A mild rant

[pasithea]

So. Lots of people have been passing around a link to a youtube clip from the latest episode of Top Gear. (A cool british car show) http://youtube.com/watch?v=G6MJVzXbqRU

Recently they did a trip through the US. Part of their quest was to 'get through Alabama without getting shot' and to make it more fun, they were allowed to decorate one anothers' cars in ways that might make them more likely to get shot.

They took the challenge in good fun, thinking they might get flipped off a few times or something. As someone who grew up in one of the shithole states, I could have warned them against this challenge.

Even with a camera crew, they got threatened, shouted at, rocks thrown at them, and assaulted.

Now imagine there was only one of them, there was no camera crew, and they were broke down.

A lot of people don't understand why I get so upset at right-wingers. They've never been a minority in a place like this. This is the world I grew up in, and when I express contempt for 'good christians', these people are the ones I'm speaking of. This is my reality. This is the america _I_ know. The people you see in this video aren't 'a few asshats', they're THE VAST MAJORITY in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas in my experience. Probably several other states too.

So, for you, maybe you don't give a rat's ass about what group is in power, or you think a racist or sexist joke is funny, even if it is in bad taste, and then don't get why I get so upset.

Watch this video. This is the world I come from. Imagine being there, being small and weak and different. Imagine these people not just as everyone around you but your family, your friends, your support network, the only people you know.

These are the people I know who call themselves 'good christians' and 'republicans'. This is the sick sad world I see the rest of America sliding into.

It doesn't excuse generalizing or going off on people. That really makes me only marginally better than they are, but if I'm over-reacting to something, maybe try a gentle reminder first. My reactions are often those of one dealing with memories of a very traumatic and stressful world.