and then there's Facebook

[zephre]

Ok, so remember what I said about dealing with the fact that people will disagree with me on things, but I should post anyway

Comments

[puckling]

I've been trying to sort this out in my head to explain exactly why I was like, wtf, why are people being assholes and I came up with this analogy for myself: "It's as if an Amish separatist terrorist group* blew something up and now people are getting upset that the Catholics are building a church near there AND THE TWO GROUPS HAVE ALMOST NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER WHAAAAA?"

But aaaaaaargh. How can we create a community of tolerance and love?

Basically I have no fucking clue.

*Not that such group exists, or would frankly, probably ever exist, but I was trying to put it into a religious framework that I am more familiar with

[zephre]

Thanks for posting. I'm going to keep working, this just hit me in a particularly bad place.

[cabbitattack]

"Also, I hate to break it to you (not), but the folks who are building and would be using this community center are American citizens. THIS is their country."

I wanted so badly to respond to her with something along those lines, but I wasn't sure whether she was being facetious or not.

[zephre]

Mm, I doubt she was. But in any case, thanks for your support.

[iulia_linnea]

Nancy needed to be called on her shit, and your response was far from crazed. I imagine that my own response would not have been as measured, and I need to work on that because allowing the spewing of unthinking fear and hatred to go unchecked certainly won't contribute to a community of tolerance and love any more than engaging people like Nancy in anger will. I think you did well; perhaps you'll be able to speak to Nancy at length about this issue and persuade her to actually consider why she's saying such things.

[zephre]

Somehow I doubt it, but it's nice to hope that perhaps people can be reasoned with. I'll certainly keep trying.

[jenstclair]

I don't know either, but if you find out, please let me know.

[zephre]

Will do. I will keep trying to find out, too.

[elialshadowpine]

Oh lord, I wonder that myself so much. I think... you do what you can, with the people around you. You make tiny changes. And they ripple outward. It just... takes time, and there's still going to be people who prefer hatred to tolerance and understanding. It's sad, that people would want to live their lives in hate and fear, but... :(

[zephre]

Thanks for posting. Most days I can remember that, but sometimes I hit bottom hard. :)