Imagine Deciding A Democrat Is The Worst Someone Can Be

Seen recently on social media and felt to my core: “If my political party suddenly attracted racists, Nazis, and bigots, I would be checking my values.” Here’s the thing. I see this as an issue within entire religious sects, and within far too many church congregations. Both in attracting racist bigots, and clergy actively espousing hatred and intolerance across the spectrum of diversity.

I also unfortunately see it as an uncomfortable issue within my very neighborhood where I walk my dog every morning, wondering how otherwise friendly people—lots of folks wave and will even speak from their vehicles in this semi-rural village in southern New Mexico—can justify what is happening in our nation. To actual humans. Brutally violent scenes that would be too graphic and horrific for most movie goers. Would they care if it were one of their neighbors executed by federal agents?

Days after Renee Nicole Good’s murder by ICE in Minneapolis, a neighbor I hadn’t met or previously spoken to other than saying good morning twice, whereupon she never smiled and barely murmured a reply (which might have been my first clue), had this to say after I commented on how I’d be freezing if wearing cropped leggings and flipflops like she was:

“I’m from Colorado,” she tossed out, her tone airily arrogant.

“Oh,” I laughed, still being friendly. “I was thinking maybe Minnesota.” I said this only because I had personally lived—and experienced extreme cold—there.

She look back over her shoulder to vehemently reply, “I’m not a Democrat.”

Is your mouth hanging open? Mine was. How appalling, disgustingly inappropriate, and flat out unnecessary because, how on earth is that relevant to an exchange about cold weather wear? Does she actually think everyone in Minnesota is a Democrat? Or everyone in Colorado isn’t? Her statement was also very telling on myriad levels.

This woman clearly didn’t realize—or care—who she was speaking to. It didn’t matter to her which side I might fall on. Perhaps she blithely assumed because she lives in the same state, county, and neighborhood as me that we all must share her bigotry, ignorance, and vile outlook on humanity? That we all must be equally devoid of basic human decency and adamantly express our pride in that?

Also, here’s a conclusion I came to quite justifiably after living in this region eight months now. Odds were high this woman also claims to be a pious, nonjudgmental Christian in addition to considering herself a patriotic American.

Ironically, the other neighbor walking her dog alongside me does identify as both, and is likely not a Democrat despite otherwise seeming a decent human being. So if you’re wondering if I responded to the bigoted buffoon preening about wearing flipflops in 32 degree temps with an added wind chill factor, I did not.

First, it was painfully awkward to have the woman with me pretend as if she didn’t hear her, while I’m sure my face registered surprise and bewilderment. Second, flipflop woman didn’t deserve to be dignified with a response. And third, what could I possibly have said that would break through years of hate she’d clearly cultivated and continued to espouse?

What could I have said that would resonate with the woman next to me? Was she secretly bothered that someone on “her side” could be so godawful and gleeful about it?

I also suspected there was malignant defensiveness in crazy Coloradan’s utterance that was meant to be defiant, but seemed as if there might just be some guilt buried down deep where her conscious once resided. Because it was evident she was aware of what happened in Minneapolis, or she wouldn’t have responded to me about my mentioning Minnesota the way she did.

It would appear that she chooses to ignore reality by deciding that as bad as her celebrating-murder side might be, the other side just has be the true evil entity in order for might to make right. Otherwise she’d have to face what she has become, and what she now supports with relish because she is not a Democrat.

Like the entire Republican Party, because there is only one GOP and it’s been taken over by MAGA. Which is why there’s one phrase I’d like to never hear again about Republicans, hypocritical Christians, law enforcement personnel, male misogynists, etc., and that’s the disingenuous retort, But not all of them!

That kneejerk argument is as tiresome, worthless, and ridiculous these days as the “both sides” crap that pervades far too much of American life—and mainstream media. Both sides are not supporting fascism and utter human depravity. Both sides do not worship guns over actual human life while claiming to follow a peaceful deity. Both sides do not hate anyone who isn’t white, Christian, or uneducated. Both sides are not willing to destroy democracy and their own livelihoods just so they can “own the libtards.”

Bottom line:  While these Republicans, these MAGA cult members, are demonstrating by their words and actions that they hate immigrants more than they abhor pedophiles, who is it they truly detest and vilify the most? Who is the worst possible person one can be in their estimation?

Democrats. Liberals. Progressives. Independents. Woke folks.  Literally anyone who challenges their self-serving, delusional notion that they are justified in their horrific stance, in supporting the pointblank murder of American citizens by federal thugs because immigrants are criminals. This while their revered leader is the actual convicted felon and sexual abuser of children and women.

It must be a tough burden to bear. All that hate festering inside. Especially for white females who think being from Colorado make them invincible in cold weather, and that not being a Democrat is something to announce to strangers who are merely your neighbors being friendly, for fuck’s sake.

I have since seen this twit once again, and she unfortunately had a dog with her. I would not have greeted her or even acknowledged her this time—realizing years ago that it’s futile to engage MAGA and Nazi lunatics. But yet another neighbor was walking with me. Having lived here for decades, he politely engaged her in conversation about her dog and introduced me and my dog to her, though I was standing yards away holding tight to the leash, not wanting my precious pup anywhere near a dipshit hate monger who was so damned proud of her perfidy in supporting lies and violent tyranny.

The woman was all smarmy smiles when glancing in my direction, but kind of squirrely. I suspect that if she had a shred of decency or conscience left, she might have been a tad uncomfortable about previously blurting out to me, an unknown entity, how she was not a Democrat.

I managed a half-smile at her glossed-over uneasiness, and kept my distance, although her sweet dog was adorable and elderly.  After all, though she has no clue, I’m her worst nightmare, the most awful thing she supposedly can imagine.

A Democrat. A decent human being who cares about senseless tragedy and  opposes terrorizing traitors.  A Humanist living blocks away from her in a red county of a blue state. Where we are not all alike, and both sides most definitely are not the same. To begin with, I have the sense (and humility) to dress warmly for frigid weather, and the humanity to actually be appalled that people are being publicly executed in Minneapolis by violent thugs doing a fascist regime’s bidding.

Imagine that. Caring about someone other than myself makes me the worst human on the planet when they are the ones who would have told the Nazis where Anne Frank was hiding.

Also seen recently on social media: I miss when I didn’t know there were so many terrible people hiding in plain sight. And, the people not bothered by this are the ones who terrify me the most.