As I have gotten older I seem to have alienated everyone in my life who doesn't have socialist sympathies. I see leftism as an expression of human empathy, and I just have no time anymore for people who don't exude empathy.
I don't pretend to be perfectly empathetic and I know I fuck up and can be selfish or a jerk at times. It's exactly for those moments that I want to be surrounded by people who I trust to push me in the right direction.
My "apolitical" friends I try to give the leftist perspective on stuff and they're generally pretty accepting. My left-leaning/soc dem friends I'm willing to engage in conversations with because I think they are coming from the right place.
Anyone centrist or right I pretty much openly declare to be my enemy, and I take them to task over every expression of their ideology. If you see the moral stain of capitalism and are genuinely comfortable with it, you are not my friend and I see it as my job to make the world uncomfortable for you.
It's very annoying, and I have lost friends, relationships, and professional opportunities over it, but fuck it. I think it's worth it.
As I have gotten older I seem to have alienated everyone in my life who doesn't have socialist sympathies. I see leftism as an expression of human empathy, and I just have no time anymore for people who don't exude empathy.
I don't pretend to be perfectly empathetic and I know I fuck up and can be selfish or a jerk at times. It's exactly for those moments that I want to be surrounded by people who I trust to push me in the right direction.
My "apolitical" friends I try to give the leftist perspective on stuff and they're generally pretty accepting. My left-leaning/soc dem friends I'm willing to engage in conversations with because I think they are coming from the right place.
Anyone centrist or right I pretty much openly declare to be my enemy, and I take them to task over every expression of their ideology. If you see the moral stain of capitalism and are genuinely comfortable with it, you are not my friend and I see it as my job to make the world uncomfortable for you.
It's very annoying, and I have lost friends, relationships, and professional opportunities over it, but fuck it. I think it's worth it.
My center/right "friends" were all fake. Dropped me the instant I said the A word.
It's just a fact that all right wingers want lefties dead. That's the cold reality.
Amber.