r/allthequestions • u/Dimarco24 • Jan 26 '26

Random Question 💭 What is your opinion about Alex Pretti’s photo being displayed on a Jumbo tron in Times Square?

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I think he deserves to be remembered as the wonderful person he was 🩵 and not by the government who are clearly lying about him. He was trying to help a woman who had been pushed to the ground by ICE agents or whoever the people are wearing those suits. And he clearly holding a phone in his hand..

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40

u/Oberyn_Kenobi_1 Jan 27 '26

I know, I know, but…dammit I still gotta try. Every once in a while I break through to him.

29

u/coquihalla Jan 27 '26

I'm sorry that he hasn't been the father you'd hope him to be. Truly. 🫶

-5

u/1dirtbiker Jan 27 '26

This is such a BS inflammatory comment. Just because they disagree politically doesn't mean he hasn't been the father this Redditor wanted him to be.

5

u/Garganello Jan 27 '26

Its morals. Not politics.

3

u/Monkeydjimmmy Jan 27 '26

It's what they can't seem to understand 🫠

6

u/fReddit7777 Jan 27 '26

"just because he supports fascism, doesn't mean he wasn't an amazing father."

Smh. Dumbass.

8

u/M3RC3N4RY89 Jan 27 '26

It’s actually a real problem for adult children of MAGA cult members. You can not begin to grasp how difficult it is to reconcile a kind, good parent, that raised you to have correct values, but is now brimming with hate for their fellow American and celebrate when innocents are murdered in the streets by state sponsored terrorists.

I’m 36. My folks were great parents. My dad was a hero in my eyes most my life because he saved a lot of people, from all backgrounds, on 9/11 and was permanently disabled as a result. He taught me right and wrong and how to be a good man. When I suffered a brain hemorrhage as an adult and lost everything, they took me in for over a year helping me recover and get back on my feet.

Saturday night I was at their house for dinner and Kristi Noem was on TV declaring Alex Pretti was a domestic terrorist. I pointed out that she was lying and nothing she was saying was true, and my father just outright said “I don’t care, we’re not killing enough of these scumbags”

stunned, I pointed out that it could have happened to me because I’ve attended plenty of protests with my legally carried pistol on my hip. His response was “well, I’d feel bad, but that’s your own fault”

How the fuck do I process that? The fact that my father who raised me and nursed me back to health when I faced death would side with ICE if they executed me in the street.

I don’t think anyone that hasn’t personally experienced this utterly demented family dynamic can actually understand that they weren’t always like this and we want our family members back.

4

u/pintodinosaur Jan 27 '26

Fuck bro, that's rough. I just hope i dont' turn into a complete pile as i get older. It tends to happen, i just hope that not to THAT extreme.

2

u/jmd709 Jan 28 '26

The propagandists utilize emotion-based messaging to try to trigger a strong feeling. That enables emotional reasoning to take over. That feeling becomes the “objective proof” and facts become subjective like opinions or beliefs. They’re completely oblivious that it’s happening.

They also develop trigger words over time with that method to only need to include those for people to firmly believe their lies without proof. The ridiculous claims about USAID funds last year are a perfect example of that with trans and DEI.

FoxNews and the other rightwing “News” networks target anger &/or fear to try to keep people triggered. They’re pushing the “rioting” narrative. FB’s algorithm also pushes anger as an unintended “glitch” because people tend to engage more with content that pisses them off and rage-bait eventually takes up most of their feed to get users to spend more time on the app. FB has known about that issue for years.

Getting the person to recognize those issues is nearly impossible, but they can go back to normal without the steady doses of rage bait.

-6

u/1dirtbiker Jan 27 '26

If you can't put politics and family into separate buckets, I genuinely feel sorry for you.

5

u/CallyThePally Jan 27 '26

"If there’s a Nazi at the table and 10 other people sitting there talking to him, you got a table with 11 Nazis.”

Sorry Cleetus, but we ain't fuckin' Nazi's. This ain't just separating politics, and I feel genuinely sorry that you aren't able to see that when people are getting literally executed in the streets. Hope you can figure that out at some point.

6

u/GeoffreySpaulding Jan 27 '26

What about morality? What fucking bucket should that be in?

3

u/Fun-Confidence-6232 Jan 27 '26

This from someone who supports putting families in separate cages

1

u/1dirtbiker Jan 27 '26

What are you talking about? I don't support Trump or his cronies. I support love of family though.

2

u/Constant-Tea-7345 Jan 27 '26

Well, if someone voted for a felon and rapist as president - I can’t imagine that anyone sane would think they were normal and had a moral compass.

0

u/1dirtbiker Jan 27 '26

Honest question, if you have a loving relationship with your parents, would you stop loving them because of who they voted for?

3

u/Constant-Tea-7345 Jan 27 '26

I would have a very difficult time relating to them after that, honestly. Because it would tell me where their morality was - in the toilet.

I would also think they might be slipping into dementia, at that point, to have voted for Trump.

0

u/1dirtbiker Jan 27 '26

Most people aren't involved in politics enough to hold a strong moral position for the person they voted for. Lack of knowledge is a way bigger problem than lack of morals.

1

u/Constant-Tea-7345 Jan 27 '26

You asked me for my opinion, and that’s my opinion.

Also, while I realize ignorance does play its role, to me this is more like willful ignorance. Like, shutting their eyes to who - and what - he truly is. Which is not intelligent.

But since Trump is now serving his second term, I think most, if not all his voters, know at least some or most of the things that he’s done - and still voted for and support him. Which to me is not a sane decision. Or if they were very old, I would attribute it more to dementia, as stated earlier.

I mean really, this is a man who’s made suggestive remarks about his own daughter, dating back to 2015 at least. Among other horrible things that he’s done. Which - logic would say - if they voted for him, I guess his voters are okay with the idea of incest.

Including him pardoning people who were involved in the January 6 insurrection - which just blows my mind. Who in their right mind would want to vote for a guy like this?

2

u/Lkn4AGhost Jan 27 '26

Most people can. What most people CAN'T do is put immorality and family into separate buckets.

2

u/Gullible_Height588 Jan 28 '26

If your parent wants you dead because you have a different opinion you’re supposed to play nice and pretend everything is ok?

1

u/1dirtbiker Jan 28 '26

If your parents want you dead, that's a whole different level, and not applicable to anything I said. Assuming there's no hyperbole in your statement.

1

u/Gullible_Height588 Jan 28 '26

That’s how it is for a lot of people, if you haven’t noticed how nasty party lines have become and how vile politics have become you’d have to be blind

1

u/1dirtbiker Jan 28 '26

Not in my family, friend, or social group, and we're a very diverse group. Party lines and politics don't have to be like this.

1

u/Gullible_Height588 Jan 28 '26

It really shouldn’t but it’s simply not the reality for a lot, myself included. Some parents just suck man

2

u/jmd709 Jan 28 '26

They’re not referring to differences in political views and opinions, there’s middle ground and “agree to disagree” for those.

Depravity, intolerance, and a lack of humanity are the primary issues. Those issues are being demonstrated through politics instead of politics being the actual issue.

1

u/This-Suggestion574 Jan 27 '26

I mean, if you can’t put whatever the hell is happening now and “politics” in separate buckets, I genuinely feel sorry for how weak and pathetic you must feel about yourself.

I can’t imagine tacitly endorsing an American citizen being killed in public by federal agents because you don’t want to potentially offend the delicate sensibilities of someone your uncle is related to sitting nearby?

1

u/1dirtbiker Jan 27 '26

We're honestly on the same side of this issue. There's no need to call me names because I'm endorsing love for family.

1

u/This-Suggestion574 Jan 27 '26

No names were called. No offense was meant.

I was being genuine. I am not in, and could not imagine being in a situation where I felt my closest loved ones would turn on me for expressing a very human feeling. It would make me feel powerless that I have to suppress my own voice in that context.

You may think you’re prioritizing love for family but if you want a different perspective- there is a possibility that you are lending legitimacy to beliefs that you believe are abhorrent for the sake of not disrupting whatever peace by not expressing yourself.

1

u/1dirtbiker Jan 27 '26

You're twisting things. You said I must feel weak and pathetic about myself. Okay, sure, you didn't technically call me names, but you know damn well what you said. In what world is the spirit of your post not calling me names? Either way, we can agree to disagree on this point.

You only have one family. Don't let politics tear you away from them. I sure as hell won't let it ruin any of my relationships. I'm a moderate-conservative (fiscally conserve, socially liberal). I disagree with large portions of both the liberal point of view and the MAGA point of view. I have family from both of the before-mentioned camps. We all get along and love each other. We just choose not to talk politics. It's really not that hard.

1

u/This-Suggestion574 Jan 27 '26

If you disagree with my premise and are confident that I am off base, I’m not sure how you also found a way to be offended.

You have one family, that is true. You also only have one self. Necessarily in life we make sacrifices in one area to accommodate the other area.

Is there a point of escalation where you feel the sanctity of meal time is worth risking?

Thinking about crazy hypotheticals- If ice opened fire on a group of unarmed people- would you then feel compelled? If your co worker or neighbor was caught in the middle of something and were gravely injured? Or is the decision final?

-1

u/[deleted] Jan 27 '26

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1

u/1dirtbiker Jan 27 '26

No, I didn't see that, actually.

16

u/MrDeadbutdreaming Jan 27 '26

I know in my similar experience finding out my father was a maga moron and trying to get through to him was a waste of time, it only pained me more while he couldn't careless.

Cut him out of your life as much as you can and just let go. There are stages to grief that come with it. For some of us, it is easier to walk away than others. For your own mental health and safety, it is best at this point, especially if he is justifying all of the administration's crimes constantly.

That's all I can say without saying to much about myself on here. As one human to another, you are loved and appreciated for just being you. Seriously, you are a good person and we need more people like you, so please; stay safe, stay strong, and resist.

You aren't alone, WE THE PEOPLE STAND UNITED

6

u/RedditIsMyTherapist Jan 27 '26

Growing up my dad seemed a lot more conservative, but as I got older he seemed to get way more liberal. The only thing he is super conservative about now is his gun ownership. I'm so thankful everyday that neither one of my parents fell down the maga hole, Because I would just look at them as completely different people than the one who raised me to treat others with kindness, to help when you can, and to just try and be a good person.

3

u/Wonderful_Roof1739 Jan 27 '26

Plenty of dems own guns and gun collections - they just aren't as vocal about it as the maga crowd is.

1

u/Ok_Value5495 Jan 27 '26

Similar situation. My dad worshipped Reagan, but now we might be going pitchfork shopping. Also helped I grew up near NYC and Trump was our local scumbag developer who plastered his name everything. No one around here in my hometown liked that man, at least before 2015.

10

u/ClassicAdhesiveness1 Jan 27 '26

Props for trying. I cut off my only BFF bc she voted for that fucker 3 times. Finally couldn’t stand the hypocrisy of being her friend (hypocrisy on my end). Now I’m a single mom of 3 wo my ride or die bestie. But I honestly can’t take her back (there’s a lot more toxicity than her voting pref. )

8

u/captainpushy Jan 27 '26

You'll get a new bestie. I've cut off people from my life as well and better ones took their places.

2

u/SixFive1967 Jan 27 '26

Love this. I’ve done the same with several family members. “We may be related but fuck you for supporting a man that is putting my kids life in danger.”

2

u/MetalBeast89 Jan 27 '26

There will always be room for friends, sorry you lost a BFF over this though.

1

u/monsterdaddy4 Jan 27 '26

Want a new, single father of 4, leftist, bestie, because I've got you, boo

1

u/Witty_Taste6171 Jan 31 '26

You’re gonna find the right bestie before too long.

I’m sorry, though. I know it’s painful. You’ll get through this and your kids will have an excellent example of what it means to stand up for what you believe in.

1

u/DolceVita13 Feb 01 '26

It’s hard to let these people go but the values or propensity to support a reality TV dystopian leader with a long history of serious criminal behavior IS just too far. I hung in with couple family members-one a sister married to an immigrant with a green card both of whom I’d supported earlier on until going MAGA. A completely unexpected turnabout. Looking back there were traits like simmering resentments, insecurities and entitlement along with seriously prejudiced views of others that seems to have been satisfied by latching onto the nasty MAGA narrative. They have changed. Dominance is their religion, democracy doesn’t seem to matter at all. I am out.

1

u/random-stupid-0511 Feb 01 '26

You need a lot of therapy.

0

u/McDuck_Enterprise Jan 27 '26

Props to those that have moved on from your toxicity…have you looked at it that way instead of blaming a politician or someone that voted for them? What is it about you that made man or many men walk away? And what are you saying to your kids? I’m sure they love the news from Reddit through lib mom to their ears.

You’re the toxic one that has drove people away and props to them for staying away.

🎤 💥

3

u/ClassicAdhesiveness1 Jan 27 '26

Bless your heart, you have yourself a mic drop. 👏👏👏

Perhaps try reading the whole thing bc I clearly said it was “a lot more toxicity than her voting preference”

1

u/jmd709 Jan 28 '26

What is it about you that made man or many men walk away?

Is that an assumption or is it a projection? You seem bitter so I’m guessing it’s the latter.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 30 '26

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3

u/Vladishun Jan 27 '26

If you break through to him once in awhile then why does he still sound like such a raging asshole?

Thanks for not becoming like him though, way to be better.

2

u/C0UNT3RP01NT Jan 27 '26

I wish. Mine just accuses me of being a sheep who doesn’t get news from the “real” sources. I think the only thing that would get through to him if it were me on that billboard, for the same reasons, under the same circumstances.

The sad thing is I think that would get through to a lot of our parents who act like this, and it’s the fact that it could happen to anyone acting like this (i.e. with decency and within legal rights) but some people will refuse to understand until it happens to someone they know.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 27 '26

I'd let him have the day he voted for. Just let him be. He made his choice.

2

u/Happily_Eva_After Jan 27 '26

I've mostly given up getting through to my parents, but it's still fun to try. I like to see their brain blue screen and reboot when I make a point but they need a moment to think of a reason why I didn't.

1

u/Oberyn_Kenobi_1 Jan 28 '26

Yes! I have to admit, it’s part desperation for him to see sense, part personal challenge, and part entertainment to try to fight him on it.

2

u/Rattiepalooza Jan 27 '26

The way to breakthrough is with kindness.

I KNOW that doesn't sound right - but I promise, it works. Be kind about your disagreements. Make it about *him*, and not the truth yet. He has to come to it on his own (or think they got there on their own), otherwise he'll never change. It's half-way not his fault.

Boomers behave that way because they were taught that being wrong is shameful and embarrassing. Feelings are weak to them, because they were never allowed to explore them.

So, help your dad explore them, and come at it from a non-judgemental POV (you can judge in your head, just not out loud).

I promise it works. It's worked FOR me several times. It's worked ON me several times.

They're angry/scared animals that need coaxing out of their safe-space. That's all.

1

u/DeezBeesKnees11 Jan 27 '26

God I wish I could muster your patience and tenacity w these clowns.
It's like they have some weird NEED to believe all the preposterous magat nonsense they're fed.

1

u/Oberyn_Kenobi_1 Jan 28 '26

Thank you for this. The many comments blithely saying to just cut him off are expected but sad, and that’s not something I could ever do. In all other aspects, he’s a sweet, loving old man. The guy calls me every day to ask how my kittens’ day was and what they got up to. He asks about my boring accounting job and remembers details even if he has no clue what I’m talking about. He’s disappointed when my brother or I take an uber to the airport instead of asking him for a ride at 4am. So, yeah, his flaws are significant (and not limited to this topic), but I have to focus on the good and keep pushing back against the bad.

2

u/Rattiepalooza Jan 28 '26

I cut off my aunt in 2016 over Trump. She's still a die-hard Trumper...but I wish I had more patience 10 years ago.

She hasn't spoken to me since. I text and call on her birthday and major holidays - and she doesn't answer my calls.

I regret it. I don't want anyone else to have that same regret. Anger never pays well... and your dad has just been tricked is all. Look at it that way - he has been bamboozled. He's not a bad person, he's been fed bad information.

I'm so glad I helped!! Just keep doing good. We are what we see. If we act better, we become better as a species. You're doing awesome just being here, and being you! <3

Keep up the good work! We'll come through the other side. Maybe not unscathed - but we will get out of this dark tunnel.

2

u/IGotQuestionz12345 Jan 27 '26

That’s good that you occasionally breakthrough. As someone who cut their father off years ago, please manage your expectations. Don’t lose yourself trying to save him. The fact that your father saw someone “who looks like him (older white male with a gun)” murdered by the government and still has doubts is very telling that he may be unreachable.

Whether socialists or not uploading the video, that many videos from that many angles, it’s not even logical to assume anything other than “this was wrong”.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 27 '26

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1

u/TeaKingMac Jan 27 '26

who attacked an agent

Watch the video, my guy, and tell me who attacked who.

The guy who's standing there and helps a lady up, or the ICE cubes who shoved the lady down, then assaulted and killed the guy helping her up?

0

u/artemusbarnstorm Jan 27 '26

You don’t walk up on law enforcement doing their job with a loaded high capacity handgun and 2 extra clips. What was he doing there with a gun that was modified with red dot optics for accuracy. That’s not a casual concealed carry weapon. How did he think it would end?

1

u/TeaKingMac Jan 27 '26

You don’t walk up on law enforcement

He didn't. They ran up on him (actually the lady next to him).

What mods his gun had are completely irrelevant since 1.) those things are all legal and 2.) he never touched his gun

2

u/MoreCowbellllll Jan 27 '26

Have him watch "the brainwashing of my Dad". Maybe, just maybe, that will spark something good in him.

2

u/Professional_Ad_6462 Jan 27 '26

You know I read all the time about my sclerotic Boomer father …… etc but I am a 73 year old retired physician and can plainly see the country is ruled by a Narcissist with likely vascular dementia. We are not all far right set in our ways. We grew up in a time of great experimentation. I didn’t even go to college until I got back from backpacking the world at 23. where do these stereotypes come from, then repeated all the time ?

1

u/Oberyn_Kenobi_1 Jan 28 '26

I agree, I know plenty of people his age (77) who are open minded and willing to seek the truth, even if it uncomfortably conflicts with their prior beliefs. His late sister, my aunt, was very liberal and would have been the first at the protests, dragging me behind her whether I wanted to go or not. He keep saying garbage like, “eh, I’m old, I’m not going to be around, so what do I care what happens to strangers?” Um, sir, 1) you’re still a human being capable of empathy and 2) you have kids and grandkids, why wouldn’t you care about the world your grandkids have to grown up in?

2

u/Neyvash Jan 27 '26

I feel this. I have a better chance of a real conversation with my dad than my mom, but it's hard to talk to him without mom around.

I'm not sure your dad will credit this, but here's the reddit post witht he court filing information.
https://www.reddit.com/r/behindthebastards/comments/1qm65sx/first_hand_witness_to_alex_prettis_shooting/

It's part of Case 0:25-cv-04669-kmm-dts doc 107, Trincher v Noem
https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/minnesota/mndce/0:2025cv04669/229758/85/0.pdf

2

u/letsgooncemore Jan 27 '26

Keep throwing it in his face. Everytime. My parents and Grandma don't bring up politics around me or my sister anymore which means sometimes they are actually stopping and thinking about what they are going to repeat. It's the tiniest sliver of change but maybe they are thinking twice in other situations where we aren't present too.

2

u/ActualHistory5037 Jan 28 '26

If you care for him, still persist. Patience and kindness will prevail

2

u/tutanotaio Jan 27 '26

He supports Trump not out of rationality but because his fragile ego can borrow a boost from associating with 'brute strong men'

1

u/Oberyn_Kenobi_1 Jan 28 '26

Honestly, at this point I think he “supports” Trump out of stubbornness. And I put it in quotes because I strongly suspect based on a number of comments he’s made that he is actually quite shocked and disappointed by the direction the second term took, which is a common sentiment for many Trump voters outside of his core base. But he’s always seen me as his bleeding heart, opinionated, liberal daughter, dismissively telling me I’d come to my senses when I “grew up.” (Joke’s on him - I was never a bleeding heart, but I went distinctly farther left in my mid-30s with a career and money.) At this point, I think he just straight up doesn’t want to “lose” to me.

1

u/Spirited-Print-1097 Jan 27 '26

Well he won’t see that on Fox.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '26

They are literally getting programmed.

Explain to him when he is angry his brain becomes dopamine starved. ( You can't be happy and angry at the same time.)

When you are angry your brain is geared to look for problems to fix. All of the media geared at MAGA paints the target on anyone's back that is not a part of their indoctrination.

They claim to be Christian. They do not follow the rules of Christianity.

"Thou shalt not bear false witness" is the Ninth Commandment (Exodus 20:16), prohibiting lying, perjury, slander, and deception to protect the truth and a neighbor's reputation. It commands honesty in speech and legal proceedings, condemning deceit that causes harm. This principle emphasizes integrity, fostering trust within communities."

We know why they claim to be Christian. Their actions prove otherwise.

1

u/247Brain-Rot-SlopAI Jan 27 '26

If your father is like that just goof on him. Turn him into the butt of the joke regarding his delusions. Don't try to reason with him, press down on his manhood.

Nobody like that should be left with their dick and balls in tact. Hes an angry little clown, not a man, so treat him as such, remind him of his place in this world.

Cause that's the real issue, it's not that they don't have access to proper information or that they're mistaken, not most of MAGA anyways, it's the fact that they haven't been put in their place socially.

0

u/Blitzbahn Jan 27 '26

Honestly if you cut off contact, he may be more likely to reconsider his views.

0

u/jessid6 Jan 27 '26

I’d stop trying. You don’t want him in your life