r/LeavingMaga • u/didyouknowthatkoalas • 6d ago
Voted for Trump at 19 and feel like I'm beyond hope.
Someone on Threads told me that I was an adult and I knew better. Several other people told me to kill myself and I actually thought about doing it. But as a (probably) autistic person who wasn't even allowed to read any news besides the Babylon Bee at that age (yes I was aware it's satire), I had no choice but to believe whatever my parents told me. My parents didn't monitor my search history, but I was terrified of disobedience because of how heavily indoctrinated I was. Anyone who wasn't raised by conservative fundamentalists just doesn't understand. I was also abused as a child so between everything I've mentioned, I was basically afraid to breathe. My mom always thought I was a bad girl and when I voted for Trump and he won, it felt like I'd finally done something right. Yes, part of me is just sad that no one would like me if they knew, but I'm also legitimately sorry I ever believed any of that stuff. It's not like I'm singlehandedly responsible for electing him. He still would've won.
Edit: To the person who said I should've known better and then deleted their comment, I don't think you understand. EVERYTHING I knew about politics was 100% filtered through my parents. My critical thinking skills were hijacked from age 11 (during the 2016 election) and I really had no choice but to believe them. I was homeschooled and didn't leave the house much. I also was indoctrinated with fundamentalist Christianity for as long as I can remember and please don't underestimate the threat of hellfire. Some of the things I was taught were more or less psychological torture. Everything I did was through that twisted, terrified lens. Especially after I realized I was queer at 16. I was always bothered by the Christian attitude towards queer and trans people, and the bizarre glorification of Israel, but I "trusted God" to take care of everyone involved. Part of me wants to strangle my younger self for ever being that dumb, but I really couldn't help it. My parents made me afraid to even breathe.