deep thoughts for a Monday morning

[orangerful]

Very interesting read from the Harvard Business Review - What So Many People Don't Get about the U.S. Working Class?

Biggest issue is they forgot to say WHITE working class right upfront but otherwise, I found this fascinating and a way to try to understand what was going on in their minds. I don't agree with their decision to support Trump, but the first steps to fixing any problem is understanding both sides, right?

And, of course, these are not the only people that voted for Trump, but this is the group getting the bulk of the blame.

Decent comments too! I mean, some people are just angry, but others have good points about the article, other issues, and where they disagree but still relatively civil!

I've added a safety pin to my work lanyard as a silent protest and a nod to anyone who feels unsafe in these times.

Comments

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Whoa, yes, that is it! I think we want to believe what is best and it is easier to blame class (because money talks) than race/sex issues (because IT IS 2016 HOW?!?!?) but that is the reality. And that is what was so upsetting because we had somehow convinced ourselves, even after everything we have seen this past year with the police officers and Black Lives Matter and beyond, that that was a fringe element.

And it is not.

And I am dreading our Christmas in Wisconsin now. I honestly don't know if I will be able to be civil anymore with my in-laws. You will probably see MANY posts on LJ from me as I bite my tongue to keep from ruining the holiday with a full on meltdown.

[rhoda-rants.livejournal.com]

I've been reading this to keep in my back pocket for Thanksgiving this year. And driving myself instead of piling in with my mom and stepdad so I can escape if I need to.

ETA: Which is to say: DO IT. Have the meltdown. Fuck being civil. I don't know if I can do it either, but I have to try. They'll hate me for it, but I have to try.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Brilliant. BRILLIANT! Why try to rationalize with people who can't be rationalized with? I mean, there's not point in me preparing a thesis statement and a list of facts because they watch FOX News and (one of my favorite Stephen Colbert quotes) doesn't information itself have a liberal bias? :P

Wow. Okay. No. Okay. WOW! **runs away** At least I have the upstairs to escape too, sadly Wisconsin will be a bit far for me to actually run all the way home from. But yeah, that is actually REALLY GOOD input. Probably good for dealing with customers too, even though we are not supposed to engage in political discussion, if someone says something outrageous, I'd just like to be able to say "Wow...okay" and then run to the back room LOL.

[rhoda-rants.livejournal.com]

The silent thousand-yard-stare works quite well too, I'm told. If you can't feasibly "escape," I dunno. The goal is to let people know that bigoted language cannot fly anymore. Ruin the illusion that you're cool with it and will laugh it off/let it go.

What I'm most worried about is outing myself. I've been told that half my family does know I'm bi, but I've got one uncle, and aunt, and and in-law who are horrible homophobic garbage people and LOUD about it. So far, no one else has spoken up on my behalf. Not a single time. I've locked myself in the bathroom to cry at the last few family gatherings.

Oh, and that one uncle? One time I tried to just leave the conversation and go in another room FOLLOWED me and tried to corner me into getting into it with him. So--fuck them. If they won't be nice to me, I don't care anymore. I can't afford to. The White House is being filled with people who are dedicated to stripping my rights away RIGHT NOW. This isn't the time to play nice.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Exactly! No more shrugging it off or maybe even walking away silently. I might have to start saying something like "WOW!" and then leaving the room because I'm not sure they are smart enough to figure out why I am leaving the room. I need to stop letting the bullies win, because that is really what it is, letting the bullies win.

And are they really family if they can't love and accept you for who you are?