“Make America Great Again!” …Because Reality Is A Difficult Slogan

I would say “Not to get too political”, but it’s totally political. I’ve been seriously depressed and disappointed with some of the posts I’ve seen liked or shared by friends and family lately.

The kind of people in your life you would really like to think you could trust.

The world has always been terrible, and always will be. However, certain political climates really bring out a frightening side of people.

The same attitude that denies people based on their religion or lifestyle, or shouts logistics over human empathy — it’s the same attitude that would deny you of your own religious freedom, that keeps veterans and the disabled on the street, that empowers the kind of people who commit mass shootings to go and do what they do. If you’re going to promote this kind of attitude, the least you can do is admit that your stance is based on your own power and control, and you’re terrified that someone else would treat you with your own medicine if they had half a chance.

Like rape and many other forms of violence, most of the destruction that happens in our country comes from people we already know and trust as an institution.

Tell me, which period of time would you like to return to when America was great? Which historical atrocity are you referring to? That time we infiltrated existing nations and wiped them out to start our own country? That time when slavery was upheld by the bible? That time when we rounded up and put people in camps based purely on their ethnicity? That time when women couldn’t own property or a business without a husband? That time when women couldn’t vote? The multiple times certain relationships were illegal for anyone who wasn’t white, straight, cis-gender, and Christian? Our history isn’t all that great, folks.

When your life’s oppression is that you aren’t allowed to control the personal lives of others, that is the mindset that slaughters. And, I say this with no exaggeration.

I am tired. I am tired of ignorance. I am tired of listening to roundabout arguments that all come down to these basic points. I am tired of looking at perverted political memes with bullshit facts. I am tired every time I realize that there is nothing I can do about this. I am tired when I know that the only people who would even finish reading this are people who already agree with me. I am tired that saying any of this will mean nothing and make no difference in the world.

I am apathetic towards politics as I cannot make change through the system set in place, because it is designed to make sure that my voice is drowned out in a sea of “Make America great again!” echoing through large hallways.

The quiet voice of reason cannot be heard over the angry shouts of violence. That is the time-proven power of fear, of propaganda, of groupthink. Politicians know this and they will use it fiercely without a second thought.

Reality is a difficult slogan, because things are never as black and white as you want them to be. There are no real answers. Situations are much more complicated than any generalization that you could make. In order to find plausible solutions you have to be ready to question why, and who really benefits from certain messaging. Everyone will say they are entertaining equality and safety, but typically, people are simply protecting themselves from anyone that is different.

So — I have committed the greatest atrocity in this matter by disengaging, which means the powers that be have won. I have given up.