This week’s song is a fun little diddy that danced across my TikTok. I was shocked. A country song about burning red hats? Is that even possible? Allowed? And then I realized my mistake. I saw all the bullshit misconceptions and stereotypes scampering through my head. Shame on me.
It’s a fun song. It deserves attention and oxygen. It deserves sing-a-longs. And it was a big wake-up call for me. I had been making assumptions about people, prejudging what they would say, how they would vote, how they HAD voted (past tense). It was easier for me to think that the “Red Hats” were stupid, that they didn’t care, that they couldn’t see what is happening in front of us or see this downward spiral of increasing hate and economic/international decline. The idea that they care just as much as me, that they are smart and patriotic, and that they are loving, caring people, well that didn’t jive in my narrative. They are the problem. Not me. Not mine. Them.
I think, just my two cents, that the problem with America today is the word “they.” They did this. They will pay. They cannot be trusted. They are out to get us. They are at war.
No. No more they.
WE are Americans. WE love this country. WE don’t always agree. WE are allowed to express our opinions. WE are allowed to argue and debate.
I have unfriended many people on social media in the last year because the things I saw on those threads and pages were disturbing, even scary. I told each friend that I still loved them but that I felt that this person had lost their mind. I told them, “When you get your mind back, come find me, I’ll be here.” I stand by that. I needed to set my boundaries. I could only stand so much toxicity. That said, I now see it was a short-term solution. I SHOULD have looked for the long term conversation. I should have been a better friend. And I am sorry. I temporarily chose to place my peace of mind over the conversation. I could have and should have gone about it in a better way.
If people are starting to realize that Trump doesn’t care about them, that he doesn’t look out for their best interests, and that he lies then we could start a conversation. He lies a lot. Even worse there are those times when he does exactly what he said he would do. He told us he would wage trade wars and levy massive tariffs. Now Arkansas and Nebraska are close to bankrupt with their farmers begging for government intervention. Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia each currently meet the definition of a Third World country. He told us he would go after people he felt had offended him. Government may have needed massive refurbishment, however, the incredible and indiscriminate layoffs of DOGE have crippled our agencies and caused damage to our standing domestically and internationally. We are not seen as reliable. We do not honor our agreements. We beg for investment and then ICE arrests the foreign employees in charge of installing the factory equipment and training the American workers. We aren’t safe for countries to send their business to. The war in Gaza? It’s worse. The war in Ukraine? It’s worse. Epstein Files? Not released and the news on them just gets weirder and weirder. It’s all getting worse, especially with all of us, us Americans, and how we treat each other. Today I read that the Administration is going after Blue Organizations. What does that even mean and how does help us heal??
Unless, UNLESS, people start to wake up. Maybe we can do things differently. We can start talking to one another again. Maybe things haven’t gone the way that they hoped. And there’s that “they” again. See, I’m doing it, too. To be more accurate, things haven’t gone the way WE hoped. WE are worried. WE love our country.
Well, WE don’t have to be at odds. WE can realize that we all, both sides, truly love this mish-mash, crazy, unique, nutty, imperfect union that is our United States of America. So if someone “burns” a red hat, don’t be smug. Don’t tell them every single flipping thing you feel THEY did wrong. Be chill, be welcoming. And if your Blue neighbor apologizes or wants a hug don’t make the snowflake joke, the woke joke. Take the win. See the opening. Make it better. WE can do better. WE want better. WE are better.
I mean, yes, it will be messy but anything has to be better than where we are now. The Red Hat has become a symbol of all that divides us. I would love a new “hat” as it were. Hey guys, there is life after the Red Hat… for both sides. Let’s find that- a more perfect, imperfect union.
WE.
P.S. How does everyone feel about a purple hat? Could be nice, yes?
Great song that sums it up and this guy has a great voice. Agree with your take. I will patiently wait and allow some grace when “they” finally figure it out. Hopefully, there is not too much damage so we can come back from it. WE need to heal.
Thank you so much- I’m rooting for the WE!