Do you dislike all Americans because of their President?

A very similar post was up for a short time yesterday before being removed for reasons only known to the poster. However, the deletion meant that some very positive comments disappeared along with an interesting sub-thread with views about why Trump was considered the lesser of two evils to some voters. I am giving a chance to those who responded to re-post or for new contributions.

Here's my answer:

No. I know of many fine Americans who have morals and integrity and who are suffering a great deal of angst an the moment as they see what's happening.

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SatanBurger · 36-40, F

Well see here's the thing that I have issues with. In Poland there's no gay zones where gay people have to navigate around or risk being killed. I watched a documentary once and there's secret maps for LGBT people to safely navigate so they don't get killed.

But see, if Poland wasn't like this in the majority then there would be no .. no gay zones this is the issue. So is the entire population to blame? I mean no there's persecuted minorities who didn't ask to be apart of anything but at the same time, if it gets to that point, you kind of have to wonder about the character of the majority and where does judgement for them end and begin.

You see that's my issue kinda.

It's kinda of a weird example but I am just wondering about how I'm not supposed to judge people by their actions collectively. So weird example I know but often times I see a president that is anti gay and anti gay is the majority and if that's the majority then I can't say I can't judge them. You get it?

Not trying to start anything either, it's just a legitimate question.

NerdyPotato · M

@SatanBurger that's a fair point. The ones that could vote but didn't are equally responsible for the result. (Of course there was a lot of voter suppression too, so I can't blame all non-voters, but there were a lot of guilty bystanders too.)

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@NerdyPotato @SatanBurger Excellent questions and I fully sympathise with the question of guilty bystanders.

My position is that I dislike intensely the easy demonisation of whole groups, even when it seems a majority have transgressed. Nevertheless, where an ideology is fundamentally at odds with what I would consider basic morality and humanity, I find the adherents to that ideology more easy to condemn. Even then, I want to understand how much agency they had in choosing the path they are on before coming down hard on individuals. That is why I prefer to hear from people on here who hold to what I consider really unpleasant positions to understand if they are lost in their unpleasant lives, or could be open to thinking new thoughts.

Edited to correct grammar

ffony · M

@SatanBurger But what if you're not supposed to not suppose that? In Poland for instance 🙄

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@ffony Poland's anti gay stances are widely known. Mainly because of a large Catholic uber conservative group that lobbies for stuff like that.

ffony · M

@NerdyPotato Re non-voters: You can't blame anyone for things done by others. Not if you want to sound rational, that is.

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NerdyPotato · M

@ffony I can't blame non-voters for others voting him in. I can blame them for not putting in minimal effort to stop the Nazi voters from becoming a majority though.

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ffony · M

@NerdyPotato I fully understand that a country's government and law makers can fail to represent the wishes of all - and sometimes most - of its people. I also understand that you're trying to insult me. Nice try.

ffony · M

@NerdyPotato We can all assign blame without rational justification for doing so - no problem there 😅.

NerdyPotato · M

@ffony that's certainly possible, but that's not the case here. People voted for hateful plans, and the GOP is doing quite well fulfilling their promises.

Anyway, I think it's clear that I dislike people who want tens of millions of fellow citizens gone and your refusal to denounce those ideals makes it clear you're at least okay with them, if not in support of them too. I don't think there's anything more to add. Have a nice day!

NerdyPotato · M

@ffony

without rational justification

Thanks for the confirmation of my assumptions about you👍

ffony · M

@NerdyPotato You're way off base and out of your tree.

NerdyPotato · M

Aww, looks like he blocked me. The truth hurts apparently.