No, We Are Not Still Cool

In response to the 2024 election, Chris Pratt responded with unity. He wanted people to check in with their neighbors who voted for the other candidate to make sure they were okay. He wanted Trump’s voters to be graceful winners and comfort those afraid of the world that will follow. In theory, it’s a good idea to show compassion and empathy.

But, also, what fucking comfort?

What comfort will a Trump supporter give to a Harris voter right now? The people most terrified are those who are going to have their basic human rights revoked. Women, gay people, trans folks, immigrants, the neurodivergent, the disabled, and people of color are all threatened by Trump’s Project 2025 plan. They’ve seen his strategy and heard his egotism smeared with apathy for others. How are you going to help your neighbor that is feeling this existential dread when you voted for all this? What will bring them comfort? A hug? Fuck your hug.

There is no middle ground here, but you’re going to hear a lot of out-of-touch conservatives and boring-ass centrists still calling for compromise. What compromise? The right wants to take away the bodily autonomy of women, and the left doesn’t. How do you compromise on that? Do we agree that women can only get abortions on Tuesdays and Thursdays? Fuck your calendar solution.

But, hey, we can disagree and still be friends, right? Not this time. We can disagree about which pizza topping is the best or which Terminator films suck the most because these opinions don’t ultimately affect our lives in any meaningful way. My family and friends are fearful, frustrated and furious right now. Their well-being is not on the same debate stage for pizza toppings. The people I love are not pizza toppings. They are people who are scared about their eroding freedoms. If you voted for Trump, you didn’t care about them. So why should we be friends?

Trump’s hideous agenda needs to be questioned and the people who voted for it need to be grilled on this topic. Ask your Trump-voting family why they agree with an egotist whose plans are going to damage everything from civil rights to the economy. When you do this, they will likely get uncomfortable and retreat to this exit: “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Your family saying, “I don’t want to talk about it,” is acceptable when questioning the gross carpet in the bathroom or why your dad bought an ugly shirt. Don’t give them that out. Ask them directly to explain why they’re okay with all this. Hold their feet to the fire until it’s painful enough that they start screaming the quiet part loud. Whether it’s because they feel icky around the gays or because they’re beholden to religion over health, all of it will eventually boil down to the core feeling that motivated and warranted all this hatred: “I just don’t care about any of this.” And that’s the moment when you’ll know that your neighbor who wanted to reach out or your family that sends you shitty Facebook propaganda does not care about you.

We may all be human, but we are not the same. We’re not going to put our differences aside with a Pepsi. Shove that Pepsi up your ass.

I was dismayed when I heard the news of Trump’s reelection. My external presentation was still that of collection and stoicism, trying to focus on what I could control and not stress out about what I could not. But the mantra of “we are so fucked” kept coursing through my mind. Fear was taking hold. So, I calmed myself with my go-to comfort of movies. The film I needed was Muppets Take Manhattan, a beautifully amusing tale of how the down-on-their-luck Muppets failed to sell a Broadway show and were reunited because of Kermit’s plucky determination. Kermit’s angry rant is a big part of why this is a comfort film. When the money of the Muppets dwindles, the feuding gang asks Kermit what they should do next.

“How should I know? Why are you always asking me anyway? Can’t you take care of yourselves? I don’t know what to do next! We failed, okay? We tried and we failed!” -Kermit from Muppets Take Manhattan

We are all Kermit. But following this shouting and Kermit’s assessment of their budget, he admits that they must eat. Even in the face of overwhelming frustration, Kermit still recognizes the importance of caring for ourselves. We’re no good to anybody if we’re a mess. So I ate a spicy tuna salad sandwich with cheese and peppers.

Fear has now subsided and turned to rage. Thankfully, I’m fed enough that my hunger won’t guide my anger to darker places. I’m clear-headed enough not to resort to finger-pointing and scapegoating those on the left the way all lazy liberals have washed away their self-reflection. I will not throw not waste my fury of citations on Trump voters because their motto has been that of not caring or listening. I am considering helping with a support group and trying to do some good with this energy.

In the meantime, I will go back to my writing about movies. It’s what I love to do and it brings me great joy to tap away my thoughts and feelings about film. But this is not a retreat. I am not going to write objectively. I’m not going to appease both sides with my writing. This is not to say that I’m going to start posing Marxist theory on the political nature of The Garfield Movie, but I’m not going to shy away from the hideous political implications of something like God’s Not Dead 5. I’m not an apolitical film critic who will gloss over the erroneous political history in the Reagan movie and just comment on how nice the sets look. The sets fucking suck, in case you’re wondering.

I’m sure everybody and their grandmother (the non-racist one) have offered their words of support to keep going forward. It may seem like I’m following a trend, but we need encouragement now more than ever. People are feeling hopeless and need more than empty hugs from their Trump-voting neighbors and Pepsi from Jenner to stay afloat. So here’s some more hope for the pile:

Your existence is essential. If you’re part of one of the groups Project 2025 has targeted, you’re a threat to the conservatives by merely being alive. If you’re alive, society will have to live with you, whether they like it or not. If you call out Trump’s bullshit and his fascistic plans, the Republicans are going to have to listen to you. They’ll try to cover their ears, but the more voices that join will generate a louder roar. I’m not telling you to protest and disrupt their so-called peace because the Republicans will listen to your pleas and take action. Trump certainly won’t, and his conservative sycophants won’t give a shit either. They’re going to call you annoying and rude. And that’s the point.

If we’re heading down an unjust route to fascism, you need to speak up. It doesn’t even have to be something like a protest. It can be as simple as outwardly condemning the rhetoric of your Trump-loving acquaintance and forcing them to answer for why they’re okay with this hideous rhetoric. Again, they won’t listen and think you’re just getting overly emotional. They’re going to be frustrated and feel uncomfortable. Make them feel that way. Let them suffer for what they’ve done.

“I’m not going to give you closure. You don’t get that. You have to live with the shitty thing you did for the rest of your life. You have to know that it’s never ever going to be okay.” -Herb from Bojack Horseman

For the next four years, never let Trump’s base forget they voted for a convicted felon and rapist who instigated an insurrection, stripped away our basic freedoms, and ruined our country. Remind them every chance you can. Every mention of Trump in voice and text should immediately be followed by “the convinced felon and rapist who instigated an insurrection.” Make them feel ashamed every time they come to his defense. Make the next four years a living hell that they voted for. We’re not locked in here with them; they’re locked in here with us.

But…if that all seems like too much work, just keep living. Keep being here with us. Republicans are counting on you to give up. Don’t let them have that win. Control what you can and focus your efforts on living well and making the world a better place for the people you care about. Take a break if you need to. Eat a sandwich and watch Muppets Take Manhattan. It won’t solve your problems, but it might center you enough not to give up.

I’m not going to say we’re all going to be okay. We don’t know what the next four years will bring. But it’s a little less scary if we’re together and acknowledge that this shit is not okay. Some people care about you in this world and not the faux all-are-one bullshit your Trump-voting neighbor is selling. Be here for them, and they’ll be there for you. Take care of yourself. We need you, even if all you can do is recognize that Project 2025 is wrong.

I’m not giving up. I’m still going to keep writing about movies on my website. I’m still going to keep advocating for women’s rights, gay rights, and trans rights. I’m still going to call out right-wing bullshit when I see it. I’m going to keep on living, and you should join me. We’ve got so many more movies to watch.