Another bit of writing from Twitter, regarding the failed - arguably, ongoing - coup attempt today.
Here's the start of the thread on Twitter if you prefer that. This version is slightly edited/improved, because this version isn't actually on Twitter, and I can.
Here's the other thing.
If you have MAGA family?
You need to find a way to get through to them now.
It won't be easy. It may well be impossible. But you're the only ones who have any chance of doing it, because family. Nobody else can.
Sorry. It's just a fact.
I wrote something like this a couple of decades ago, talking to LGBT people with anti-gay family. I lost friends over it. It sucked. But epistemic closure says I was right.
One of the few things that _might_ break though that is family ties. _Might._
I'm saying this again because we have a fascist insurrection now. Today isn't the beginning or the end, but it most certainly _is_ an insurrection.
They don't accept elections they don't win.
That's not a republic.
_You_, and other non-MAGA family of MAGAs, _because_ you're family, just might be able to break them out of it. Pull them away.
Weaken the fascist movement.
We won't get them all. Sorry for that, too. Gods know, I've tried.
But we don't have to.
We just have to get _enough_ to stand down. To step away from the fantasy. To step back from active support.
It worked for queers. Trust me, I was there. It sucked, it didn't work every time, or even most of the time. But it worked... _enough_.
And that's what we need, _now_.
I've seen a column going around about quietly pulling away from MAGA family and friends. I understand, and empathise. And at one point, it was probably the right idea - though the _quietly_ part was never right. If you're going to do that, you need to say why.
And now, it's _definitely_ the wrong idea.
We need sane people with MAGA family to pull some of those fuckers back off the line. And we need it now.
Sorry. It'll suck, and probably won't work - but it might.
And yet, no matter how much it sucks, _someone_ has to break through the disinformation wall.
It can't be strangers; we just make it worse.
It can't even just be someone they know. It has to be someone with a real emotional connection.
It has to be family.
It has to be you.
Like I said...
Good luck.
We should win.
But it'll suck.
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