OK, folks. I’m going to walk down this ^fine^ line as best I can.
I went to college with a _currently sitting US Senator_. He and I were also ^fraternity^ brothers together. I pledged when he was a junior (2yr. difference). Think Animal House.
Since we are 2 years apart, I can tell you that we BOTH suffered through the same humiliation that is pledging. We both had the same experience of “hell week”. We partied together and we studied together (Poly Sci).
I could relate “initiation” stories that we both went through. I had poor pledging experiences delivered by his hand (demerits). We BOTH can relate to fraternal acceptance rituals that survive, in some form, to this day. I ^can^ look to others of that era to corroborate my experience.
Correspondingly, I can make up SH*T about my brother that some might find incredible. Here’s the difference:
I won’t do it. This Senator and I differ GREATLY on ideology (he is a D). I disagree vehemently with his positions. That does not mean I would fabricate or embellish his actions or character during the time I knew him. We will re-connect this year at our Homecoming.
Never, NEVER would I come before a tribunal and impugn his character, even though I disagree with his politics. This is not ^fraternity^ speaking. He may be a communist, but he has never violated the law, to my knowledge.
I won’t be voting in his favor but he is not a socio-cultural black hat. Here-in lies the difference in politics of Patriots and Communists.
I don’t think you would ever have to do that. We are winning. Tons of You Tube videos. The deepies can’t keep up.
I absolutely think you should get to know him. Find out some sh!te about him and do him dirty. He is the ENEMY there are NO HOLDS BARRED.
(p.s. I’m kidding about trying to get dirt on a friend, but not so much about the no holds barred part because they would do it to us in a heartbeat.)