4 ms·

Causes first (US-constrained): economic atomization and precariousness is the first tentpole. I mention that in a sibling comment. The other is that political

Causes first (US-constrained): economic atomization and precariousness is the first tentpole. I mention that in a sibling comment. The other is that political sorting and radicalization have rendered parts of the country unsafe for vulnerable populations to live in; my Massachusetts Republican neighbors might be uncomfortable with Pride flags bracketing their Thin Blue Line house, but they're not in danger of their safety unlike my LGBT friends in the South--or, at current rates, my "anodyne liberal" friends, too. Vulnerable populations or those sensitive to the treatment of vulnerable populations are going to leave if they can. They just are. And that takes a pretty big swing at the personal idea of connecting with people through offline methods, too. Hard to believe in community when yours does that. The former has some solutions, though at this point they feel like really beating that dead horse. UBI, national health care, ways to make being not a white-collar worker less immediately terrifying in much of the country. That can help anchor people if they don't feel like they have to go elsewhere to live at least adequately. The latter--I don't know how you convince people to not be weird about vulnerable and marginalized populations. They're probably going to keep leaving, and while there's some found-family effects from that kind of diaspora, it's not the same thing.

localplume 4y ago
You are part of the problem though? You are engaging into political sorting and assuming that because your neighbors are Republican, that they would be uncomfortable with pride flags. Do you even know if they are Republican? How do you know they are not in danger of their safety? What if they are LGBT and support police? What if they are Jewish and support police? So what if they are Republican and support police and they are uncomfortable around pride flags, but its because of their assumptions. The same assumptions and political sorting you are engaging in. Also assuming vast parts of the country are unsafe because they are mostly Repulican, whereas you would be equally likely to be subject to hate crimes in major cities in blue states no? https://abc7ny.com/hate-crime-lgbtq-new-york-city-pride-month/11958809/ https://abc7ny.com/hate-crime-lgbtq-new-york-city-pride-mont... What is terrifying about being a blue collar worker anyhow? Also I fail to see how UBI nad national healthcare would solve it. What would fix it is less hatred and animosity between groups, and less sorting into groups period. Less apocalyptic rhetoric from all groups. The world isn't ending, its actually doing pretty well for the most part. Being proud to be American. And honestly, people should stop flying a pride flag or a thin blue line flag or any other flag, but the one flag which represents all people in this great country: the flag of the United States of America. That is the only true, completely inclusive flag of this country.
- yamazakiwi 4y ago
  How are the people trying to protect themselves part of the problem? Republicans will often have relatives or friends that are hateful towards minorities (more than half my family). If you could minimize your chance of experiencing less violence or murder, wouldn't you? We're not being apocalyptic, we're being extremely serious. I personally had a close friend murdered for being a feminine gay man and have been told similar stories by friends. The American flag is not a flag of inclusion and represents different things to different people. To you it represents all of us... but it has historically not represented all of us for most of America's existence. It's disheartening that many died to fight for our social freedoms utilizing rainbow flags to represent peace and solidarity and you're saying it's an act of defiance. I personally fly both at my home.

localplume 4y ago

You are part of the problem though? You are engaging into political sorting and assuming that because your neighbors are Republican, that they would be uncomfortable with pride flags. Do you even know if they are Republican? How do you know they are not in danger of their safety? What if they are LGBT and support police? What if they are Jewish and support police? So what if they are Republican and support police and they are uncomfortable around pride flags, but its because of their assumptions. The same assumptions and political sorting you are engaging in. Also assuming vast parts of the country are unsafe because they are mostly Repulican, whereas you would be equally likely to be subject to hate crimes in major cities in blue states no? https://abc7ny.com/hate-crime-lgbtq-new-york-city-pride-month/11958809/ https://abc7ny.com/hate-crime-lgbtq-new-york-city-pride-mont... What is terrifying about being a blue collar worker anyhow? Also I fail to see how UBI nad national healthcare would solve it. What would fix it is less hatred and animosity between groups, and less sorting into groups period. Less apocalyptic rhetoric from all groups. The world isn't ending, its actually doing pretty well for the most part. Being proud to be American. And honestly, people should stop flying a pride flag or a thin blue line flag or any other flag, but the one flag which represents all people in this great country: the flag of the United States of America. That is the only true, completely inclusive flag of this country.

yamazakiwi 4y ago
How are the people trying to protect themselves part of the problem? Republicans will often have relatives or friends that are hateful towards minorities (more than half my family). If you could minimize your chance of experiencing less violence or murder, wouldn't you? We're not being apocalyptic, we're being extremely serious. I personally had a close friend murdered for being a feminine gay man and have been told similar stories by friends. The American flag is not a flag of inclusion and represents different things to different people. To you it represents all of us... but it has historically not represented all of us for most of America's existence. It's disheartening that many died to fight for our social freedoms utilizing rainbow flags to represent peace and solidarity and you're saying it's an act of defiance. I personally fly both at my home.