The Culture Of Intolerance

[TheWatcher]

Forgive me if this seems a little ranty tonight. This seems almost off topic to post something like this in the midst of Rovegate and what could be the beginning of the end for this Crime Family that runs this country.

Last night I was almost attacked outside my home by a bunch of drunk Frat Boys in a Red Explorer, complete with obligatory "Support The Troops Magnet". I suppose they had a problem with multi-colored hair and black clothing, but I really could give a fuck what it was about at this point.

The incident did not turn violent, but it could have, and it does all over the country, every day. When things calmed down I spent some time thinking about how things have changed even in the past few years in this city (I live in Seattle).

Maybe it's just me, and maybe I'm being paranoid, but I have watched the Emerald City go through a disturbing transformation. This has always been a progressive, diverse place more known for it's notorious passive aggressiveness than anything else. But something has changed. I am not sure it's the political climate or just a shift in cultural dynamics, but this place has become a lot more conservative, right wing, and people have gotten a lot nastier, mean-spirited, more violent, and more intolerant.

My former home was in Tennessee, and quite frankly it was an absolute nightmare. Ignorance, intolerance, and general brain-dead culture were overwhelmingly the norm there. When I moved to the Pacific Northwest, it was almost like moving to another planet. It was almost a 180 degree departure from the way I was used to living, and for the first time in my life, I actually felt like I was in a place that resembled humanity. But over the past few years I have watched this city become increasingly transform into the place I used to live in the Mid-South, and it is terrifying me.

I make no apologies for the way I look or the way I dress, because admittedly it is quite different, and at the very least it is going to attract attention both positive and negative. When you are different you must accept it and expect it. I keep to myself and mind my own business, and I respect the personal space of others. When I first moved here, people would stare and be curious, and you'd have the occasional idiot make an ass out of himself but that was about it.

But these days things are getting much worse. I posted here about my confrontation with a freeperish type in the parking lot of a US Post Office a few months ago, and confrontations like that are becoming the norm for me these days. It's gotten to the point I carry Pepper Spray with me wherever I go now.

And it's not just people like me that have been noticing the rising intolerance developing here. There are days I feel like this city has undergone an invasion of mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging idiots. There has definitely been a climate change culturally and politically. People are more belligerent, confrontational, rude, loud, and the bigotry and level of violence that it is being expressed with it increasing.

Compared to what it used to be, this city is becoming a sewer. I always thought this would be the place where I would finally settle down, but I don't feel that is the case anymore. Right now my partner and I are exploring the possibility of Canada and other options. It's not something I consider lightly, but I refuse to go back to the way I was living.

The other thing I have been thinking and wondering about is if it is how bad it is getting everywhere else. It seems to me that a mass psychosis is gripping this nation, and the country is simply going mad. Our culture continues to get more and more dumbed down, self-absorbed, self-serving, narcissistic, caustic, and a distinct attitude of "I've got mine, fuck everybody else" seems to be the pervasive order of the day.

What has happened to us? What is WRONG?

More and more those who really don't want to co-exist with anyone who looks different or dares to be an individual, or think for themselves and express themselves outside of anything other than a lock-step herd mentality are becoming more and more caustic, more and more confrontational. I'm not going to go over what is possibly empowering them, because it's been discussed to death on this forum the past few years. But this country is becoming a putrid sewer. And I suppose I have gotten to the point I am becoming tired of waking up to the overwhelming smell of shit every day.

Politically, culturally, and spiritually I simply do not see how this country will avoid a complete breakdown and a spiral into a second Civil War. Even IF we were to impeach these bastards and drive these thugs from power, I am not sure it's possible to overcome the divisions, the hatred, and the psychosis that has spread into this country's mindset.

As I sit here writing this, I am listening to Mike Malloy's accounting of the diabolical, criminal harassment that Andy Stephenson had to endure, and is STILL enduring even after his death, and I am experiencing yet another example of where we are at this point in history.

Perhaps it is too late, perhaps it is not.

But I am no longer going top take this crap from these people. I will not call anyone out like Mike did tonight, but I will say this.

After nearly four decades on this planet, I have never lifted a finger against another human being. I have always tried to take the high road.

But as Don Ameche said in his Oscar Nominated Role years ago, "Things Change."

If I am attacked by one of these people, or a group of them, without cause or justification, it will not go unchallenged. I WILL defend myself. I WILL defend my life, the lives of my family and friends. Enough is enough. I refuse to live like this anymore.

As I said, sorry for the rant, but right now I am at a personal low point.

And I think this country is too.

It needs an enema.

YESTERDAY.