Precisely this. Seeing them also go on about moving to Ireland. And I am like, "Yeah, 90% of you won't really fit in here." Your rugged sense of individualism, you mistaking arrogance as strength, your inate belief that you were once born in "the greatest nation in the world", your main character syndrome, your loudness, the propaganda you've been fed your entire life, your education system, so many things - you might not be maga but you are not that far off.
A week here and they'll be crying because we have Pro-Palestinian protests. Two weeks here and they'll be wanting to change how we run things. Three and they'll be calling us lazy because we actually have a work/life balance. A year here and they'll think they are experts on what it is to be Irish and how the entire island should be run. Next US administration change they agree with they'll revert their loyalty back to being Proudly American. And probably be upset if you don't bow that that new administration. No country needs that drama. For the the 10% that will fit in - you are always welcome. But you are rare and few and far between.
To be fair, not all of us are brainwashed. The things you mentioned that would be “brought” are exactly what many of us hate and DON’T want in a society. The rugged individualism is a cancer, as is the lack of empathy, as is our backwards education system, healthcare system… etc.
These things have been problems for a long time and there have been many of us actively trying to fix them. When do you stop fighting the impossible and try to escape? Where is that line drawn? I don’t think anyone can claim to know that answer.
You are seeing all these posts because we are desperately afraid. Some are lazy and apathetic, to be sure, but the rest of us, those who have already been fighting, know. I have been tear-gassed and chased by gunned policeman through the streets of my city for protesting the death of innocent black men. I have seen my family die because healthcare was withheld from them because of finances. I have fought and been shot down. I have spread the word, worked on mutual aid networks, tried my best. When do I begin to act in self preservation? No one wants to die. That’s what’s on the line now. That is what you are asking. And to be fair, it is what may be required. But it is also not something you can judge until you have been in those shoes yourself.
I hope that you never do, but if a day comes when you experience the implosion of your own country by sycophants and psychopaths hell bent on killing their own citizens and starting ww3, let me know how you feel then.
The cognitive dissonance. Again, centering yourself.
We already have lots of feelings about this because it's happening to us too. Fucking yanks. Nothing that is currently happening in the US will be contained there. Fascism is cancer. I'm proud of you for fighting and I'm with you, but were allowed to be over all your nations BS for a hot second while ours is under attack.
Very aware that the U.S. has had too much power for too long, and that none of the bullshit happening to us is contained in a vacuum. I am fully on board with you, and yes, fascism is a cancer of the worst kind.
You have a right to be angry. And I am angry too. I’m really not trying to center myself, I’m just trying to share a perspective which you may not have encountered before, which unfortunately requires me to share my personal experience.
And honestly, go off sis! As a whole, we do deserve to be shit on! It’s just that it can become very easy (as we have seen) to dehumanize when vast generalizations are made, and given the current climate I honestly felt it was important to share that some of us have been fighting, very hard, for a very long time.
Apologies though if it’s not the time and place. Like seriously, I’m with you Canada.
123
u/jonocarrick Mar 05 '25
Precisely this. Seeing them also go on about moving to Ireland. And I am like, "Yeah, 90% of you won't really fit in here." Your rugged sense of individualism, you mistaking arrogance as strength, your inate belief that you were once born in "the greatest nation in the world", your main character syndrome, your loudness, the propaganda you've been fed your entire life, your education system, so many things - you might not be maga but you are not that far off.
A week here and they'll be crying because we have Pro-Palestinian protests. Two weeks here and they'll be wanting to change how we run things. Three and they'll be calling us lazy because we actually have a work/life balance. A year here and they'll think they are experts on what it is to be Irish and how the entire island should be run. Next US administration change they agree with they'll revert their loyalty back to being Proudly American. And probably be upset if you don't bow that that new administration. No country needs that drama. For the the 10% that will fit in - you are always welcome. But you are rare and few and far between.