I wanted to express my thankfulness for DU

[babsbunny]

I am thankful for DU, I quit posting a lot, like I did in the Bush/Cheney days but I come here everyday, and it helps.
My oldest son is a MAGA, I tried to advise him when I first noticed he was heading in that direction. This is back when I had a giant Democratic Underground sticker on my car, back when it was still safe to have one.

I haven't seen him in 8 years, but briefly reconnected before trump stole the election this time, then he started bragging about all the things trump and elon were going to do. He asked me what I thought about the No Kings Rallies, and I said, well, since we are in America, and America doesn't have kings, I think it's fine. That's when he called me a communist, and said he will tell my Grandchildren I'm a communist. That's when I blocked him.

My last communication was this; (I wish I'd thought of this 10 years ago)

Let Them, By Cassie Phillips

�Let Them�

�Just Let them.

If they want to choose something or someone over you, LET THEM.

If they want to go weeks without talking to you, LET THEM.

If they are okay with never seeing you, LET THEM.

If they are okay with always putting themselves first, LET THEM.

If they are showing you who they are and not what you perceived them to be, LET THEM

If they want to follow the crowd, LET THEM.

If they want to judge or misunderstand you, LET THEM.

If they act like they can live without you, LET THEM.

If they want to walk out of your life and leave, hold the door open, AND LET THEM

Let them lose you.

You were never theirs, because you were always your own.

So let them.

Let them show you who they truly are, not tell you.

Let them prove how worthy they are of your time.

Let them make the necessary steps to be a part of your life.

Let them earn your forgiveness.

Let them call you to talk about ordinary things.

Let them take you out on a Thursday.

Let them talk about anything and everything just because it's you they are talking to.

Let them have a safe place in you.

Let them see the heart in you that didn't harden.

Let them love you.�

Author: Cassie Phillips

[dalton99a]

1. Sorry about your son.

Donald Trump has ruined probably millions of families.

[livetohike]

2. Nice to see you posting again. This whole war is

like Deja vu.

I’m sorry about the relationship with your son. My brothers and their wives are MAGA.

[dutch777]

3. Very sad but time and more experience may bring him wisdom. One can always have hope.

[usonian]

4. Maga is a cult.

I have posted some amateur observations, for those who know even less than I do, but suffice it to say, leaving a cult is a very difficult thing to do.

Hate and exclusion, projecting ALL of one's doubts, fears, weaknesses and failures onto "those others" is extremely powerful.

Fascist and Charlatan playbook. You know their names.

Some of the reasons I have found for leaving are: hitting rock bottom, feeling betrayed by the leader, inability to further hold in one's mind the lies and contradictions a cult thrives on, and so on.

But one other is simply encountering the usual down moments in life, and realizing that the leader and cult are in it for themselves only, and you are the nobody you sought to be when surrendering your individuality.

And in those times, one might just realize that one's individuality is treasured (outside the cult) as the beautiful person who fell for the drug of "It's the other guy" and not realize the beauty and power of being a unique person with the gumption to recognize the beauty in all others, to foster positive change in oneself and others, to be part of a mutually beneficial society.

Those, hopefully, were what they experienced as part of a family, with loving and generous parents. The tipping point is when one realizes gratitude for all the gifts one has been given, rather than envy for the lie that others have taken everything away from you.

The most precious gift, one's individuality, "what makes you both equal to others and different in what makes you YOU" and your ability to adapt and improve yourself and all around you, is something you GAVE AWAY to manipulators who "legitimized" blaming others instead.

We all do this to some extent. I think it's "wired" in how western society works, in a "me versus you" way.

The process is so destructive. One can only be an example of the higher and happier path. And call out the cult mentality and hold their leaders accountable for their "unmutual" disdain for their zombied followers.

Such followers are "loved" only for their surrender of self and clinging to a very narrow group identity, being another poison ivy plant in a thicket of the same, rather than a blossoming of self in a garden of many uniquely beautiful flowers all thriving from the same soil, water and light.

That is the universe's/God's delight, and our delight as well. I strive to be happy and grateful, not out of spite, nor as an example, even when "dammit, it works out that way"

It's just "right" 🪷

Pardon the verbosity. If I had more time, I'd have said less. 😉