I'll add a few bits to the soup.
A couple of decades ago I recognized a pattern of behavior among a certain demographic. Please,this is NOT a comment on young women.But apparently a popular magazine read by these young women suggested they would be empowered to drive guns out of our society or perhaps keep guns away from themselves by going completely bat crazy,making a loud scene,etc if there was anything firearms.
Part of the message was "All the cool women will reject all men who own guns"
Once again,I'm NOT talking about women. Its the identity politics agendas thing. There is a box and a label to put on every face,implying a politic.
There are echo chambers and peer approval,with associated political risks and rewards.Who gets work in Hollywood?
And who will be more likely to succeed working in the public school system?
The schools to educate teachers used to be called "Normal schools"
Who is teaching your child what normal is....particularly when they are among their peers?
What happens (supposedly) if you present thoughts that challenge our younger folks line of thinking? They get triggered and snowflake out.(I know,that a box,label,stereotype thing.I never got play-dough in college_
Then lets look seriously at Alynski's rules for radicals.Read them,know them,and recognize when you are experiencing them. Like if you are being separated,isolated,and ridiculed.
Among other things,thereis a long term soft Marxist Revolution going on.
I don't thinkisolation to our own echo chamber is helpful.
I've never found any "In My Face" political movements to win me over. I defy.
Talk politics,religion,guns,etc in public? SURE!!. But not with family over Thanksgiving.
With an acquaintance or stranger in a water hole?
Establish the rules up front. We are two different individuals with different points of view. Neither of us needs to win or lose. We can share points of view.
We agree if it starts to get intense,we are done.
Then,for Pete's sake LISTEN.Really here the other point of view.Don't focus on your rebuttal,focus on HEARING. Then,without spin,play it back tothem just so they know you had the respect to HEAR them. You don't have to agree,just hear.
Hopefully,they will truly listen,and hear you. No one has to change.
Begin with a foundation of some understanding and respect.
Be a sane,rational person who is not scary.
It just might be that you can take an anti-gunner shooting.
IMO,radical groups demonstrating and protesting turn off all but the participants,the echo chamber.
Its over music,or beer,or food,or folks taking the effort to help each other out that I have learned to trust and accept folks who are different than I am.
That can work two ways.
I can listen to a friend rant about Conservatives.. I ask them "How many Conservatives do you know and talk to?
"Well,none!! I hate them!!"
Ahh. So what do you base your hate on?
They are all racist,sexist,myogynist,homophobic...." yada yada.
Where did you learn that? Well,it was told to them by their echo chamber.
"So,"Im curious,do I seem to be a racist,sexist....yada yada..?)
No,you are a good Dude"
Ah. So in your actual experience,the only Conservative you know is a Good Dude?" Hmmm. Slowly,cracks can form in illusions. A .22 and some cans can form more cracks. Pickup the cans.Let it be fun.
I gotta go,thanks!! Great conversation,I enjoyed it!They sure serve good chicken wings,we agree on that. See yo next Monday,maybe.