I'm sorry he's upset, or maybe I'm not

I've long known Will's politics are different from mine. There were clues on his social media – like when he was effusive on LinkedIn over his former employer's publishing a children's book devoted to Amy Coney Barrett, or his X post about Governor Pritzker. I've never engaged him. It's his social media, these are his opinions, and this is where he should express them. 

Will is the founder/moderator of our movie group and members of the group have been very outspoken in their criticism of Trump. As long as it somehow ties to the film we're discussing, Will doesn't weigh in. I've always respected him for that. 

From cnn.com

He knows where I stand on things, as I'm very outspoken on Facebook and we are friends on one another's pages. When Trump changed the name of the Kennedy Center,* I posted: Dear Leader is at it again. Who thinks this is a good thing? How soon before he begins naming airports, schools and roads after himself? I bet the first act of the privatized postal service will be a Trump postage stamp. When will be the penny be reintroduced with his face on it?

 For some reason, Will decided to respond: Plenty to get upset about. This isn't it, in my opinion.

First of all, I wasn't crazy about the tone. I don't need Will's permission to "get upset." Especially not on my own Facebook page.

Secondly, you don't have to know me long to understand that there are three topics I have down: The Chicago Cubs, the Beatles, and the Kennedy family. 

Lastly, Will used to work for a scholastic publisher. He worked with historians. If he doesn't understand the propaganda implications of Trump naming shit after himself, he should.

My response, while civil, reflected the second and third points. I let the first, more personal one, go.

Ever since, I've heard from Will over and over and over again. More than ever before. Now he thinks my Facebook posts are brilliant. In our text chain, he ❤'s that I'll be joining him and Elaine at a Barbara Stanwyck screening later in the month. He made me aware of another classic film on the big screen and offered to go along with me. Just now he sent me a link to a revival of a play he knows I like.

I feel like telling him it's fine. We're fine. He doesn't have to work so hard to repair damage because no damage has been done.

Except he shouldn't have done it. Condescending to me like that on my own Facebook page is rude. Same with this blog. If you disagree with me, fine. That's what your blog is for. Do not come into my (cyber) living room just to be provocative.

 

*Technically, he allowed it to be renamed, though if you believe he wasn't behind it, well, bless your heart.