Things That Make You Unpopular

I have some firmly held beliefs that have caused me deep sadness because I dare to express them. you can be blackballed for these beliefs. And of course I realize my beliefs are aspirational goals.

I expect the following groups of people to be treated with respect and dignity by their community, leaders, and law enforcement.

• Women
• Children
• Black, brown, red, and white people
• Gays
• Lesbians
• Trans people
• Bisexuals
• Intersex people
• Anyone who loves anyone else or presents as any gender they want to
• Pagans
• Jews
• Liberal Christians
• Muslims
• Any other spiritual path I missed
• Descendants of Pilgrims
• Native Americans
• US Citizens
• Legal Immigrants
• Undocumented immigrants
• People with physical handicaps
• People with mental handicaps
• Those addicted to or who abuse legal or illegal substances
• People who commit crimes
• People who make bad mistakes
• People of all political parties or groups
• Criminals
• Poor people
• Rich people
• Intellectuals
• Feminists
• White supremacists
• Oh, pretty much everybody

I didn’t say I condone or agree with ideas or actions of everyone, but basic human decency means that you can disagree, keep yourself safe, and enforce laws respectfully. I know it can happen. I know it’s never happened 100%, but we’re doing worse now, not better.

It also makes me unpopular to believe that the following people should be allowed to express their thoughts in the USA:

• People who agree with the current US government’s policies and actions
• People who like some things about the current situation and not other things
• People who disagree with or have concerns with how our leaders conduct themselves and the decisions they make
• People who believe what they see with their own eyes
• People who prefer to be told what to believe

This state of affairs should not turn us against each other. Please don’t let us keep falling further and further into us versus them. We all suffer when that happens. Our families, friendships, businesses, and communities suffer. We lose the ability to trust.

Kindness starts with YOU. And me.

I’m despondent tonight over losing a friend. I should not have admitted that I’m afraid of things that are happening in the US. It’s becoming more and more clear that if I want to be safe I should not question what happens, do as I’m told, keep my head down, stay inside, and shut up. Damn, I’ve tried to be a good person.

Hug a person you care about.