@MsJoanne What really cracked me is my parents calling one of my gay cousins every name under the Sun for being gay. They used to love him and adore him. He is the sweetest person on earth, and wouldn't harm a fly. Yet he was supposed to be this "evil" thing now because of the gay? Just no, no, and no.

It still affects me. It was really difficult to change my vote to Dem as a life long Republican.

It cost me my family, but they are costing people their lives. I can't be a part of that.

@MsJoanne I'm still working on it, but Trump helped a lot. The things I saw him say and do, and saw my family and friends cheer for didn't sit right.

It made me pay more attention to what Republican leaders were actually saying and doing. I was pretty ignorant and never paid much attention to any of it, until then.

It made me wake up and pay attention.

@ExPatExp88 A long way from home!

How did I escape falling into the hate hole that my family has fallen into?

#politics

I didn't. I fell into it and had to get out. It wasn't easy. The flow of hate media is strong and potent, and the algorithms make sure you watch and make sure you listen. It's also presented in a way that doesn't seem hateful to us.

We were lied to, constantly. Lied to so much that we take the lies as truth and truth as lies. It's a slow cook, our brains are slowly brought to boil.

It's hard to get out.

Wow.

I just watched Texas Paul's take on the Colorado shooting:

#politics

I agree with him on his point that the Dad of the shooter is the mold for Republican Dads.

It's heartbreaking to talk about, but that's like my Dad too. My Dad would rather kill people than anyone think he was gay. He told my brother (joking but not joking) if he ever comes out as gay he better leave the house faster than the bullets chasing him.

That is who they are now. I try to reach them, but I just can't.

Isn't it funny that the bird getting the most murdered this Turkey Murder Day is the blue one?

@VirginMaryCandle Haha! That's funny!

Right now, I'm in Germany.

How did I end up here?

It's a long but short story! For the last five or so years of my life, I have been doing work exchange for house and board. I usually do it for two to six months every year. Not as much the last three years, but I still travel when I can.

It's a great way to experience the world!

@QuentinBrand I know the feeling.

I deleted Facebook and others because of my family.

I was kicked off Twitter for a horse joke.

Now I'm just here, starting over too.

@AlecMartinSEA From one newbie to another, welcome!

@Laredo2014 Goodmorning! And it is horrible. My family went from conservative but loving to Trump-loving and hating anyone who doesn't love Trump. And that is most of my family and most of my former friends.

I can count on my toes how many family members will still talk to me, and a lot of that talk is trying to bring me back to the flock.

Puttering around work, listening to some music.

Days like Turkey Day make it so much harder to be away from family. Especially when I go home in a few weeks and don't even know if I will be welcome at the table for Christmas.

#CoSoMusic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtOvBOTyX00

Happy Turkey Murder Day!

From a displaced American missing out on Turkey Murder Day. 😭

@TwitterExpat If you picture me trying to fly a kite, running with the wind instead of against it, you have the perfect mental image. 😂

And yes, that happened.

@TwitterExpat I am not worried about that, it's too progressive for her. 😅

@TwitterExpat It is just the punchlines of our mutual life story, right? No harm in that! 😜

@TwitterExpat The Legend will reach the furthest reaches of CoSo, and she'll someday wonder why she's infamous.😅