Uncle J
Member
Very well put. Throughout US history, every civil rights gain has been followed by a conservative backlash. We're certainly in the midst of one now.I think there is truth to both. I think the GOP started down this path back in the 90's with Newt. By the time Obama was elected, the outraged right presented themselves as a tea party. Trump was the direct result of the USA electing a black man to serve as President for two full terms. Before many might have held their tongue or fumed in private, but Tump took it to another level, and made it acceptable for others to act in like manner. If Obama hand't been elected as President in 2008, I suspect Americans would have never voted for Trump in 2016; but he was their anti Obama hero, chorus leader of the birtherism crap.
Exactly! No matter what I do to try and maintain the friendship (avoid politics completely, ignore the hate and anger, stay positive and change the subject) it doesn't work. It's become an obsession and I'm starting to resign myself to the conclusion that there's nothing I can do about it. I'm watching some of my friends slide into a dark place of anger and hate, and seeing seriously affect their lives in so many ways....and I'm helpless to stop it.Uncle J, I have read your other posts where you have mentioned the strained friendships when it comes to the political climate. I have a friend who is the same way, just can't seem to discuss even the simplest of political issue anymore without him becoming agitated and angry, and can tell you, his attitude began changing after Obama was elected, it got much worse after Trump was elected. It's nearly impossible when they think the election was stolen.
I'm now to the point where I mostly avoid them, which I fear will eventually cause us to drift away from each other and I'll have lost what were some good friends. And it's not just me who sees this. Others in our friends group are just as dismayed as I am.