As a white woman living in the suburbs.. what terrifies me

[Peacetrain]

is not having so many wonderful people of all races and cultures and religions living in the same suburbs I do.. what terrifies me is the couple of distant neighbors who fly their Trump flags, .. I have no idea what is going on with those people.. they stay to themselves..they are so fearful I guess.. I am not sure.. the rest of us. meet at the back fences , help each other when the winds blow.. (our tree came down in the big blow a couple of weeks ago).. I do not know what they are afraid of. But they scare the hell out of me

[beachbumbob]

1. they should

[FakeNoose]

2. I hear ya and I totally agree

I'm a single white woman, living in the city of Pittsburgh. Half of my neighbors are black, half are white. They are all nice neighbors and I feel totally safe here. I've owned my house for almost 25 years and never once needed to call the police for anything.

I can't say anything about people with Chump yard signs, because I haven't seen any in the past couple of years. They might be out in the suburbs, or outlying counties maybe, but we're SAFE here in the city.

[Richard58]

24. Yep!

I live in a suburban neighborhood that is quite diverse. A young Pakistani couple live across from me, a gay couple live beside me and the neighborhood has quite a few Blacks and Arab refugees. We all get along quite well. We wave and say hello to each other. It's quite nice. Of course there are some Trump supporters in the neighborhood. (You can tell by their big "Trump 2020" signs in their yards.) One couple in particular kind of epitomizes your typical Trump voter. They are a middle-aged White couple who stay to themselves. They have a massive Trump sign in their yard. They fly both the American and Confederate flags from their porch and they have a sign on their house that says the owner is armed. You know, "This house is protected by Smith & Wesson". When they are outside I never see them smile---especially the wife. She has a perpetual frown on her face and has sort of a wild-eyed look. You can tell that she is armed because you can see that tell-tale bulge on her hip. Why does she feel the need to conceal carry? Who knows? Oh did I mention she always wears a cross around her neck? Good Christian no doubt. Yes indeed they are Trumpers. Such a fun couple!
As an aside I used to live in Pittsburgh! Loved that city! Go Steelers!

[FakeNoose]

31. Most suburbs are OK I guess

I grew up in all-white suburbs during the 60s, but I find city-living much more to my liking. Many old friends and classmates (people in my baby-boomer age bracket) seem to be split on that.

I just don't get the fear and anger that some white Americans tend to project. What is their problem? Why are they so angry over everything? Inevitably the same people display large, prominent Chump signs in their front yard like it's going ward off the evil spirits or something. They're all nuts.

I'm happy they don't live near me.

[Evolve Dammit]

40. Hate radio and Faux News keeps them perpetually agitated and angry at Dems, libruls and POC.

[liberaltrucker]

29. You're lucky

I'm just north of you in Butler County.
Chump signs all over the place.

[FakeNoose]

30. Good luck to you, friend

I rarely go to Butler, but I've heard it's pretty bad up there.

[spinbaby]

3. Magats scare me

I’m a woman in the suburbs and I feel threatened by white men who drive pickup trucks and wear red hats.

[Amishman]

4. sorry!

big white guy with a beer belly whose favorite hat is red (Winged Express drag racing hat) and drives a pickup. I'm harmless, really!

[lagomorph777]

5. White suburban man and MAGAts scare and infuriate me too.

I wouldn't feel comfortable or safe if my neighborhood was all white.

[Doreen]

20. Don't forget the gun rack they like to show off. Well, at least in my town.

[smirkymonkey]

26. Those are the people who scare the s**t out of me the most.

Or at all. I live in the middle of a fairly large city and have never been afraid of my neighbors of all colors and races, but if I were to see a white couple with MAGA hates and confederate flag gear, I would stay as far away from them as possible. Those people are not stable or sane IMHO.

[Ohiogal]

6. I would be afraid

To live in a neighborhood full of trump nazis. They scare the crap out of me.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

25. I do. And I am.

I used to find it depressing, but now I consider them dangerous. I wish I did live in a more diverse neighborhood, then they would clear the hell out, and leave only peaceful non-racist white people. It used to be mostly the men that were over the top, but now their women are becoming hyper-aggressive too.

Just got back from a short out of town trip this weekend to find a neighbors Trump sign staring me right in the face every time I go out my back door to get to the garage.

[judesedit]

7. I agree. It's the whites we have to fear. And I'm white, and ashamed of those assholes.

There are some super ignorant white people out there. Let me tell you.

[Ferrets are Cool]

8. One thing for sure...

when I see a OrangeAnus flag or even just something stuck in the ground, I realized that a RACIST lives there. It's good to know where the fascists live.

[Lonestarblue]

9. What scares me are the white people carrying guns.

Most of the stores here (Austin) do not allow guns inside, but you see guys with assault rifles downtown and in public areas, and some women too with guns holstered at their waists. Those are the people I don’t trust.

[KPN]

15. Here in south coastal Oregon, I see more and more

of the same thing. It feels like they are arming up for November actually. I’m extremely apprehensive about November 4, 2020. I’m concerned we will be forced to come out into the streets one way or another; either because of a stolen election or a refusal by tRump to concede. With what has already transpired in the past few weeks and months, I can’t imagine how there won’t be more bloodshed. ...

[Sogo]

32. We're not going to have a result on November 4.

There are states that allow absentee ballots to be postmarked on election day.

[KPN]

42. True ... which only lends credence to my

apprehensions to my way of thinking. Emotions are going to be heightened and easily inflamed in that period of uncertainty as well as at its conclusion.

[Texin]

10. Seems to me that they're more afraid of you than you should be of them.

Don't get me wrong, I've seem some pretty vicious and intolerant assholes that spend more of their time and energy trying to get in the grilles of employees and managers at Walmart or 7-11 bellyaching about having their *freedom* taken away because they are refused service if they're not wearing a mask (even though it could save their lives). There are a frightening number of men (and I suppose some women) proudly carrying their assault-style weapons and brandishing them in the toy department of Walmart. These toxic asshole idiots would be doing that anyway, like cockroaches, they scurry around like cockroaches en masse because the orange shitstain has turned the lights off and pulled down the shades. I'm hoping they'll retreat to their cracks and crevices when the tangerine tsarist is dragged out of the WH. Maybe they won't, but a lot of their actions stem from absolute fear and dread that their number is dwindling. And I hope it does. Most Americans don't want a race war or a redo of the Civil War. I don't know what will happen in the short term, but I think we're all in for some bumpy few years ahead of us.

[AllaN01Bear]

11. before i moved to my apartment i lived with my mom in a small community.

most people were nice & freindly . then they moved in. didnt want to make friends , didnt want to socialize, didnt want to mingle at the manditory association meeting . had the bigest dont tread on me flag . these people dont know the symbolisim of that flag. (gadison flag)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_flag

[AlexSFCA]

12. because of trump, I am cautious about all white men until I learn they're not trumpers

[KPN]

16. A sad but legitimate personal policy. As a white

male, I don’t blame you one bit for that level of distrust. It is no doubt deserved as far as I’m concerned.

[True Blue American]

18. You just spoke for me!

[Ohiogal]

28. My sentiments exactly.

[Maeve]

13. I hear you, sister!

It's the trump-types that scare me, too!

[LymphocyteLover]

14. I feel exactly the same as a white guy living in the suburbs

[Kaleva]

17. I'm surrounded by homes with Trump signs and flags & most have guns

[KPN]

19. I suspect all have guns. Be careful. Be safe.

[Bettie]

21. I'm surrounded by them

here in small town Iowa.

[Sogo]

33. I'm in small town Iowa, too.

We have are a very diverse town because of the university that's here.

In 2016, most here (not me) were Bernie supporters. But Trump took the county - very unusual.

I live in a subdivision that doesn't allow political signs. Yesterday, however, I say a big red pickup drive into the development with two big American flags flying off the back tailgate. The vibe was Trump....But I do know that most here are Dems. I'm hoping all the Bernie supporters come around; I do know many who are voting for Biden.

I see that one condo owner is flying a big American flag, but they have also put a blue lightbulb in their porch light....I'm taking that as a subliminal message!

[Bettie]

35. Oh, I hope the Bernie supporters come around too

I know a lot of Bernie people and all but one are voting for Biden.

Trumpers are just scary lately. They are so angry and filled with hate.

[Sogo]

37. Yep. I think they sense

that he's gonna lose....ByeDon!!


I just hope we flip Iowa blue!!

[Demsrule86]

22. What an awesome post Peace...K&R

Also a big thanks for posting.

[Peacetrain]

43. Its been crazy here Demsrule.. so I usually only really get to post in the morning..

[hunter]

23. I'm a white guy who grew up in affluent 99% white suburbs.

My parents were artists with day jobs who had more children than they could comfortably support so our family was not affluent. We lived where they worked. When they retired they moved away they became full time artists. My siblings and I escaped as well, some of us as young as sixteen.

My middle and high school experience was hell. I was a target of all sorts of bullies. I quit high school because of that.

As an adult I'd never go back.

My wife and I made a very deliberate decision not to raise our children in such a place.

Our children have always had a wide spectrum of friends and they are comfortable anywhere. They now live in big cities.

I haven't seen any Trump signs in our neighborhood which is majority Hispanic, then White, Black, and Filipino.

40% of the children in our school district don't speak English at home. The children next door to us are trilingual. They mostly speak English with one another and their friends, but they have no trouble speaking with their grandparents and other adults in the family who do not speak English well.

In my home town the police constantly harassed black and brown people. Shopkeepers and restaurateurs did not treat them well. When equal housing became the law the exclusion of non-white people simply went underground. It's not as bad as it was in the 'sixties and 'seventies, but still persists.

Too many people choose to live in white suburbs because they are afraid. Trump plays to their fears. Television amplifies his voice.

[MontanaMama]

27. I'm a resident of Missoula, MT.

While this community is fairly white, it is becoming more diverse every day...and that makes me happy. People help each other here and work to make sure we’re all safe. A family from Jamaica moved in to a house at the end of my street...their two kiddos were sucked into the kid vortex on our block within a day of their arrival....as it should be. The only people I fear are the MAGAts. While this is a blue city, we have more than our share of them around. When I see a red hat or a don’t tread on me flag, I feel personally threatened. These people don’t want safety and security for anyone but themselves and they’d happily kill me if they thought I stood in the way of their free-dumbs.

[ooky]

34. I carry mace in case of an out of control Magat encounter.

I don't know if that qualifies as fearing them. Generally I just don't go around them, if I see them flying Trump flags I assume they are asshats.

[colsohlibgal]

36. Really

Racists are just some combination of dumb and having an irrational fear of the “Other”.

Of the two best gal pals I ever had one was of color the other Jewish. No matter we were true blue friends from the get go.

Go back far enough we’re all related.

[Skittles]

38. I hear you

I live in the burbs and it is VERY diverse, Trump seems to be thinking of the 50's. I do, however, have real concerns about the type of people who could STILL support that fascist, racist piece of shit.

[TomSlick]

39. It's helpful when these folks fly Trump or confederate flags.

We're safer if the fascists identify themselves.

[Evolve Dammit]

41. When I was a youngster, my brother had friends to the house from Iraq, Iran and Nigeria. I have

never understood the reluctance to embrace other cultures. We always had a great time with them and I grew up believing that was how it should be. Then, after Vietnam I hoped it was how it could be. After Iraq invasion, now I just look to the pockets of tolerance and multi-cultural community. The MAGATs are bringing it down to their reptilian level and do pose a threat, making it even worse. Don't let them, to the extent you can. Protect yourself, reach out, do good deeds, vote and know you are not alone. If Drumpf tries to mobilize them, then we got a new chapter.