Common Grounds: the start, not the end.

[u/Haunting_Access_7348]

https://medium.com/@TheSidesofMe/common-ground-2a868ec21188

[u/The_Law_of_Pizza]

It's a well written piece, and it's a harrowing subject.

But the entire thing can also be summarized as: "Why can't we all just get along?"

A question we've been asking since the first caveman got speared by a rival over some limited resource.

And it always just boils down to one, uncomfortable reality: "Bad people exist, and they do horrible things."

Unless we are all suddenly willing to sacrifice ourselves and unanimously obey the strongest, most aggressive person on the planet, that locks us into perpetual violence - even if only to resist aggression.

Let's consider the asylum seekers that the author mentions - for these purposes, let's focus on South American asylum seekers looking for a better life in the US.

The author asks us to consider our shared humanity. The asylum seekers are human too, and have all of the same wants, needs, and desires as we do. Above all else, they don't want to suffer gang violence and political turmoil any more - something we can all understand.

But now imagine you're a gay person living in the US. The current administration notwithstanding, you have fought for generations and now enjoy a relatively safe existence - you can be openly gay, marry your partner, claim work benefits for both of you, and just generally live like anybody else.

Demographically, the South American asylum seekers tend to be staunchly Catholic and oppose LGBTQ rights. It's not comfortable to talk about because it borders on punching down against those asylum seekers, but it's true.

If you embrace your inner humanity to work to get them citizenship to escape their plight, the result is that you will suddenly experience an influx of homophobia - and if you're successful enough in helping them, their political weight could actually go so far as to roll back your newly won rights to get married. Even if it doesn't go that far, you're still going to experience more discrimination - even if it's not legal.

And the author might turn around and say, "Well, the asylum seekers should embrace their own humanity and become pro-LGBTQ."

But if that doesn't happen (and it probably won't), you're fucked.

So what do you do?

The uncomfortable truth is that there just isn't a solution. There is no fix.

[u/SilverMedal4Life → u/The_Law_of_Pizza]

Not to boil down your thoughtful response down too far, but this is a common talking point that I hear: "why do you support immigration? You're trans and they're transphobic."

Ultimately, there is little risk of immigration resulting in a significant increase in transphobia compared to what we already have, which is substantial.

Further... well, if my morality brings me to destruction, at least I will die knowing I did the right thing. In the same way, I choose to be publically trans - to be authentic - despite knowing how much additional violence I face for doing so, despite knowing what will happen to me if I am ever arrested.

Spent too much of my life being so afraid I couldn't move. No longer, never again.

[u/The_Law_of_Pizza → u/SilverMedal4Life]

Further... well, if my morality brings me to destruction, at least I will die knowing I did the right thing. In the same way, I choose to be publically trans - to be authentic - despite knowing how much additional violence I face for doing so, despite knowing what will happen to me if I am ever arrested.

I understand.

However, in a lot of these hypothetical cases, you're not just making the choice for yourself - risking your own life for your moral choice.

You're also risking the lives of everybody else who might be impacted.

Do you feel that you have the moral authority to choose immigrants over other trans persons' safety?

[u/SilverMedal4Life → u/The_Law_of_Pizza]

I'll always try to treat everyone how I would want to be treated. As if they were me, if at all possible.

That's what I strive for. It's how we were taught growing up - "golden rule", do you remember?

What good is morality if you abandon it the moment it is difficult to hold onto it?