unfortunately, there are millions of people for whom the cruelty is the point. the attacks on LGBTQ people, on hispanic people, on women, on anyone non-white just prove that people really do want these hateful cruel regulations, against anyone who is not what they deem as "american"

as far as meeting "actual people"-- yes, there are definitely people who are anti-gay anti-trans anti-women pro-war pro-hate pro-"america" and they are pretty gross, authoritarian, and fascist-leaning, and to me that's not what america is about.

saying that everyone's fear is made up is just coming from a place where white well-off christian people just don't see problems and that's pretty sad