I Lose A Friend- Long
I learned that a large portion of Hispanic/Latino voters voted for Trump. This confused the hell out of me. I have at least 3 Hispanic/Latino friends on my friends list on Facebook. I made a post asking my friends in general and those three in particular if they could help me understand why these voters would choose a candidate who obviously hates them so much. I got a few responses, some helpful some not, from various friends. But, I didn’t hear anything from those three. So, I shared the post with each of them individually in a text message. I included a message that I didn’t consider them other or unamerican. I didn’t expect them to magically know the minds of other people. But being connected to the culture and community they might have a much better idea than I did.
Two have not responded yet. One responded right away. He said that ‘Neither candidate was liked. They voted for the person who would make things more affordable ’ I asked why they would ever vote for somebody who hates them so very much? That moment is when I found out the horrible truth. My Hispanic/Latino friend had voted Trump! He was angry and defended his vote by saying ‘I voted for the one who will make things affordable, instead of the one who has made everything worse in the past four years.’ I gave a few examples of Trump’s racism- his saying of a clash between neo Nazis and counter protesters that there were"Good people on both sides." The silence of Trump and Vance after a comedian called Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage” at a Republican event. Trump’s message that “illegal immigrants” (not undocument aliens, or just immigrants, but “illegal immigrants” were coming her to sell drugs, commit crimes, rob us, rape our women, and take our jobs ( I noted that Trump actually said “black jobs” but I still do not know what he me.ant). My friend responded that these were “made up lies” and that I had been ‘misinformed, and read the wrong media, and needed to do my own research’. I told him that did not watch any cable news channel, subscribe to any magazines or newspapers or any streaming services.I just watched the local news. There I had seen the unedited clip of Trump saying “Good people on both sides.”. There I had seen the unedited clip of the comedian calling Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage”. There I had seen the unedited clip of Vance giving an entirely bullshit excuse ‘I have not watched the clip of the joke. So, I have no comment on it. But humor is sometimes offensive, and we should just get over it.’ (If Vance wanted to watch that clip, he could have spent 30 seconds to Google it. He could have asked an assistant to Google the clip and show it to hiim. He could have asked any one of the many reporters at the press conference to show him the clip!). I finished by saying that I got the rest from campaign ads- not Harris’ attack ads but ads supportng Trump. In fact these were ads supported by Trump himself. Each one ended with a still photo of Trump and a recording of his voice saying “I am Donald J Trump and I support this message.” He responded ‘Why do you care what a comedian said about Puerto Rico? You’re not Puerto Rican.’ He then told me that I shouldn’t care about any of the examples I gave as none of them applied to me. I first pointed out that I mentioned a rally by neo Nazis. neo Nazis tended to hate Jews, and I am a Jew. I also asked why I had to be a member of the group the prejudice was specifically directed at in order to be offended or object. He essentially said ‘I do not care about or object to prejudice directed at group I do not belong to. It does not bother or concern me.’ I was stunned for a second time. I pointed out that although he was not descended from Puerto Ricans, or anybody from Mexico or points south his last name was a Spanish word. Bigots would see or hear his last name, make assumptions, and target him. He did not seem to care.
At one point he said “When they round up the gays and the Jews, call me and I’ll come bail you out.” I responded that while I expected it to be a while before they rounded uo the Jews, based on DeSantos “Don’t Say Gay” law and similar measures passed in other states, I expected LGBTQ rights to be rolled back to the 1960’s almost immediately, He did not care.
Up until today, I had no reason, no indication whatsoever that my friend was anything buf a good, decent and caring man. Now, I learn he doesn’t care if others get slandered or hurt, so long as he is not the target. He dismisses my examples as “made up lies” based on nothing. He tells me that I 'watch the wrong media" without even knowing what media I watch. He tells me I ‘need to do my own research’ without asking where I got my information (It was from Trump campaign ads, officially endorsed by Trump!).
I admit, it was an error on my part assuming he voted Harris. But to find not only that he voted Trump, but dismisses all examples of Trump’s bigotry, and then says he does not care who Trump hates or hurts, so long as it isn’t him.
I am still in shock. This has not been a good week.