politics divide us

[malada]

I had a fairly long phone call with my older brother. We were fairly close growing up but we've grown up and grown apart... but always loved and cared for each other because, you know... family.

Towards the end of the call we were both complaining how our work sucks and I related how with all the hearings and the breaking news about Roe... I had to keep redoing broadcast logs. He told me that he thought the hearings were a 'kangaroo court' and he gets his news from Fox. I told him Fox news has been lying to everyone since the Iraqi war and they couldn't be trusted with the truth. He chuckled and responded with some 'both sides do it' nonsense.

And I.... exploded.

I yelled over the phone that I had a firm grasp of reality and people who listen to Fox news were being deluded. I screamed goodbye and hung up the phone. I really shouldn't have done that. I should have explained to him that it's not just Fox and the other 'conservative' news outlets lying about the Jan 6 hearings... no, it's their denigration of transkids, transpeople and their families.

For me... it's personal.

Although I transitioned in my early thirties I was a transkid. The 'conservative' media is lying about who I am and what I am. Freedom to live my life as I see fit? NO! They want to erase me and hurt me and ultimately kill me.

So yeah. It's personal.

I don't know what to do about the situation between my brother and I. At least, not right now. I know him - he's a good soul deep down but I'm not sure how to reach him.

I need to think about this.

-m

Comments

[sandypawozbun]

*hugs* I think your reaction is perfectly understandable under the circumstances. You could have explained all those things in narrative poetry and he probably wouldn't have understood. Fox acolytes are like that.

I hope you and your brother work it out, but just a moment's reflection on his part would realise he'd screwed up on a massive scale.

[reynardo]

just a moment's reflection on his part would realise he'd screwed up on a massive scale. I agree with the 'Paw about that, but there's hurt on both sides (Dammit, started typing this hours ago and only just realised I hadn't finished it). It might be worth sending an email along the lines of "I lost my temper, and I apologise for being rude, but this is an issue that touches me where it hurts. I have trouble taking Fox news seriously because they keep blocking and cutting all the actual facts in the hearing. It would mean a lot to me if you could read/watch/etc (pick a couple of reliable not-too-far-left newscasts about the trials and about the trans discrimination) and then get back to me. "

Or something along those lines.