I live in a red rural area, hardly a bubble, so it feels like this comes up all the time. When I'm at the YMCA, Fox news is blaring on the tv's and I overhear people talk about "how all of those illegals need deported and what's the harm if a few innocent people are caught up in the mix.." I find it so hard to be compassionate when people are excited that migrants are sent to the prison in El Salvador without due process. At the Y last week, two men were actually happy as they talked about how Kilmar Abrego Garcia (clearly a terrorist in their opinion) may be raped and tortured at the El Salvador prison. I wasn't sure if I sure turn up the volume on my podcast or try to engage them in conversation.
When pressed about what it may mean for a Hispanic citizen to be accidentally deported, there's often a shrug of the shoulders and "I guess that's the price you pay for safety." This is especially true when it's people at church-- it's so hard for me to not cry and be furious at the same time.
Your point about recognizing how hard and brave it is to admit that one facet of your team may be wrong -- that seems so important and needed. I love that you were able to have a productive conversation with your friend.
I *LOVE* your ending. "Dictators hate that." I've spent most of my life feeling incapable of knowing enough to defend my views in conversations with people who disagree with me when it comes to government and politics. That's something that I guess I just need to start doing in order to get better at it... like dancing to Lady Gaga. It comes full circle! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for writing this.
I live in a red rural area, hardly a bubble, so it feels like this comes up all the time. When I'm at the YMCA, Fox news is blaring on the tv's and I overhear people talk about "how all of those illegals need deported and what's the harm if a few innocent people are caught up in the mix.." I find it so hard to be compassionate when people are excited that migrants are sent to the prison in El Salvador without due process. At the Y last week, two men were actually happy as they talked about how Kilmar Abrego Garcia (clearly a terrorist in their opinion) may be raped and tortured at the El Salvador prison. I wasn't sure if I sure turn up the volume on my podcast or try to engage them in conversation.
When pressed about what it may mean for a Hispanic citizen to be accidentally deported, there's often a shrug of the shoulders and "I guess that's the price you pay for safety." This is especially true when it's people at church-- it's so hard for me to not cry and be furious at the same time.
Your point about recognizing how hard and brave it is to admit that one facet of your team may be wrong -- that seems so important and needed. I love that you were able to have a productive conversation with your friend.
So basic. So commonsensical. So very difficult. So necessary.
I *LOVE* your ending. "Dictators hate that." I've spent most of my life feeling incapable of knowing enough to defend my views in conversations with people who disagree with me when it comes to government and politics. That's something that I guess I just need to start doing in order to get better at it... like dancing to Lady Gaga. It comes full circle! Thanks for sharing.