My far RW, "disabled" Vet, racist neighbor just did me an incredible favor--not sure how to

[Jackpine Radical]

25. People are complicated. Including a lot of Teabaggers.

I have right-wing associates who have helped me with a lot of things, and I've done things for them in return. One of them likes to engage me in political rants, another simply keeps his political stuff pretty much to himself. I go with the flow.

I think a lot of Teabag types are hurt & angry people, often with a sense of justice that they feel has been violated. Many of them are pretty tribal and unable to extend empathy to those who are very unlike them. Some are driven by a twisted theology. We are all somewhat compartmentalized, behaving differently in different circumstances and roles.

I think you will find that you can make contact with the decent human within most people if you get past your own judgmentalism and sense of self-righteousness (Teabaggers tend to have enough of both to cover the situation without you adding your own). Banging heads with others accomplishes little except for sore heads and maybe concussions. Much better to open a pathway of communication and let them see that you don't fit their stereotypes when they get to know you.

As far as the disability--many can't be seen from the outside. For example, Agent Orange is now acknowledged to cause cardiovascular damage and heart disease. People on medications for such conditions may gain weight. They may also be lethargic, depressed, irritable and angry.

Or maybe it's PTSD. You don't know but what he may be living in an internal Hell Realm replete with constant anxiety,sleep disorder, nightmares, hypervigilance that manifests as general distrust, etc.

That old bit about walking in another man's moccasins…