I hope this is relevant for this community, because I don’t know where else to post this. I’m honestly scared to post it anywhere else.
I live in Eastern Europe. I’m a university student, and recently, we got an American exchange student. They’re a very outspoken liberal.
A few days ago, we took them out with a few mates out for beers (they’re under 21, so they didn’t drink, even though you can here if you’re at least 18) to break the ice and make them feel comfortable. We got talking and because I’ve never been to the US, I asked them what I thought was an innocuous question. For some context, I’ve been a communist for a very long time, and joined the communist party the day I turned 18.
I basically asked them: Why would I vote for Harris? How would that improve the situation in the US and abroad? I’m not too familiar with her, but her politics don’t seem too appealing, especially her support for Israel and her incarceration background.
That made them launch into a screaming rant about how I’m a conservative for doubting her abilities and deserve to be jailed for wanting to infringe on the rights of women. There were a few more insults targeted at me for asking that question, I didn’t really understand them. The entire time, I was not even saying anything, I was honestly too shocked to react, but they just kept screaming until they got up and stormed out in a rage after calling me a Trump supporter, misogynist, and a fascist. My mates were equally confused. We tried to figure it out, but everyone is equally stumped.
I’ve been thinking about that entire situation for a couple days, and I’m so confused about their reaction. They even refuse to speak to me now.
What have I done wrong? Can someone please explain? ☹️ I really don’t understand what happened. We have liberals here of course, but even the worst ones never behave like this.
Thank you for the comment.
The funny (or sad) thing is that in school, we’re taught to view the US in exactly the three points you talked about - that it is only thanks to the U.S. that we’re now free (as opposed to the oppressive tyrannical regime we lived under during socialism), the U.S. is a perfect example of democracy, and that, I shit you not, Democrats are center-left and Republicans center-right.
I used to believe that shit too, until I started visiting the U.S. internet through Imgur at first and then Reddit. The realities of the U.S. were finally laid bare, and that’s the moment the illusion shattered and I became a communist. It was similar with Germany; we were taught how we were some sort of subhumans compared to Germans, and that Germany is the best country in the world with no problems, and that everybody in Germany is rich.
Our people are also duped by U.S. agencies that run rampant in our country, and it’s honestly sad.
That is extremely sad to hear. There’s nothing more sad and pathetic than willingly colonizing yourself for a group of countries that see you as disposable.