This is a thread directed at specifically progressive, cis, straight, white men, and, to some degree, any progressive person that is largely privileged.

if 45 loses-- and if he leaves office peacefully-- and if we are restored to a relatively normal government-- remember that it's not just Biden we need to push left. The people who voted for our national nightmare are still out there. And if you're a cis straight white man--

and if you have some such people in your orbit-- I am *begging* you to try to do the work of de-radicalization. Because I'm terrified about this week, but I'm far more terrified of 2022. I'm terrified of how monstrous things will get.

Those who have allowed evil and cruelty to thrive don't deserve anything. They don't deserve our time, and they don't deserve our help.

But it's on us, those who have some sort of privilege in our daily lives, to stop them from doing further harm.

Sometimes that looks like completely cutting ties-- not showing up to Christmas can, I know from personal experience, shake even the narcissists.

But sometimes that looks like not cutting ties-- not leaving people in their conservative echo chamber.

Sometimes that means sitting down and going, listen, here's some information from someone you trust about what this policy actually entails. Here's why, given your own values, that policy might matter.

Here's some common ground. Here's why I, like you, really despise the DNC. And here's why I don't vote GOP even given their spite. Like you, I recognize their problems-- but in fact, here's how they're magnified under the opposite party.

Here's why that meme/article you shared is really bad. Not just ethically-- it's not just an example of hatred, or subtle white supremacy, or subtle authoritarianism-- here's why *logically* it's bad. I'm going to take the time to walk through it point by point with you.

Here's some resources that you might find interesting.

Or:

Here's some stories. Here's how the people you support harmed the people I love. Here's a story about why the people I love are rightfully terrified. Here's a story about how your support ultimately amounts to support for cruelty.

This isn't going to work in 75% of cases I know. Too many people are too entrenched to ever see the light. But just turning 25% away? Just 10%? That could be the difference between fascism and democracy. That could be the difference between accepting and avoiding violent unrest.

Pay special attention to the young people in your lives. They are *going for our children*. They are trying to warp the minds of the next generation. We can stop them.

But we can't stop them at the polls. We're going to have to stop them on our social media, in our family reunions, over the holiday table.

I'm not advocating that you befriend nazis.

I'm advocating that you take the time, if you see your little cousin or nephew posting GG bullshit, to make sure that they don't turn into a nazi.

I'm advocating that you work to turn your uncle, or brother, or college acquaintance away from a path where they work to enable fascism.

That you work to ensure this never happens again.