Reynaβs jaw tightened as a message from Leanne popped up on her phone. That hadnβt taken long. Reyna had planned to call her after she had finished her chores and could sit and give this her full attention. She stared at the message for a moment, considered not answering yet, then called.
βYou blocked Ted on Facebook. Why?β Leanne spat at Reyna without so much as a hello.
βWell, Leanne,β Reyna answered, her voice measured, βyour husband is posting support for white supremacist and Nazi protests.β
βHeβs supporting the protest against the mandates, not the Nazis.β
βOr the white supremacists?β Reyna prodded. βIf Ted aligns himself with people who hold those values, regardless of any other beliefs he holds, he supports them, not just the cause. And Iβve become increasingly aware that he does lean in their direction.β
βI suppose youβre going to block me as well,β Leanne snarled.
βI saw the post you put up and then thought better of and took down. You werenβt fast enough. Itβs pretty clear which way you lean, as well. But since youβve been a friend, I planned to talk to you first. Now Iβve done so. Iβm going to block your phone number as well, Leanne. I cannot and will not be friends with anyone who aligns themselves with evil.β
Iβve said before that I feel writers have an obligation to highlight important issues. This one has been on my mind as I see people of my acquaintance making choices I cannot support.
There will be those who will take issue with this story. My position speaks for itself. I welcome comments but will not tolerate those that defend abhorrent beliefs and behaviors. I am drawing a line.
That is the problem with social media. You are forced see peopleβs political rants. They may not be racist or fascist, but they are still annoying. To me anyway. I want social media to be social (friendly), not an angry political soapbox. My rant is over. π
I was having a discussion with a friend related to this. If thereβs Nazi flags, slogans, or signs at your event and nobody makes them leave or takes them down, youβre at a Nazi event.