Democrats and the High Road
Democrats need to get over themselves.
I am a Democrat, so I can say it, and you can’t be mad. (But also, do I really care if you’re mad?)
I am all for taking the high road and trying to be better than the craziness around you. For setting the example you hope your kids will see and be proud of one day. For not participating in bullshit bashing conversations with people you barely know but live right around the corner from the safety of your computer screen.
I firmly believe that nice guys don’t always finish last and the loudest one in the room does not always win the conversation. However, sometimes even nice guys needs to raise their voice, put douchebags in their place, and make a stand.
After some absurdness on Long Island with people trying to “defund” a local brewery because they posted a sign in support of general equality and the Black Lives Matter movement, I am almost ashamed to admit that I joined some Facebook groups (like Save the Montauk Brewing Company and Long Island Activists) in support of the opposition. (Ashamed because Facebook is now a thing for my parents generation where they can participate in the spreading of fake inflammatory news without realizing that just because something is online does not mean its true and join echo chambers of like-minded Karens with their exact same stance on the world.) Am I a super active participant in these groups? Definitely not, but I am one hell of a lurker.
In these various Democrat-centric Facebook groups I’ve seen an overwhelming amount of the same rhetoric (go figure, right?) where people say, “we don’t need a parade for Biden, we’re so much better than that” or “we’ll parade to the polls instead of obnoxiously down the highways” in response to someone proposing a “Ridin’ with Biden” car parade. And while I find those MAGA parades particularly offensive and nauseating on a personal level, I think they do a damn good job of galvanizing people to support their candidate, and if we’re honest, the Democrats need something miraculous to happen to actually spur voters into action.
Most vocal Democrats these days are so busy looking at the view from their high horse that they forget what it means to actually be in the trenches, and how even though most of them think Trump supporters are batshit, they have a passion that most Democrats simply do not.
I personally think it’s incredibly cocky to stand by and say your candidate is “too good” to need a parade. If 2016 taught you anything, it’s that being a “good candidate” is irrelevant to the people of this fine country. (Although I was for HRC then, even I can admit that she was not the best candidate that could get everyone to the polls.) Even the best candidates in years past have had solid campaign managers and thoughtful marketing plans. Anyone remember Obama’s “Hope” poster as designed by Shepard Fairey? I still picture that image first when I think of the 2008 presidential election.
All great change comes from people. People who are excited and animated about a cause that is near and dear to their heart. People who spend lifetimes garnering support from those around them. People who I’m sure would be turning over in their grave out of happiness if hundreds of years later activists were still moved to action (to parade, if you will) for a cause they worked so hard to bring to light.
If Democrats can’t even be bother to get off their asses and show stupid levels of support for their own candidate, how can they expect those who are on the fence to be convinced?
All that being said, does this mean I plan on voting for Trump in November? Absolutely freaking not, but it was cute that you thought that was an option after reading the above.