Feel like I’ve seen an uptick in “people have to finally start confronting MAGA family members if we ever want things to improve” posts after the Capitol riots and ... I can’t even begin to explain how delusional that sounds, as someone who has two Trumper parents.

By the time people are supporting the Capitol stormers (or storming it themselves), they’re pretty far gone. Meanwhile many apolitical people are mildly curious — were ballots thrown out? Is there really a cabal of pedophilic world leaders? And those people still CAN be reached.

And yes, there are people who’ve sat in silence for years as their parents or loved ones descended into far right beliefs. But many, many of us have forced difficult conversations for years, but we are *not* equal messengers to Fox News, their friend group, the pulpit.

When we leave the church, or become openly liberal, or really deviate from the evangelical / conservative status quo in any way (like coming out), we lose legitimacy and credibility in those loved ones’ eyes. The posts, the retorts, the push back doesn’t matter. But we DO try.

I’ll add to the chorus of people saying “this can’t be solved on an individual level, we need systemic intervention”, bc it’s true. When disinfo proliferates online with no accountability, when pastors invoke scripture to justify racism, there’s little I can do to change minds.

I will note that those with the best ability to influence people’s hearts are those who *still hold positions of influence in that person’s life*. Do you go to church with them, break bread with them regularly? You can help speak sense to people. And you should.