambers and gives me a lot to consider.
One of those things is that I get to see why they hold beliefs that I don't agree with and would consider them to be nutcases if I didn't know more about them. A common theme is that they live in an echo chamber where I am a turd in their punchbowl that they allow out of friendship.
I am not a mind reader, and I don't view members of racial, national or political tribes to be a monolith. My diverse group of friends reenforces that view strongly.
When it comes to Trump and MAGA, I have to respectfully disagree there. I don't want to hear from them at all.
The smartest Trump supporter I ever spoke with told me that he liked Trump because the world was afraid of America again.
I should add that some of my MAGA friends are not just friends, they are kin. From a long line of Democrats, the party changed. They moved away from the city of their childhood, St. Louis, which became what Trump would properly call a shithole. In many ways what they see as a redeeming value of Trump falls under "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." The Democratic Party became what lower/middle class white people, even the ones with black children like in my family, now think of as their enemy as far as values go.
They know that the far right is not all that the left says that it is, but they believe that the far left is thanks to its own words. Things that you have mentioned about the right using. Call them racist, fascist, haters enough and Christan as they may be, they'd vote for Satan himself to vote against a Democrat. Along came Trump. They are the twins of the "vote blue no matter who" crowd.
Perhaps my military mindset.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
and
“Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.” -unknown