Through this story telling and her own provoked interest, she begins to connect the dots that "these are people like me, with struggles like me".

Through the shared struggles, the layers of hate get shedded and shredded, slowly, one by one.

I know this method works, because it's what some of my friends did for me, sometimes, paving a way for me to see my own injustices.

I couldn't be told, directly. I had to be shown, connected, through stories of people that I heard and saw.

3/x

When I talk to people like my sister, who I am trying to pull out of the Republican bubble:

I tell her stories of the people the people I meet. I humanize them, without giving her any background on their politics. Just funny life stories, etc.

As I tell her stories about people, she gets interested in them. As she goes, I slip in more details like they are gay without making it a fight. Just a passing comment about their life.

I humanizing people she "don't like" through mundane stories. 2/x

Here's my "Republican experience" on why it is so hard to reach Republicans like my family, and what it might take to reach them.

From my life, the bulk of Republicans, the older people, like my parents, aunts/uncles, and grandparents, etc. They rarely use anything outside of Facebook. Most of their world view is carved from Fox and local news. The rest is mailers, emails, and robo calls from Republican leaders.

I was the same, even as a younger-ish Republican.

So, how do I reach them? 1/x

I'm a recently recovering Republican. I've been steeped deep in the red much of my life.

There's a lot I don't understand about progressive politics, but I'm trying to learn.

I want to thank the CoSo people who are patient with me, understand where I come from, and who understand the road isn't easy to travel from right to left.

This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful that I can see a wider range of views, and learn what you already know with an open mind and open heart.

Thank you, CoSo! ❤️

I had a dream of being a stand up comedian, telling oddball stories of my crazy family.

I once tried amateur night in a Canadian comedy club, and got laughs. But I also threw up from stage fright. My future looks bright in the CoSo Comedy Club. Cleaner, at least.😜

Like dry funny stories? I have a lifetime's worth to tell.

Like stories about travel? I have those too!

And stories of my growth from a Republican "truth seeker" to actual listener, and the family's fallout. I have those too.

4. Crime is rare. Most people, everywhere, are super nice and willing to help strangers. You are far more likely to get struck by lightning than be a victim of a serious crime.

5. Cargo ships are much cheaper to book passage on, if you have time and patience. Travel doesn't have to expensive.

6. Use sites like world packer to find your destinations and places to stay.

7. Hostels aren't scary. It's usually normal people traveling or hiking the world too!

Get out there! Find your peace!

Want to travel the world?

Here's some quick tips I have learned about traveling, taught to me by world packers and hikers.

1. Prepaid credit/debits. Card theft is real. Load up 1-2 dozen major name prepaids and leave your actual cards at home. Do this for online shopping too.

2. Burner phones. I've had my phone stolen more than once. Steal my $40 burner phone? No biggie. I got three more.

3. Use a VPN. Sure, they can be super slow, but when you're on some sketch wifi, you'll be glad you did!

Less than two days here, and I'm happy I got kicked off Twitter for a horse joke.

I'm seeing all the messages about the food people are bringing to their Turkey Murder Day tables.

I'm so jelly, because I can't cook, and the only thing I ever brought to the Turkey Murder Day table was disappointment.

My sister never did get Turkey Murder Day revenge on that turkey. It was a turkey with a mission, and a penchant for escape. It eventually escaped into the wilds, gobbling its way to glory.

My brother, fondly, nicknamed that turkey "The Punisher".

Since it's Turkey Murder Day now and Turkey Murder Day Meals are about to happen. I have a funny story to share about my sister.

My family owns farms and raises their own stock, including turkeys.

One day, as we were trying to get a turkey back into the pen. She got tired of chasing a defiant turkey and screamed at it to stop. It did. Then she pointed at the ground like an angry mother and said "COME HERE NOW". The turkey did. I was amazed. Then the turkey knocked her over and gobbled off.

Before going back to work for the day, I want to tell you another funny story about my sister.

My sister is a selfie addict. She doesn't post a lot, but she takes a lot and then sends them, individually, to people.

What's funny about that, right?

Well! She designates certain rooms in every building as "wrinkle rooms".

It's a room where if you take a selfie in, the lighting is harsh enough to highlight all of the wrinkles of your skin.

That is a wrinkle room.

And every house has one.

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?