Spent the weekend in east Tennessee...

[Ned Low]

... started out Friday night watching Heart in concert. Great show. Spent the weekend wandering Sevierville getting increasingly disgusted. There may be more MAGAcentric places but this place holds its own. Stopped at a pancake house Sunday morning on my way out. A woman came in wearing A "Trump won" hoodie. I was seated next to the door and put my brain on autopilot. Told her she was wearing a clown suit. She didn't hear me clearly and I repeated myself and added that she was showing support for fascism and was taking a stand against the rule of law by wearing it out in public. She walked off but a short while later a couple came over and told me I had no right to treat the woman as I had. He wasn't wearing any Trump gear. I told him he was a nazi sympathizer for taking up for her while my wife told them that her wearing the hoodie was the first offense and that I was just offering a counter opinion. The couple left and the hostess came over to decry my behavior and stopped just short of kicking us out. We left right away anyway. I've been to east Tennessee many times for various reasons in the past. Not anymore. The culture is too offensive. Going to consider culture in the future before deciding to visit anywhere else in the future.

[in2herbs]

1. It's these people who have to feel the pain of F47 policies before we can move forward. nt

[al_liberal]

7. No pain is too great, that's the problem.

I live in AL. They don’t care how much they hurt as long as nobody else gets anything either. The old adage about sharing a pie doesn’t apply here - they don’t care if there is no pie.

[LymphocyteLover]

17. as long as Black people are hurting more, they are ok with everything he is doing

[AnnaLee]

2. In TN check out the diversity before taking a seat.

I have MAGA relatives that in TN. There is absolutely nothing that get through their brains when it comes to the truths about Trump.

[Shellback Squid]

3. lol, just got back last nite, Sevierville is trump country, dogwood tours have many trump signs outside of houses

they are decent people when talking to them but just truly ignorant about the issues and brainwashed

[GoneOffShore]

19. If they were 'decent people' they wouldn't be supporting a fascist ideology.

“You are either in favour of evil, or you are in favour of good. You are either on the side of the oppressed or on the side of the oppressor. You can’t be neutral. ... If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”

Desmond Tutu

[Shellback Squid]

44. they believe they are "good" and dems are evil..this is the brainwashing part I mentioned

the FA has happened and FO is coming

[multigraincracker]

4. Try this one, Trump says the uneducated and billionaires are his base, you don't look like a billionaire.

[Ned Low]

6. That's a good one. Can't wait to trot it out.

[littlemissmartypants]

10. They won't get it. It'll fly over their heads like the Concorde.

[dalton99a]

5. It was a Democratic governor who gave them Tenncare

which will disappear shortly

90% of them don't know it's Medicaid

And most of the infrastructure they have was built with federal funding from LBJ's War on Poverty

[Shellback Squid]

46. yes, bro and family is on Tenncare although he does hate trump

[WarGamer]

8. Why would you go into their spot and talk shit?

It's like a MAGAT going into a StarBucks in Union Square and attacking women and LGBT folks...

weird.

People need to control their anger.

BTW... nice bouncy

[Ned Low]

11. I won't be on the wrong side of history

Nor will I stand on the sidelines. We were both making political commentary, hers was visual and mine was auditory. They live in an echo chamber where no alternative voices are heard. She offered no defense because she had none. Her champion could only utter power to the people. Their side is full of generalities that break down completely under scrutiny. Elie Wiesel strongly advocated for speaking out against injustice and indifference, famously stating "We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." So my question to you Wargamer is why are you standing on the sidelines? I ventured into the lions den and made it clear there was another way to think to people who aren't used to thinking.

[Whyisthisstillclose]

16. Agree with you completely. Our being "polite"and never

challenging these assholes is part of the reason we are where we are in this country.

[mwmisses4289]

32. Time to start bringing knives to a knife fight, metaphorically speaking.

[WarGamer]

36. The irony is the hypocrisy...

The same people that were saying "Those knuckle dragging cretins bombing abortion clinics should be charged as terrorists"

Then they say "Fuck Musk, Burn TSLA to the ground."

Or "The J6'ers were traitors, hangem high!!"

Now say 'When can we take back our government... not just GOP'ers have guns"

Some folks stood up like trained circus seals and clapped their flippers *ark ark ark ark* when Law Enforcement went after political foes but now...

Now it's "Fucking Nazis, Gestapo on the streets, what to do???"

Hypocrisy... sensationalism, over the top grandstanding...

I didn't know a stage of Grief was "delusion"

For the last TWO YEARS I warned DU'ers about cheering for an all powerful FED GOV'T... I warned "All fun and laughs today... but what about tomorrow?"

Tomorrow is here and BIG GOV'T still sucks.

[Sympthsical]

49. You're asking for a modicum of self-awareness

That is too much an ask in insular spaces.

Honestly this 180 on stochastic terrorism (remember when people learned that phrase and used it for a solid two weeks?) is just about pushing me out of politics. I'm on the cusp of just bouncing and focusing on my own prosperity and that of those around me. It's clear reason is not reigning at this juncture.

When sanity returns, maybe I'll re-engage. And I am not assuming it will any time soon. But it's all getting to a point where I'm watching and thinking of bon voyaging as everyone gets exactly what they agitate for.

I told a Trump friend before the election - "You may think you're getting what you want, but I promise you are not." That holds true here as well. People may think this is all a great idea, but it is not. The Right is watching. And eventually, the Right will realize, "Well, if it's game on then . . ."

And no one will like that. But, due to that lack of self-awareness, the people fomenting it now will never perceive nor accept their role in ordering the clapback they're currently putting postage on.

[lark]

9. Culture is critical!

It's the reason we never drove to NOLA Jazz Fest - would have to transit Alabama, Mississippi and LA - horrible places that I want nothing to do with. I got harassed travelling through the south as a 20 year old, never ever want to repeat that! Funny, but I've never had a single issue traveling through FL. even though it's deeply red these days. Guess being an old white woman trumps being "hippiesh" these days? Husband wearing his hair short now probably helps too, even though he wears beads. Of course we never stop at Bunnell, it's bad!

[Blue Full Moon]

12. That whole area is Trump. Every single store has trump crap.

I will never spend a single cent in Gatlinburg or Sevierville.

[barbtries]

13. thank you

for calling it out.

[aeromanKC]

14. One thing 100% certain is they are NOT Christians.

And they will be going to Hell. (MAGAt's are not able to repent)

[flashman13]

15. OMG Sevierville! I have several not so fond memories of Sevierville.

Back in the day it was renowned as biggest and worst speed trap on the east coast. One night I got busted for 5 over the limit. That was a quick C-note gone. Luckily I was sober. On another occasion I had to go bail out fraternity brothers that weren't so lucky. It was fucked up then and apparently still is. I'm not surprised.

[Keepthesoulalive]

18. Good on you

Maybe now we can stop with the we should reach out , we are not doing enough to get their vote. The price of eggs.
They are in a cult and nothing is going to change their minds.

[Hekate]

20. Your rudeness was uncalled-for. nt

[FoxNewsSucks]

21. The poster did nothing rude.

[Hekate]

23. I am suitably chastised

[dchill]

29. No. The "Trump won" hoodie was rude.

[rubbersole]

22. I have dear friends in Parrotville.

When my son and I visited recently I was surprised how nice everyone we encountered was. No politics were discussed. I can't imagine wearing a Hillary/Bernie/Biden hat in the places we went. Might not have ended well.

[peggysue2]

24. I lived in East Tennessee for nearly two decades

It became decidedly more extreme, more bat shit crazy as time went on.

One of my happiest days is when we moved back north three+ years ago. When we pulled away from our TN house? I never looked back.

[birdographer]

25. We are 80 miles south of them

and you got a peek into what it is like here. They are EVERYWHERE. They are profoundly uneducated. And have no interest in facts, despite what is right in front of them. I know that there are other Democrats here, they poke their heads up now and then, but for the most part we all stay hidden. These folks also love their guns and are probably tired of shooting at squirrels (it’s what’s for dinner). You probably would have gotten shot here.

[Norrrm]

26. Ask them how they are enjoying the lower grocery prices as Trump promised starting on day one.

[GP6971]

30. Same to you Sunshine!!!

[dchill]

31. Did you join DU just to say that?

A "Trump won" hoodie is picking a fight with strangers. Know what MY hoodie says? Nothing.

[Cha]

42. Troll joined just to wag her finger at Patriots.

[dchill]

45. Seems like a troublesome hobby.

[Cha]

47. lol... yes, Fascist Trolling Du is her Hobby.

[Cha]

33. Fucking Mump Gutting America is Fascist "Low Down Behavior"...

[Cha]

39. Fucking Dirty Mump is a Leech Stealing from Americans

while he sits his fat ass on Billions.

[mahina]

37. Agreed. If the goal is to winhelp folks see the truth, this is not the way.

What would anybody hope to achieve that way? What would we think if a Trump supporter said the same to us where Ross reverse? Golden rule, people.

[JustAnotherGen]

28. I'm just one person

But we were going to go out to AZ late spring for a vacation. Switched it to Provincetown Mass for a beach week in July. I'm only going places where I know I'm going to be surrounded by good people.

[Ol Janx Spirit]

35. I live not too far away from there, and while it is a very pro-DJ Tariff area, not everyone

is like that. There are many many people--even a lot that voted for Orangeutan--that are either already on our side or headed this way because of what they see. Poking the ones that literally wear their affection for him on their chest is not very helpful in most cases, and in every case they are not the people we need to win over. I try my best to use respect and thoughtfulness to sway those I feel I can reach, and I leave the rest alone. They are not worth it; any of it. And yes, there are so many times where refraining is nearly impossible. I do get that.

[Ned Low]

40. Respect and thoughtfulness are important...

... and I am grateful to have people who think that on the same side of the issue as I am. Despite recognizing that, that is not me. I am an inflammatory bomb thrower. While I am capable of the former I am more comfortable in the role of the latter. As a bomb thrower I was not talking to the people I was speaking to. You are right, they are not listening. I was talking to the people around us who are just as sick of the spectacle as I am but have resigned themselves to what they may perceive as inevitable. Previous posters on this thread have indicated familiarity with the area and that there are some people who think differently. I was telling them that they don't have to be passive with the crap they are seeing. After showing them they can fight back they may seek out a respectful and thoughtful person to discuss their options. I did not start the fight, admittedly I did start the first engagement but not the second, but I don't have to sit idly by while they wave their bullspit in my face.

[Ol Janx Spirit]

48. I hear you. And I respect that. I guess in reality...

...it takes both the inflammatory bomb throwers and the respectful debaters to reach everyone we need to reach. It has been sad and profoundly disturbing to watch the state that once elected Al Gore descend into this MAGA insanity. And the hills of Southwest Virginia used to be strongly Democratic as well. The rise of the TEA Party following Obama's election really changed everything. But despite their intense rhetoric they were still getting the money and services that had always sustained these rural areas. That seems to be changing, and I wonder how long it will take them to decide maybe some amount of socialism isn't really all that bad.... You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone....

[ZDU]

41. Counting down...

... I'm a new comer to TN and am doing my best to apply and interview so that I can get the hell out of here. A hateful place with smiling hateful people is not a good place to be

[stollen]

43. Thanks for letting me know...

...it's not time to come home. The poor are still without clue. One lovely month down, the 2nd to go. We're planning on a year depending on the ignorance level of the US population. Not gonna spend our money in the fascist US.