April’s Atomic Admission

It may just be the local elections or Corey Booker’s 25 protest, but I felt compelled to share this story. It is hard to look across the isle until you look through it yourself.

“I’m voting for him K-“ The words dropped in my stomach as she said it so casually. My best friend of over ten years just confirmed she was voting for a Nazi. I don’t think I can forget the gut drop.

Thinking back on it I still remember the feeling of betrayal and fear that surged through my body. I have now forgave her enough to forgive myself, then forgive her ten times that. She is a brand new mother who’s husband owns his own business. Kamala would have done wonders for her and her family. We both agreed to voted for Biden when he ran against Trump, but this time it was different. I didn’t stop being friends with her the day she said it. I can’t tell you if it was from nerves, respect, or fear. She couldn’t agree with me in a private voting booth, so I knew she wouldn’t do it in public. I waited to see if he would win. I thought if he lost and she saw how amazing life was with Kamala then, she’d just be wrong. We could still be friends if she was just wrong this time and it didn’t put a Nazi in charge.

She was wrong and a Nazi is in charge, so she couldn’t be my friend. Two things can exist at the same time, but not three. She agreed with him more than the other candidate and he went against everything I agreed with morally. I knew if he won then I’d need to fight against the craziness that would follow it. If she voted for him then she would rat me out to him. This was and is my justification and the damage is done, I knew I couldn’t go back. I still don’t mind it, or regret it terribly. In reference to craziness, according to her parents, politics are a “single people problem”. I do hope everyone reading this is single for this next section.

I don’t think this one experience should make a former MAGA lover afraid to reach out. You may read that and see it as hypocritical but there is a big difference in proximity. A previous Trump voter who wants change is more likely to stand up for someone like me, but my best friend of 10 years couldn’t at the poll booth. A regretful former Trumper can meet me halfway on defending the lives of others against an overreaching government. Ironically I thought the Republican party cared about that. This is where the line between forgiveness and forgetting comes into play. We can forgive but not forget and move with caution.

While my non-profits grow and we gain new members. This is something I, and others will have to actively keep in mind. This administration will make those who voted for them believe everyone is out to get them. Many groups have security measures to protect new members and slowly vets to keep everyone safe. We have to be open to people who made mistakes and can at least now encourage change now. I advise to continue with caution but also be open to good actors who were fooled. Please continue to try and build up your communities in the safest ways possible.