back in the late 90's.

From about 1998 until about 2010, they became angry and irrational. Hate-filled and unkind. Militant Evangelical Christian. Anti-Democratic Party, Anti Public Schools (My wife and I were both public school teachers) Anti-gay. Anti-Black. Anti-Government. Anti-Tax. Prior to that time, they were conservative but not Anti-American.

My Father-in-law had a botched heart operation that led to him being in a long-term care facility for a year or so before he died. He used the time to prepare for his death and with his FOX connection discontinued, he reflected a lot on his behavior. As he lay dying, he asked my wife/his daughter for forgiveness.

The same thing happened to my mother-in-law. About a year after her husband passed, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a radical mastectomy, her life began to wither away. She dealt with serious dental infections and was ultimately forced into rehab after a fall that shattered her hip. It was only then, with the TV finally turned off that she came around to being the person she was before FOX. Like her husband, her last conversation with my wife included an apology and plea for forgiveness.

Their cases illustrated clearly to me just how fragile we all are; how easily we can be influenced and seduced. How we can turn on the ones we love. How reason and common sense can be corrupted. Every time I read or listen to a news story, I have to check myself to see if I am falling prey to the seduction or if my views are grounded in actual fact, reason, and morality. It's a constant evaluation.
[Post edited by Newt at 06/24/2021 3:15PM]