OFF FACEBOOK UNTIL JANUARY 1.
I've had it. If I cannot post to my FB story a beautiful photograph of Joe Biden visiting his son's grave without someone using a laugh emoji and then accusing me of being a horrible mother who "worships a hair-sniffing pervert," then I think people are dealing with some serious, unbridled hate and need a serious, fuc*ing therapist.
The first few months after Donald Trump's election I behaved badly, I really did. I unfriended people, said some hurtful things to family members and so on. But ever since then I have treated those with opposing views with complete respect. I measure all of my words on FB so carefully that half the time I can't remember what I was trying to say to begin with. Even my elation yesterday was carefully worded so as to avoid offending people I care about — but the snark and biting remarks came anyway.
Never mind the fact that during the past four years I have consistently posted positive or thought-provoking updates about the President despite my personal dislike of him, such as his support for special education, his prison to work bills, his focus on reducing the cost of pharmaceuticals and more. I posted that it was morally wrong to rejoice in Rush Limbaugh's advanced cancer and shared the same message about the President’s COVID-19 diagnosis. I can honestly say I have not seen anyone else do the same across the fence or even on my side of the fence. My parents taught me that fair is fair, and I also believed — quite naively — that since I have 2,900+ FB contacts this might do some good to bridge the gap between those on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Instead, it opened me up to harsh criticism and the unpleasant task of refereeing food fights between Republicans and Democrats on my page.
Over the past five months I have busted my ass registering voters, helping people with election questions and making it easier for ALL eligible U.S. citizens to vote. To this I was asked by an extreme conservative if I'm registering illegal voters. Really? Instead of pointing out his jaw-dropping insult to my character, my response was "gosh, no, that would be impossible,” while I bit back more colorful responses.
Roughly six weeks ago I must have registered 30 Trump supporters at a voter registration event; I know this because they kept asking for Trump buttons and saying “Trump 2020!” after completing their registration forms. I smiled and told them to remember to vote. I also helped conservative Republican friends with voter information like how to handle absentee ballots for their college students, how to assist elderly parents with ballots at the NRG drop box, where they can vote if they're registered in another county and the freaking list goes on forever. And ever. And ever. Never ONCE did I make a disparaging remark because that is not who I am. I believe, and will always believe, that every eligible U.S. citizen has the right to vote.
Meanwhile, I spent countless hours in recent weeks dealing with voter suppression-related law suits and trying to figure out how to present the facts in media interviews without appearing partisan. But ya know what? It wasn't Democrats filing those last minute law suits trying to invalidate 127,000 legally cast ballots in Harris County or shutting down previously approved voting options. And ya know what else? Absentee ballots have been around since the Civil War and only this year are there newfound issues with voter fraud and election stealing. I honestly don't care if the President demands recounts or sues the whole world, he can do whatever he wants. I was prepared on Tuesday night to accept a Biden/Harris loss and was going to do so gracefully.
Yet here we are. Come at me with hate, come at me with judgement, come at me with no attempt to read, learn, share, discuss or understand. Make it easy for me to block your ass fast enough to make your head spin, which you probably would prefer since I'm one of those terrible people who worships a hair-sniffing pervert. Yes, I'm of the ilk who likes to riot, loot and shatter glass, I like to cheat and steal elections -- sure, that's all of us Dems -- and I'm going to throw our country into an unbearable, godless disaster all because I dislike a man I believe is divisive.
Yes, this is a "melt-down manifesto" after four years of being as kind, respectful and tolerant as I can be. Stick a fork in me, I'm done. This is my last post until after the holidays since I do not want to spend another night, in fact not another moment, being this hurt. Not another second in tears. If you need me, PM me. If you want to give me shit, save it for someone else. By January I’ll have created FB lists or removed half of my “friend” list altogether.
And one more thing: to any of you who have such hate in your hearts that you cannot bear to see a man visit his son's grave after being elected president without hurling insulting emojis and offensive comments -- unfriend me now. We will never connect on a level that matters, and I honestly don't need you in my life.
Hasta la vista.
PS: To the now-blocked woman who insinuated that my parenting is sub-par due to my politics, let it be known that our kids have grown up to be pretty freaking awesome. So yeah, bite me.
