Conversation

Aella
@Aella_Girl
When I was growing up as a fundamentalist Christian, we were taught that the secular hated us, that they were persecuting us, that we would speak the truth and they'd figuratively spit in our faces. We were at constant odds with larger society, and this was viewed as good. 1/
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Aella
@Aella_Girl
My family had this particularly hard - my dad was a public figure Christian apologist, and as such he (and by some extension the rest of us) were thrust hard into this antagonism. I protested things alongside him, debated people as he did. 2/
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Aella
@Aella_Girl
He had a radio show, wrote books, ran one of the biggest Christian defense websites on the internet. I remember him getting death threats from people; someone sent him pictures of mutilated children and told him that's what they'd do to his family. My family has been swatted. 3/
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Aella
@Aella_Girl
I was raised in this heavily antagonistic environment as a default, and I think for me this is 'normal.' Having the world think you're wrong is just the water I've been swimming in since birth. And I've left Christianity, but I have a really deep belief in my body that 4/
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Aella
@Aella_Girl
being hated is okay, you'll still be safe if the world hates you, that you can still function and have a family and a house and eat food. And so I think this is partially why I feel more inclined to think about the things society reacts harshly to, and less afraid to say them. 5/
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Tom Risen
@TomRisen
Replying to
@Aella_Girl
Being safe while being hated is much more difficult if you're not white. Btw - You said you're interested in Libertarianism. How is that relationship? I have some friends who have split with that community because of race issues.
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Aella
@Aella_Girl
Replying to
@TomRisen
It's not true in a lot of circumstances, in war, or if the people who hate you employ you, etc. It mostly only works if you have some bubble. I generally think race as a go-to for dividing the world is often inaccurate and harmful.