Dear Mainstream Liberal Friend from My Youth:
A Letter Lamenting the Loss of Connection
I no longer recognize you. The turning point is clear. Ever since November 2016 when Donald Trump won the election, that good friend of mine ceased to exist. You have been infiltrated and there is no getting through to you anymore. You allowed the Democratic establishment mindset to fully take over and you are now more robot than human. It’s been heartbreaking to witness.
You used to respect my point of view. No more. The establishment does not tolerate dissent and independent thought. You used to be fun to hang around with. No more. The establishment does not tolerate free-spirited joy and genuine laughter. Everything becomes an act.
Whenever I was in town, I always checked in to see if you were free for a couple of beers. This last time, I couldn’t bring myself to it. The thought of hanging out now sadly conjured up feelings of dread. No matter what the topic of conversation, you would somehow steer everything to Trump and how he is the cause of all our problems.
I know that if I had come to visit, I would be interrogated like a criminal facing a purity test. No matter how many times I’ve politely explained I am a true independent that does not subscribe to either major party line, you refuse to accept my point of view. Like most Democratic establishment idealogues, you feel complete carte blanche to spit out your version of hate and intolerance and act like it is the default world position to have. Any sort of alternate position is not only unacceptable to have in the establishment, it should not even be allowed to be uttered in public. I kind of now think you would be first in line to turn me into the Thought Police for the crime of nonconformity. Where I once saw a fun, free-spirited guy, now I just see bitterness, intolerance, and the constant rote-like spreading of DNC talking points.
I miss my old friend. I hope someday to be able to hang out with that soul again, but sadly I don’t think that is possible. I don’t want to fully let go, though. I’ll stay in touch, but it will have to be on a surface level only. Although we share the same earth, we are living in different dimensions.
I miss my old friend. I hope someday to be able to hang out with that soul again, but sadly I don’t think that is possible. That good spirit of yours got crushed when you made the fateful decision to fully travel down that dark road of blame, scapegoating, intolerance, and orthodox ideology. Another one bites the dust.
I don’t want to fully let go, though. I’ll stay in touch, but it will have to be on a surface level only. Although we share the same earth, we are living in different dimensions. I know that real conversation is not possible anymore. This is not a unique story, unfortunately. It appears people everywhere are segregating into differing dimensions at warp speed. Still, life goes on.
OMG - This speaks for me! Thank you! SO Many friendships thwarted by this cancel culture - separation, division judgment - no more sense of collaboration and unity. I truly believe however, that this will change with the new times and political changes ahead!