It’s not easy being a Democrat in a Republican state. Especially now. Some of the Republicans, who have attached themselves to the Trump train even though he is a regular citizen now, they just can’t let go.
I knew it would take a bit of time to pass to get back to normal again. I’m waiting. I’m hoping. But, just within the last 24 hours this has been what I have seen:
- A pop up Trump retail shop is set up along the main drag where I live. There is a guy there selling Trump flags, “Don’t Tread On Me Flags,” MAGA hats, t-shirts, and other merchandise that supports the ex-president. Part of me admires the guy’s “capitalism” and getting every last cent he can out of the Trump name. Part of me worries like crazy that his supporters who put out the money for this stuff, and who donate to his campaign PAC, and continue to follow him on his new media outlets, just won’t ever give up on him. He is there idol.
I saw a boat docked yesterday while I was dining along the Murrells Inlet waterway that had a Trump 2024 flag flying from it. I told my hubby and sis-in-law as I was dining with them that it spoiled my view. The Murrells Inlet area along the water and the marshes is such a beautiful spot of nature. Ruined by a flag about a man who cares little about taking care of Mother Earth.
Then this morning, I saw online through Facebook, that our town’s VFW was holding a fundraiser and the two prizes for the raffle were guns! One a Glock. Sometimes when I see stuff on Facebook I scan on by. But, I didn’t this time. I commented that I felt it was disheartening that guns were chosen as prizes, especially with the current divide in the country, and with the recent mass shootings and other gun incidents in the news. Well…. yep, you know. I got immediate responses. I will say I did get some ‘thumbs up’ to my comment, but every single person (and there were quite a few) who wrote to me wanted to bash me. I was called a Karen, and I was told to relax and not wet my pants over this, and of course I heard ‘guns are not the problem. People are the problem,’ I was called stupid – and I had a couple of men say they would buy raffle tickets in my name. I did my best to respectfully answer back my feelings about the need in America to stop glorifying guns and to think about ways to make them safer. I suggested thumb identification. One guy asked me what that was. I again respectfully responded, how they are used by most of us now with our cellphones – certainly technology that could be applied to guns.
As I type this I am still getting comments… and they will probably continue for awhile.
It is very difficult these days to be in a minority. I’m talking blue vs. red. But, think about so many other kinds… racial, financial, societal. Somebody seems ready to pounce. There is little acceptance to having another point of view, even when giving reasons behind the view. People are stubborn. People seem to like to take sides – to yell. They want to one-up you.
I have read online that some are thinking of moving from their towns, or from their states, because the division is so bad. They don’t want their children raised around those with opposing political views. It has gotten to that.
For now I will be a blue person in a red state. I love where I live, even with so many around me with opposing ideas and beliefs. I’m not going to run away. And, I’m not going stay quiet.
Marla’s Musings 