Anonymous wrote:OP again—I will say that I have no flexibility regarding racism and homophobic behavior, however.
I'm a conservative who married a liberal man with very liberal parents and other family members. I'm constantly labeled as racist and homophobic, both of which are not true - I am a realist but feel all members of society should be equally treated under the law.
At family events, I was blackballed. Family members literally turned their backs on me at my nephew's birthday party. I once overheard my nephew saying to my eldest "Your mother is actually very nice and a lot of fun". He must've been told I was some kind of monster because I wasn't 'one of them'
I was accused of being mentally unwell and of abusing my kids, because they were anti-vaxxers and anti-screen people as well. So convinced were these liberal family members of the 'evil in their midst', that they believed social services would be on their side. They were shocked to discover that they needed actual evidence to back up their claims and that medical records meant something. Only then did they retreat to a neutral place, but they did end up losing closeness with my husband, who was surprised at the way they twisted the truth. And yet they consider themselves 'good people'.
Be careful, OP. You sound a lot like my 'well-meaning' in-laws, stereotyping people in very negative ways because they don't share your liberal views. This officer has seen a lot more on the streets than you can ever imagine, has looked true evil in the face in ways you never will. There are undoubtedly bad cops, but much more of the time, they are capturing and locking up very bad people. Give an inch they will take a mile. Walk a mile, then get back to me.