Choose or Die

You know what I am sick and tired to death of? Politics.

I know. I know. Politics are actually our whole lives. We are all affected by things that happen with our government and voting system. I'm not new.

If I'm being honest, maybe it's not actually politics that I'm sick of. It's the ugliness I'm seeing in people as a whole. Have you heard of the Republican/Democrat makeup trend? That's how this thought process started.

Personally, I don't find this trend to be offensive. It's people on the internet trying to get views and likes and being silly. I don't mind the content. The comments though. My gosh. Not on this particular video, I didn't even look at the comments here. I was minding my own business on Instagram when I came across another one of the Republican makeup trend videos. I watched it just as I watched all the others and then something told me to go to the comments. So, I did.

The things I read were terrible. The person who posted it was calling a fifteen-year-old girl a nazi, retarded, ugly, fat and so many other things. A fifteen-year-old girl. The person who posted was a 30 something woman. It wasn't just her either. The original poster was calling everyone else in the comment's names. She claimed to be the best at makeup and called everyone else untalented, fat, ugly. The name calling was insane. This girl then openly challenged anyone to come for her and do makeup better than her. As a makeup artist, I obliged.

I tagged her in the video and that's when the trouble really began. Since my video had a snippet of her video in it before I did my makeup, NO ONE read the caption. Everyone assumed I was doing the Republican makeup trend... but in Democrat. Which the original poster was. When I tell you the internet came for me, I am not exaggerating. The weird part is though, they loved the makeup. 16 thousand views and multiple comments telling me how great I looked and how much talent I have.

But the negative comments? Those all came because people assumed I am a republican. They wished death on me. They called me ugly, fat, said I have a big forehead. Tore me to shreds. It was actually insane. I replied to every comment with humor and was met by more and more insanity. Most of these people were self-proclaimed goths. So, the plot thickened.

From there, I went on an internet deep dive. When I was younger, being goth meant you were a free-thinking individual who enjoyed music. You loved everyone. You got along with pretty much everyone, even though you were usually the butt of peoples jokes because of your attire, makeup, or music choices. You were considered the weirdo. The freak. The misfit. But no one was concerned where anyone sat politically. My, how that has changed.

Apparently, this day in age, being goth means you must be a democrat. They claim it's ok to be independent (which is what I am) but if you say that you are independent- well that's wrong too. In fact, I think the exact words were, "So you're a politically incompetent moron who stands for nothing? Sounds very privileged."

You are not allowed to wear certain clothes, makeup, shoes, fashion etc. if you are a republican or rather aren't a democrat- according to these new tiktok goths. There are multiple videos from the alt community talking about it. If you disagree, they come for you. They demand that you follow the ideology of bands like Green Day. Does that not defeat the purpose of free thinking and being goth?

I have been on the weird side since I was a child. My first idol was Ariel from The Little Mermaid followed up by Tiffany from Bride of Chucky when I was only 9 years old. I have always dressed in dark clothes. I've created my own clothes and done my own makeup and been considered part of the alt community since before I was 10 years old. But now, I am unanimously hated by a group of people who claim to be all peace and love and unity. Not because I'm a Republican, (which I am not) but because I'm not a Democrat.

What even is life? When did it become a thing where we all have to collectively agree on one thing? Why do people have to hate others so much? I don't understand anything at this point. I can't remember a time before 2020 where people were this outspoken over political ideology. People talked about it, sure. But for the most part, people could agree to disagree on things. What happened to that?

Also, when did the party of "believe and support all women" become the party of belittling a woman for how she looks or who she votes for? How do you only believe and support a woman as long as she thinks and agrees with everything you do? And while I'm on the subject, do you know how many people I have seen calling trans women by their dead names because they voted for Trump? The comments are atrocious. I have seen people commenting on Cara Cunninghams page saying things like, "Your mamaw died to avoid the embarrassment of living with a Trump supporter."

If you don't know who Cara Cunningham is, she is a trans woman who was raised by her grandparents. She and her mamaw were so very close and she passed away about a year ago. Cara has always been a vocal Democrat, but this last election, she posted a reel voting for Trump and everyone shit themselves. They said things like, "Wow, you really voted against your best interests? Way to go, Chris. Have the day you deserve, Sir." These are the same people that were cheering her on and sending money to her venmo the night before.

I have so many issues with that. Who the hell do these people think they are telling people what their own best interests are? People are allowed to be free thinkers. It's called having common fucking sense. The next issue is the dead naming. If you only advocate for someone or support them as long as they believe the exact same things as you do, then you never supported them or cared about them. You were using them as a token.

I'm sure I might ruffle some feathers or lose some friends since it probably seems like I'm attacking only one group of people. It's not my intention. Republicans are just as hateful. I have an aunt who posts the most out of cheek things. She and I don't talk for that reason. I don't vibe with any person who is on the radical side of either wing of this diseased bird. I will respect anyone, no matter which way they vote- but I am not about to sit by and watch anyone bully someone for thinking for themself.

I have friends who are Republican, Democrat, gay, straight, trans, black, white, American citizens, immigrants, and so much more. I love them all equally. I don't care how they vote. It's not my business. Nor is it anyone else's. We all have brains. Those brains allow us to think for ourselves. We should be asking questions. The TV shouldn't be giving you all your answers and for fucks sake, people need to quit repeating what they read online. Nothing is real here. People make crap things and spread them around like wildfire to cause division and make people angry.

Don't let them. Don't share those things. If you see something, research it. Don't automatically take it as a fact because Facebook said it was. At the end of the day, we are all stronger together. No politician is coming to save you. If you need to borrow $20, do you think Donald Trump, Elon Musk, or Kamala Harris are gonna reach out and lend a helping hand? No. No, they're not. Your friends and family are the true heroes in your life. Those are the people who are meant to give a shit about you. Don't trash your relationships over people who don't even know your name.

Frankly, I'd like to go at least a whole 24 hours without having to hear about how someone hates someone else. It's boring. I will never pick a side... and if someone hates me for that, then they never liked me to begin with. I'm not sorry for the rant. I will never accept people hating someone else. Ever.