I had conversation with a man in his 50's randomly. I've chatted with him a couple of times before, and he's a kind man. He stopped me to chat about Trump, and politics at large. I was on my way to get some work done, and didn't want to chat. I folded, and discussed some ideas.
He assumed that I was a liberal, but that's common being in the North Shore. These definitions mean different things to different people. If you've followed my work (written, and drawn) then you know what I'm about. I could be considered a classical liberal, but that seems to me a term conservatives adopted so they don't get called bad names. So, I don't like using the term, because I find it pandering. Pandering is weak, and it isn't about being open or hospital. Being weak is not virtuous; I prefer having conviction, but allowing for a change of mind.
He talked about how the Republicans are white, racist, old guys who are afraid of their own death. Yes, he's a liberal. His party is the one of love, and he loves those hateful old white pieces of garbage to death. He loves them so much he's happy that they will one day die, and the next better/kinder generation will need them to pull the plug.
This use of language was pulled from his sentiments and expressions of speech. Now, this doesn't mean that what I first said about him is not true. He appears to be a kind man, but I only write on this to indicate the blind spots we all have, including yours truly.
My last comic triggered two of my lady friends. One was younger, and one was older. The older lady was very respectful, and I was open to her questioning me for portraying the red hat. She's very openminded, but thought my premise was flawed based upon the collectivist movement of MAGA. I don't disagree with her sentiment. I'm not really a joiner, and always opt to remove myself from collectives.
The younger one was insulting, and ignorant. She's kind, intelligent, and open as well. She hasn't had enough life experience or read enough to understand the issues at hand. I deeply connect with her, because I also was a vegan communist once. My change came from reading, and life experience outside of the institutions. We went back and forth, and ended on a good note. I thanked her for expressing her views, and I meant it. I'm glad we were able to understand each other, and I hope I taught her about things she hasn't ever seen.
I'm biased. I'm biased towards the left. I was raised by the left as a child through public school, and art school, but I was a child then. Life taught me about how often the left was wrong, and it forced me into adulthood. Now, this isn't to say that there are no positive elements one could pull from the left. If there is a rationale from breaking away from some binary, it's that nobody can be grouped like this. We cannot be grouped into two intellectual teams that are at odds.
We all end up hating the boogeyman, and this boogeyman for some wears the dreaded red hat. Or sometimes the boogeyman talks about taking most of your money for the state, and then drives a red sports car. Red. Man, it's like we're all bulls in a rodeo.