Q, I hate to admit it, but the bad guys have succeeded with me to an extent. I've grown very distrustful towards those close to me when they show themselves to be brainwashed.
It's not that I don't think they're good people. They are. I love them and they possess qualities I admire. They're generous and noble-hearted people who have helped me when I most needed it. We've been through the worst together and come out the other side stronger. Death. Heartbreak. They've always been there for me.
But this whole episode has managed to diminish my trust in them significantly. I wouldn't put it past them to turn into frothing-at-the-mouth lunatics at the drop of a hat. Somehow this stupid box has managed to program them like Manchurian Candidates to stop being intelligent and good the instant Trump is mentioned. It's like people feel entitled to drop every pretense of civility and respect and boundaries if someone supports POTUS, and to take actions that would be lunatic cast in any other light.The demons come out in that instant, on both sides.
I wouldn't trust their judgement in a crisis anymore. We're in one, and they want to throw in their lot with the villains. I wouldn't trust them not to give advice or take actions that would get us all killed.
I wouldn't trust them not to gang up on or gaslight or try to manipulate or shame me if they disagreed with me. These events have magnified the worst in people-all the stubbornness and pride and spite and the petty little tyrant that every person has the capacity to become if given even a little bit of power or authority.
I'm worried that what I'm feeling might be precisely what they felt towards Trump supporters in 2016, and that scares me. I don't want us to be divided.
I can't be alone in this. What do we do?