Posted on 09/11/2019 9:27:17 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
I imagine Im not the only one this happened to, but still, you hate to see it happen at all. You express your support for Trump on a given issue, and an old friend or acquaintance dumps you. Thats how fiercely they oppose or even despise him. How do we best navigate these turbulent waters?
Growing up in a small Jewish community on Long Island, most of my best friends were also Jewish. And like the majority of American Jews, most of those old friends are now liberal Democrats. And a few of those old friends or neighbors are my Facebook friends.
That means they see my many posts about controversial cultural issues, like abortion and LGBT activism, and they do not unfriend me.
Others, not surprisingly, did unfriend me along the way, which I fully understand. We werent super close, and they didnt appreciate my views. All clear.
But one in particular, whom I had known since elementary school, somehow stuck around, and every so often hed post a nice comment to a family update or the like.
Unfortunately, the day came when my support for the President on a particular issue was more than he could take, and that was the end of that.
I wasnt offended, but I hated to see it happen.
More recently, another childhood friend, named David, posted this in response to one my Trump-related articles: How can any Christian support such an immoral and divisive man? Hes broken every commandment and has committed all Seven Deadly Sins. Ask yourself two questions....would Jesus support such behavior?
Would Jesus treat illegals the same way?
The answer is no to both questions and I question your commitment to Jesus if you support Donald Trump.
Instant redemption is bull as Trump never seems contrite in his poor decisions.
How did I respond to a post like this?
It appears that the order of the day is to fight fire with fire, offense with offense. You blast me and I blast you. Forget about substance. About content. About details and facts. And forget about conducting ourselves in a godly manner. Not a chance. Fire away!
But the Book of Proverbs has a relevant word for us here: A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. (Proverbs 15:1, NLT)
I knew his life experience and faith perspectives were very different than mine, and personally, I was glad to see he was still a Facebook friend, despite our differences.
I wrote back, You definitely represent the concerns of many others, especially non-Christians. Here's the short answer: 1) Donald Trump is NOT our Savior, and for many of us, he was the last choice of the Republicans running for office. But a vote for him was a vote against Hillary, who we believed would be a disaster for our country. 2) While the issue of migrant children is a serious one and needs to be addressed, for us, slaughtering one million babies in the womb [each year] is a massively bigger issue. The brutal and horrific slaughter and torture and displacement of millions of Christians in the Middle East by ISIS and other Islamic militants is a massively bigger issue. The possibility of Iran getting nuclear weapons to attack Israel fits in this same category. And these are just some of the biggest issues to us. That's why we voted for Trump. We felt Hillary would be on the wrong side of all of these. As for immigration, remember that Obama deported far more illegals, at this time in his presidency, than Trump, and the problem of separating children from parents has existed for years before Trump. Christian supporters of Trump simply need to make clear that we want something done that is compassionate and fair. 3) When we excuse Trump's sinful behavior, we discredit our own witness. I agree. But we do NOT compromise our Christian witness when we say, We deplore his past, playboy lifestyle, and we hate his crude and ugly attacks against others, but out of the choices for president in 2016 (or, potentially in 2020), we believe he's the better choice. I encourage you to think this through. God bless!
And how did David respond on Facebook? He wrote, Michael, thanks for the answer. As you know, we have many issues facing us as a country and as religious groups. There are no easy answers. Im not sure if prioritizing our response based on religious views is the answer.
It saddens me to see not one of the responses I got from people here address my two questions about Jesus approving of Trumps actions. I see a herd of Trump apologists who cherry pick their Christian values.
Michael, I admire you as a person, you serve a very important role in todays world. Keep up the good work you do! Be well!
I responded, Thanks for the kind words. This is the kind of interaction we all need. Much appreciated! And keep raising your voice when you want to weigh in. I always welcome respectful differences of opinion.
As of today, David and I are still Facebook friends (David, I hope youre reading this! If you are, encourage Robert to rejoin us!). And the point of me posting this is not to say, Look at how wise my interaction was!
The point, instead, is this.
Lets do our best to communicate. To interact substantively rather than be reactionary. To do our best to hear someones heartfelt concerns.
And then, rather than dismissing those concerns as if they were baseless is that how we want our concerns treated? to share our point of view with clarity and grace.
In the end, rather than losing friends over views about Trump, we just might gain some.
Hey, it cant hurt to dream.
"Live with a man 40 years. Share his house, his meals. Speak on every subject. Then tie him up, and tell him you're a Trump supporter. And on that day, you will finally meet the man."
[[If a friend cant respect your opinion, theyre not really a friend.]]
IF they can’t “Agree to disagree Agreeably” then they aren’t friends-
Donald Trump is not my Rabbi or Pastor. Hes my President. And like men of God love their Creator and their flock, my President loves his country.
The fundamental transformation offered by todays democratic socialists demonstrates the utter disdain they have toward America, our culture, capitalism, and our founding.
If your friends or family dont see what is at stake - fem.
I tried the “gentle” approach with my sister in law. It did not work. Someone had posted something about the rioting that was going on in Berkeley at the time, when antifa was finding it’s sea legs. A very civil conversation among several ensued. She had written something along the lines of rioting happening after Obama was elected. All I wrote back was asking very politely where the proof was of it, as I must have missed it. I asked her for news articles, videos etc. She did not respond but I found out weeks later that she unfriended me because I was “too political.” It really made no material impact on my life at all and in fact laughed about it with my wife.
We now have not spoken to her for a year and a half because we were at dinner one night and my son was relating the story of his Boy Scout survival camp out wherein a rattlesnake had invaded their camp and the boys killed it. She made this snide comment, “So much for leaving only your footprint behind.” I then said to her, it was a rattlesnake, what were they supposed to do? Let it hang out with them? Several days later she called my wife to complain that I had “attacked” her. Now, I didn’t raise my voice, I didn’t yell, but I was clearly irritated. My wife responded to her, don’t be ridiculous, nobody got attacked. I heard the whole exchange. My wife told her to grow up. Since then she will not talk to us.
Total. Snowflake.
Some of these people simply do not know how to process someone disagreeing with them on even the most basic level.
I told my wife she is going to have a tough road ahead of her in life.
Losing the friend is good when the lost friend must be killed in the coming civil war.
I live in CA. if I had dumped ALL of my friends that were Obama supporters I would be a very lonely person right now, HOWEVER my support of Trump has been totally unacceptable to these same people I have lost a lot of friends!!! They actually are not friends I have found they are more acquaintances their hatred for Trump is not natural, I despised Obama BUT I knew he would be gone soon enough and didnt let him ruin my life!!! I have found that MANY people today cant think for themselves even in decision making at work they have to ask what someone what they should do next!!! I have NEVER asked anyone what I needed to do next I just find something to do and do it!!!
I don’t post politics or religion on facebook.
I don’t bring up politics or religion with friends.
However, when, and they do, they trash Trump I stand up for my support for Trump - much to their chagrin and amazement because I’m sure they are either agreed with or met with silence from others.
BTW, it only got worse after Obama... the Democrat party nominated Hillary. Hillary is and was the worst candidate ever and for so many very logical reasons. Yet, the Democrat party chose her because “she was owed the nomination.” My friend was completely blind to her shortcomings, too. You might say that he was blinded.
Exactly. I hear ya. Stay strong, my FRiend. If they left you, it was for the better. And, BTW, I live in CT, which is basically CA of the east.
I guess he really wasn’t that good of a friend. True friends can disagree about some things but still agree on others. Time passes and situations change.
My brother and I have lost a third brother. Really kinda sad.
Sounds like the people with a "Hate Has No Place Here" sign on their lawn that are very quick to act hateful toward someone that disagrees with them.
There’s a lot of power in true friendship. Unfortunately, life takes us in different directions.
Marxism is one the foundational worldviews of leftardism. Marxism is based on a belief in the power of the dialectic to create and control reality.The dialectic by its nature requires a clash or struggle between a thesis and an antithesis. Leftards consider this clash to be normal and welcome it. This is the cause of constant and continuous divisiveness, not Trump.
"Live with a man 40 years. Share his house, his meals. Speak on every subject. Then tie him up, and tell him you're a Trump supporter. And on that day, you will finally meet the man."
A little Firefly philosophy, hmmm!
Stock up on ammo. Winter is coming.
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Often times older people remember the party as it was, and have no clue what the party really is now because they just do not pay attention, and haven't for many years.
Biden...... he gets their support
A Rat can never be your friend. In the end, they are still just a rodent. A mooselimb can never be your friend. As long as they are mooselimb, they are one fatwa from removing your head.
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