THE CANCER THAT IS POLTICS

or how dissenting opinions cost me friends of 25 years

did this drawing with graphite pencils, based on the mugshot of an ex-friend I found online

Over this past weekend I met up with a few friends for a drink at a local bar. Included in this group were 2 friends that I have known for 25+ years, both stood up in my wedding and I tended to view them as my brothers. After the evening I spent with them I now no longer believe that we are friends and I have come to the realization that continuing our friendship is something that I no longer want, it is just too difficult to be friends with them. Why? Simply because of politics, that is the reason people I have been friends with for 25 years view me as something less than human. My crime? I told them that I no longer believe that “global warming” is something that we need to worry about. Both friends looked at me like I just shat on their cheerios, like I was some dimwitted fool that believes in doing his own research instead of relying upon their beloved experts. Instead of treating me with respect they treated me like a rube who is barely literate, despite my knowing a hell of a lot more about what’s going on in the world than these 2 NPR listening ass clowns. The sheer level of anger that was directed at me was truly obscene, any attempt I made to get my points across were met with derision and scorn; when I pointed out how emotional my one friend was getting I thought he wanted to punch me. I ended up telling them both that if they want to worship at the altar of global warming, they were free to do so, if I didn’t want to bow before the green agenda I would not do so. You would think that 25 years of friendship would allow me to speak my views freely but not in 2025, refusing to follow groupthink get you labeled as an apostate quicker than holding a tranny convention at the local mosque.

I read a lot, and I mean a lot. I read over 100 novels per year along with spending much of my workday reading stuff online, when Substack sent me my summer reading summary I had read something like 4 million words and that was just on Substack. I don’t say this to brag but to show that my attention span has not been corrupted by soundbites and TikTok videos, I love longform articles as it gives me a chance to work my mental muscles. The 2 “friends” I was arguing do not read books, or read very infrequently, and get almost all their news from NPR/Facebook/CNN, they do zero independent research and believe in the almighty power of their beloved experts. Trying to talk to people this indoctrinated into the mainstream narrative is nothing but a losing battle, I knew it before the conversation started and I knew I should keep my mouth shut as it would lead to nothing but scorn. The problem is I am beyond sick of having to censor myself amongst those who call me friend, if you are my friend then you need to treat me with respect, simple as that. If you think my views are incorrect and want to have a civilized discussion I am all for it as I like to debate, I don’t consider my views sacrosanct and am willing to change my mind if presented with new facts or viewpoints I may not have known before. What I am not willing to undergo is what amounts to a struggle session where people surround me, talk over everything I have to say, label me as some right-wing lunatic (I hold no allegiance to any political party and think democracy/elections are the biggest con ever pulled on humanity) simply because my views are different than yours.

Politics has become a cancer upon society, it has infected the host population and is threatening to tear the fabric from society. If we can no longer speak freely around those we’ve called friends for decades to whom can we speak freely? That is the scourge of politics and shows the true nature of democracy, that of censorship and the brainwashed majority who believe in nothing but what they’re told to believe. Those of us, the few that are left, that still possess self-intelligence, critical thinking, and, most importantly, independent spirits are left shouting at the darkness that is slowly encompassing us. What these 2 “friends” showed me is that I am truly alone in this world, that the havoc the media, medical, and educational institutions have wrought across the land is almost complete. These are dark times for those who choose to believe that all the narratives we have been taught, from being told we live in the freest country ever to Covid being a deadly virus are nothing but pure bullshit propaganda. We are surrounded by people who would burn us at the stake, hell they still might, for having the audacity to think for ourselves and point out the illogical nature of society. I have been shunned by my family and now by friends for daring to question our benevolent overlords and that is something of which I am proud. I am proud for standing by my beliefs and refusing to stand down when conforming would have made my evening much more enjoyable. Never conform your beliefs to fit those of others, always stand by what you think is right and if a mob goes after you for your views, it means you are on the right track.

After 25 years of friendship, it is difficult to say goodbye to those you’ve grown up with, or grown old with, but there is no reason to continue maintaining relationships with those who require you confirm their world views without question. I have reached the decision to cut these people out of my life, not for the views they hold but due to their emotional reactions and unwillingness to tolerate dissenting views. Over the past few years, I have realized that I have outgrown almost all of my friendships but continued socializing with them due how difficult it is to make new friends as a middle aged man. I was willing to tolerate their bullshit, how difficult is it to not talk politics amongst friends? It’s not, these people are so affected by Trump Derangement Syndrome that they cannot resist the siren’s call to bring him up as much as possible. I now realize that we are no longer friends, what we had was the sad remnant of friendship where we hang out occasionally and act like it’s still 2015. I am done playing this game, if you want my friendship you need to grant me common decency and allow me to voice my views without being attacked for doing so. I am done wasting my time talking to those who refuse to listen or think that getting their opinions from John Oliver means they are educated on a subject. Politics has become beyond toxic and I am no longer interested in infecting myself with this media derived poison. I am alone and that is okay, think I would rather be alone, reflecting in solitude than being forced to censor myself to remain in society’s good graces.