Aren’t You Tired of Hating Trump Supporters?
Everyone’s a little bit racist 🎶
A few weeks ago, I called my grandmother to wish her a happy birthday. I could sense something was very wrong when she answered the phone. She tersely thanked me for the birthday wishes, and quickly changed the subject. The rest of the call didn’t last more than a few minutes; it ended after she told me that she never wanted to speak to me or my spouse again.
I grew up in an abusive family, and familial estrangement has been a common theme throughout my life. Even still, I was shocked by this development — even in my profoundly dysfunctional and perennially cruel family, I never would’ve imagined that a grandmother, in almost any situation, would permanently cut off communications with her own grandchild.
What changed? I call my grandmother regularly; I traveled across the country to visit her earlier this year; I routinely tell her how much I love and appreciate her; I make a real effort to foster a rich relationship with her, because she’s my grandma!
Turns out, my grandma had been seething for a week and a half prior to that call, after reading an article I wrote called “I Don’t Want to Hear ‘There Were Very Fine People on Both Sides.’” I wrote it the day after the presidential debate, when I was frustrated to hear Vice President…
