This was so dope. The end about forgiveness is critical, but also contingent. If there are MAGA supporters who are disgusted with this and finally see their rotten ideology for what it is and have a change of heart, then they deserve the grace to be allowed to change. And that doesn’t mean the even have to be a committed progressive or socialist—just get back to being team human.
But I am wary of the ones who voted Trump because they thought they’d financially gain from his agenda, and are only changing course because their 401(k)s took a hit or they realized that he is an idiotic steward of the economy. It suggests to me that they would co-sign another fascist presidency, provided they were competent enough to not fuck with the money.
We’re on the same page. I think there are many in the latter camp. Which is why sorry is only a step, an important one for our soul to move to the world, but not one that will make things easier. Meaning it means changing.
I got some family members that really thought he was gonna fix the economy and convinced themselves that Project 2025 was exaggerated by liberal media. I could understand how someone could vote for him in 2016 because there was a plausible enough rationale of him being a wildcard and only saying inflammatory rhetoric because he’s a reality star (I thought he was always blatantly a demagogic conman, but still more understandable.)
But with 2024, we already saw how he governed, and best case scenario, it’s like a typical Republican, which is already bad. And it undercuts his main appeal of not being a typical politician, so I have a much harder time grappling with reasoning with these people when it’s clear they’ll do any kind of mental gymnastics to justify whatever Trump is doing because they perceive him to be an avatar of their self-interest.
I believe in forgiveness and empathy, but a lot of these people strike me as feeling entitled to a moral pass that they don’t deserve. That this is just a normal political disagreement rather than an existential matter of pro-human vs. destructive misanthropy. Think we all just need a hug and some community lol
Right-wing media has done an extremely effective job of turning every major political topic into a versus match that allows them to consolidate cult members easily. Anti-abortion vs. pro-choice, pro-immigration vs. anti-immigration, pro-trans vs. anti-trans – they're all sub-headers. If they can grab you on headline: things like "the economy" or "anti-crime" which are generally quite reasonable topics, then they move radicalise you with the sub-headers without every actually addressing crime or the economy in any reasonable way. I sympathise with those who've fallen victim, my essay isn't about forgiveness all that much. It's about the fact that in order to make a change, those who've been dubed actually have to recognise the depths of their errors.
You know, a close relative of mine voted for Brexit. In the time since, he's become something of an armchair radical, ranting to friends and family about the lying government, the scourge of British imperialism, etc. He's started to veer into "chemtrails" conspiracy theory and I've been trying to course-correct. I've said to him that the British media and politicians convinced him to vote against his own interests and they didn't need chemtrails to do it. But once that dissonance sets in, it's hard to dislodge it. I think we find it difficult to recognise ourselves as participants in the world when we're forced, so often, to be observers. The only time I came close to breaking through was when I gave him permission to admit that he was wrong.
This hit the nail on the head so many times that this could be considered a surgery of multiple lobotomies, but one that brightens your mind instead of crippling you.
On the other hand, I've been debating using cute dividers because I'm afraid that it will seem tone-deaf or clash with the serious matters I sometimes talk about in my essays. But the cute hearts you added here changed my mind. If YOU can break down the biases of colonialism of the most important events from history, how the leaders of that crushed to the ground and repented, and how relevant all of that is in today's world without ruining the tone of the content with red hearts, so can I.
This is incredibly powerful. The connection betwen deathbed confessions and lifelong cowardice is something that probly doesnt get discussed enough. I had a relative who waited until they were sick to apologize for things they did decades ago, and it felt hollow because the damage was already done. Real accountability means making amends when it's still uncomfortable, not when theres nothing left to lose.
Perhaps there is something to be said about how the crushing pace of modern life doesn't allow much reprieve and so people like your relative don't get the time to think about how they might've steamrolled over others until their given the stillness of being sick. But this might be granting them a little too much grace, because the world is full of people who have moved at the same speed and done so without harming others.
Wow...The older I get the more BS I realize I've been brainwashed with. Thank you for bringing me clarity on the many ways we've been lied to. Your post is brilliant!
I loved the breadth and depth of this article. It took me awhile because I kept clicking on the links, and getting more unsettled by what I learned. This was quite an emotional ride. Worried, angry, but just loving the language at the same time: "his admission almost appears like a camel’s hide bunching against slim metal as it tries to squeeze through a needle’s eye." I mean, wow. I loved that. That image alone had me needing a minute. I hope those who can't say sorry, learn to. It's not too late.
This was so dope. The end about forgiveness is critical, but also contingent. If there are MAGA supporters who are disgusted with this and finally see their rotten ideology for what it is and have a change of heart, then they deserve the grace to be allowed to change. And that doesn’t mean the even have to be a committed progressive or socialist—just get back to being team human.
But I am wary of the ones who voted Trump because they thought they’d financially gain from his agenda, and are only changing course because their 401(k)s took a hit or they realized that he is an idiotic steward of the economy. It suggests to me that they would co-sign another fascist presidency, provided they were competent enough to not fuck with the money.
https://thatguyfromtheinternet.substack.com/p/empathy-vs-respect
We’re on the same page. I think there are many in the latter camp. Which is why sorry is only a step, an important one for our soul to move to the world, but not one that will make things easier. Meaning it means changing.
I got some family members that really thought he was gonna fix the economy and convinced themselves that Project 2025 was exaggerated by liberal media. I could understand how someone could vote for him in 2016 because there was a plausible enough rationale of him being a wildcard and only saying inflammatory rhetoric because he’s a reality star (I thought he was always blatantly a demagogic conman, but still more understandable.)
But with 2024, we already saw how he governed, and best case scenario, it’s like a typical Republican, which is already bad. And it undercuts his main appeal of not being a typical politician, so I have a much harder time grappling with reasoning with these people when it’s clear they’ll do any kind of mental gymnastics to justify whatever Trump is doing because they perceive him to be an avatar of their self-interest.
I believe in forgiveness and empathy, but a lot of these people strike me as feeling entitled to a moral pass that they don’t deserve. That this is just a normal political disagreement rather than an existential matter of pro-human vs. destructive misanthropy. Think we all just need a hug and some community lol
Right-wing media has done an extremely effective job of turning every major political topic into a versus match that allows them to consolidate cult members easily. Anti-abortion vs. pro-choice, pro-immigration vs. anti-immigration, pro-trans vs. anti-trans – they're all sub-headers. If they can grab you on headline: things like "the economy" or "anti-crime" which are generally quite reasonable topics, then they move radicalise you with the sub-headers without every actually addressing crime or the economy in any reasonable way. I sympathise with those who've fallen victim, my essay isn't about forgiveness all that much. It's about the fact that in order to make a change, those who've been dubed actually have to recognise the depths of their errors.
You know, a close relative of mine voted for Brexit. In the time since, he's become something of an armchair radical, ranting to friends and family about the lying government, the scourge of British imperialism, etc. He's started to veer into "chemtrails" conspiracy theory and I've been trying to course-correct. I've said to him that the British media and politicians convinced him to vote against his own interests and they didn't need chemtrails to do it. But once that dissonance sets in, it's hard to dislodge it. I think we find it difficult to recognise ourselves as participants in the world when we're forced, so often, to be observers. The only time I came close to breaking through was when I gave him permission to admit that he was wrong.
This hit the nail on the head so many times that this could be considered a surgery of multiple lobotomies, but one that brightens your mind instead of crippling you.
On the other hand, I've been debating using cute dividers because I'm afraid that it will seem tone-deaf or clash with the serious matters I sometimes talk about in my essays. But the cute hearts you added here changed my mind. If YOU can break down the biases of colonialism of the most important events from history, how the leaders of that crushed to the ground and repented, and how relevant all of that is in today's world without ruining the tone of the content with red hearts, so can I.
Thank you and I’m wishing you the best of luck!
This is incredibly powerful. The connection betwen deathbed confessions and lifelong cowardice is something that probly doesnt get discussed enough. I had a relative who waited until they were sick to apologize for things they did decades ago, and it felt hollow because the damage was already done. Real accountability means making amends when it's still uncomfortable, not when theres nothing left to lose.
Perhaps there is something to be said about how the crushing pace of modern life doesn't allow much reprieve and so people like your relative don't get the time to think about how they might've steamrolled over others until their given the stillness of being sick. But this might be granting them a little too much grace, because the world is full of people who have moved at the same speed and done so without harming others.
Brilliant writing as usual!
Been thinking of you, hope you’re well!
Wow...The older I get the more BS I realize I've been brainwashed with. Thank you for bringing me clarity on the many ways we've been lied to. Your post is brilliant!
Thank you for reading!!
This was a brilliant read and super insightful - thanks for writing this!
Ahh Thank you, Zoe!!
"Thought-provoking" is not only a cliche but also a ubiquitous auto-correct. Still. As a CT scan of what actually happens when we read you.
honestly, thank you everytime
Outstanding position paper. +1
A history lesson and a sermon. This was fantastic.
Thanks for taking the time to read and share!
Excellent....simply excellent.
thank you for reading!
Inigo you are just superb man
Urgh appreciate you!!
I loved the breadth and depth of this article. It took me awhile because I kept clicking on the links, and getting more unsettled by what I learned. This was quite an emotional ride. Worried, angry, but just loving the language at the same time: "his admission almost appears like a camel’s hide bunching against slim metal as it tries to squeeze through a needle’s eye." I mean, wow. I loved that. That image alone had me needing a minute. I hope those who can't say sorry, learn to. It's not too late.
Incredible read. You are a very skilled writer.
Ah many thanks, Will
So good!!!!
Thanks Bill!