REACTION: Former Liberals vs. Former Conservatives

Today we’ll be looking at Jubilee’s newest Middle Ground episode featuring former liberals and former conservatives. We’ll be discussing cult-like behavior on both sides, which side is more compassionate, changing political beliefs, and more! Let’s get into it.
Watch Jubilee: • Former Conservatives v...
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0:00 - Countdown
2:51 - Intro & Why I Missed Yesterday
7:40 - My Former Political Views Were Cultlike
37:22 - Democrats Are More Compassionate Than Republicans
1:01:27 - Changing Sides Was Traumatic
1:15:01 - I Am Still Aligned With Policies From My Former Beliefs
1:32:45 - Superchats!

[@spencerrichmond5845]

Lost my father to suicide on April 6th of this year, my heart goes out to your friends family Amala.

[@TheAmalaEkpunobi]

I’m so sorry to hear about your father.

[@gavinevans7380]

Take care dude! Reach out to someone if you need to as Amala said, ain't no shame in asking help when you need it

[@roryf.1349]

Sorry to hear that brother man.

[@kimberlygabaldon3260]

Deepest condolences on your loss. I'm very sorry. 💔

[@holaizzy]

I'm so sorry you lost your dad. May his soul rest in peace. 😔🙏🏼

[@MattAntar]

I was one of the panelists. One of the reactions the video consistently seems to get is how glad people are that two sides are actually coming together and finding commonality. I was really glad about it too - because we need to get back to discussing these things with people we don't always agree with but with a common love for America and wanting the best for our country. Thanks for reacting to the video!

[@holaizzy]

My son was killed during a suicidal episode, the year before last. His sister who is less than 2 years younger than he, has spiraled very close to suicide, since then. I found myself doing the same, until recently, even though it had been years since I had felt that way. The world just isn't the same without him in it. I'm certain that if my son had actually realized how badly it would affect us, losing him, he wouldn't have EVER wanted to end his life. He was convinced that the world would somehow be a better place without him. We tried to get him help but the way laws are set up, it's EXTREMELY difficult to help someone until THEY want the help. May this young man (your bf's friend) rest in peace. And may the hearts of all who knew him, be comforted. And to my son... I love you. And I hope to one day see your face again. But until then.. I'll carry you in my heart. ~Johnathan ♾️ 27~

[@cobblecattt]

❤❤❤❤ grief is like the ocean, how it ebbs and flows. Sometimes we can sail calmly, watching the open waters, sometimes it feels like we're drowning in the waves. We can let ourselves be pummeled, letting the grief overcome us, accept the relentless waves...and come to the realization we can breathe underwater❤❤❤

[@Cloudyskies333]

So sorry for your loss ❤

[@user-ck8ks8qg4u]

​@hannahfey9718 you couldn't have said it any better. ❤

[@user-ck8ks8qg4u]

Sending you love ❤

[@holaizzy]

@@cobblecattt 🙏🏼 truest most beautifully written words I've read in forever...

[@EmmaKjohn]

Extremely touching opening, my goodness, my heart can't take Amala on the verge of tears.

[@kimberlygabaldon3260]

Thanks, Amala! I'm also a former long-time Democrat, but went Libertarian i n 2012. For me, (after years of advocating for gay marriage), it was the wedding cake that did it. I was ecstatic when SCOTUS upheld gay marriage, then immediately aghast when a couple from my area tried to force a fundamentalist Christian to bake their wedding cake. The baker was not malicious, and would happily make birthday cakes for LGBT people, or sell them any cake off the shelf, but did not feel comfortable with even the most peripheral participation in a gay wedding. He felt that, as an artist, to be compelled to create such a cake was a violation of his First Amendment rights. I agreed. I'm all for the maximum freedom for EVERYONE, as long as it does not take away the freedom of someone else, or impact the lives (or the property), of those who choose not to participate.

[@yeoreumdaisy]

See i guess i still dont agree with you completely there, if you are going to run a business you have a responsibility to some extent to do so without discirminating against certain immutable fundamental qualities. Race for example.. i believe that sexuality is not a choice just like ones race isnt. That being said, i dont know that the government should step in in these cases. I think its okay to publicly blast or state my opinion on something, thats how the free market works i can choose to exercise my consumer rights and not shop somewhere, i can choose to exercise my freedom of speech and blast the bakery for how i percieve their violation of human rights, but for the government to step in and force their hand. I dont think thats right. I live abroad and i have been bared from entry because of my race from places or activities. Its a violation on the most human of levels. I dont disagree with you entirely i suppose since we can both agree the government involvement is a bit of an over reach.

[@andrewb8235]

​@@yeoreumdaisyCoerced speech is a free speech 1A violation. You shouldn't be compelled to say things. OP is right: baking a wedding cake is definitely expressive speech and within the ambit of the 1A. Anyway, bakeries that bake cakes for all sorts of weddings will sell the most cakes. This is something that the market will actually take care of. The market will reward those that serve the largest market so no true risk of discrimination anyway.

[@kimberlygabaldon3260]

@@yeoreumdaisy I do agree with you on that. They could choose to shop elsewhere, or even write a review on the website, stating their grievsnces. A wedding cake is a custom job, and an artistic endeavor, and the baker would also normally have to be at the reception to set it up and serve, so that involves a certain level of participation in something thst was against his beliefs. He would bake birthday cakes for gay people, or sell them any bakery item in the store. But the baker would not bake Halloween cookies or cakes, or cakes for bachelor parties. He was not discriminating against the people themselves, but only declining certain EVENTS. I will also point out that most of our states run on "At Will" employment. If someone wants to buy something at your store, fine. But if someone wants to hire you for a custom job, where you also have to go set it up, then you would be under something like an independent contract, in which case you can accept or decline the job, (or at least you should be able to). In the US, some people in the LGBT community were also trying to force Catholic priests to perform the ceremonies, but the Catholic church does not recognise gay marriage, (or at least did not, at the time). We supposedly have separation of church and state. The government cannot dictate the beliefs of a church, (and it would be a really bad thing if they could). Sometimes people just have to agree to disagree, and go their separate ways. The churches can't prevent anyone from getting legally married, but they don't have to perform the ceremony. If we want to keep our freedom, we have to tread very lightly around other peoples' rights.

[@kimberlygabaldon3260]

@@andrewb8235 Yes. And this was in the Denver area, which is very LGBT friendly. There are dozens of other bakeries that would gladly have done it. I think their lawyer just wanted to push the issue snd raise a stink.

[@_uncle_phil]

​@kimberlygabaldon3260 I'm so glad there are rational people like you that still exist! I think it goes the same with who you'd like to employ. sex, race, and older age shouldn't disqualify you, but if your lifestyle does not reflect what the employer is looking for, that is within their right to reject the employee. I list those three exceptions because they are uncontrollable factors of one's existence, and hold little to no bearing on one's capabilities. younger people may not have the experience required, but there are some circumstances in which age shouldn't matter. I don't personally think being gay is a choice, but it is something that many do, and I respect other people's opinions on the topic!

[@lagge1535]

Suicide during "mens mental health month" is horrible As a former suicidal man I can say we don't listen to reason, reach outs, help, or friends!

[@holaizzy]

Yes... It's very difficult to reach someone who is in the throes of depression or suicidal mindset. I'm very happy that you have gotten through that!

[@bpfahl6176]

My feeling is that no one can talk anyone out of suicide.

[@DarkAngel2512]

Saw a video just now where nurses in a hospital werent looking after a patient and he topped himself. Not sure what type of hospital or if he was high risk. Keep a eye on your family and friends in hospital. Dont rely on docs/nurses.

[@quotidian5077]

My neighbor just took his own life and he is not a person to reach out for help like that. He seemed so happy about an interview he had, and he did not have to work he was just bored. I don't know what the last straw was.

[@maebo2524]

@@bpfahl6176I work in mental health and have daily conversations with patients about suicide. I’ve found there are three camps of people- people experiencing intrusive suicidal thoughts. There are people who don’t want to die necessarily but they can’t continue living the way they are. And then there are people who are pretty finalized in their suicidal thoughts. And you never know which camp someone could fall in. It can be fluid as well and they might shift between the camps. So it’s always worth the conversation and the effort ♥️

[@trinivegan7649]

So sorry about your boyfriends friend 😞. I’m watching it back since I missed the very beginning. Reach out if you’re dealing with something. I love you all.

[@moosechuckle]

I was a liberal in college but became more conservative watching the left devolve over trump. I agree with the sentiment that the government two-party system has failed. Both parties have become corrupted, very few of the public servants actually work for the American people. At this pint I’d rather the government be limited and dissolved. The left made me more conservative, and the government made me more libertarian.

[@fanboyhex1555]

Same

[@melany5506]

This 💯

[@myco_enthusiast]

Well put.

[@andrewb8235]

Perfectly stated. Devolution of power down to the states is best in pluralistic societies. Live and let live.

[@senaska4328]

the solution is Direct Democracy - Switzerland has this system in which politicians don't make any decisions but only create the laws that the citizens vote on. This way you have no fighting among different groups of people, which are mostly artificial anyways because everyone gets one vote and that's it. And no politicians to lie to us and tell us what to do, in fact in DB we can revoke our vote at any point.

[@QueenieEileenie]

Compassion for who? As Matt Walsh said, compassion for the criminal is cruelty to the citizen. I don’t think being more emotional necessarily equates to being more compassionate.

[@thesaviorvsevilqueen1218]

Well said

[@chickenmonger123]

Depends on the manner you express compassion. For example priests and those who go to do forms of secular outreach prisons. Recognizing the crime does not negate the possibility of properly acting on compassion. It’s why I don’t love the conservatives like Walsh. There is often a total lack of proper iteration on how the more… Caring aspect of life can be handled. I am not liberal anymore. I get why he’s often right to react the way he does, to how utterly permissive and without conscience people are on the left. But it’s often a reaction of judgement without love. Making his faith like tinkling brass.

[@QueenieEileenie]

@@chickenmonger123 context matters. He wasn’t talking about humanitarian efforts. He was talking about Democrats being soft on crime, particularly the mess in California. Neither me, Matt Walsh, or this video is talking about charity. The context is political. Hope that clarifies things for you. However, you bring up an interesting question. Should there be charity for criminals? Could those resources be used in other ways for more innocent victims? If helping a criminal means the charity, priest or whatever can’t help someone else then maybe what Matt Walsh said is true in more than just politics.

[@mo.ka.9661]

Criminals are citizens

[@elouise5593]

​@@mo.ka.9661 True, but they prey on other citizens, and that's why they are put in prison.

[@caitothepotato.]

I’m so sorry for your loss. It seems now days even though we seem to be comfortable communicating our issues, we still don’t know how to deal with them and the support provided is still not suffice. Something to note when something like this happens is that it’s never the fault of those around the person. When you’re in the mindset of taking your own life, you can forget all the people who will be affected, and the people who are willing to help and you feel like the only way to fix your problem is to not be anymore. Speaking from my own experience, I know my parents, my siblings, my partner, my cousins, my grandparents, my aunties, my uncles, my friends, and every person I’ve met throughout my life would be affected to some degree, and yet when you are in that moment, it all falls away. You create this idea in your mind that it wouldn’t actually matter to those people, no matter how sure you are they would care prior to that point. It’s an awful feeling and in that moment you aren’t yourself anymore. Never put the blame on yourself when someone in your life makes this decision, because no matter how much you extend your hand, that singular moment is completely uncontrollable. Sending love to anyone who has been affected by a tragedy like this.

[@philipmcnulty254]

Left wing compassion "Give a man a fish". Right wing compassion "Teach a man to fish". Both are helping him eat, but one gives agency and responsibility on the man.

[@CommonSenseIsNotCommon13]

No. Left wing compassion would be give the “they/ them,” a fish but only after you’ve asked the fish if it consents to being given first.

[@mo.ka.9661]

One feeds him for life

[@numbercode2486]

​@@CommonSenseIsNotCommon13Stop being so accurate lmao

[@Azzne-]

I’ve always thought that a fed person learns better. Give them a fish and teach them how to do it.

[@CommonSenseIsNotCommon13]

@@numbercode2486 I know right? Yeah it’s funny but it’s sad because it’s true.

[@bobbyretrac1776]

My heart goes out to you and your boyfriend, even though you were not very close with this guy, I could hear you trying not to cry while speaking and it must be difficult to think about.

[@Sassyton]

Listening to the introduction of this video reduced me to tears. I lost my childhood best friend to suicide 9 years ago and it still hurts. If anybody is reading this and feels like things can’t get better, please know they will. Negative feelings are temporary, suicide isn’t. Reach out for help, it might seem lonely now- but know people care and people will help❤️

[@tiffanytiffy2tls609]

When it comes to compassion, I feel the biggest difference between Democrats and Republicans is that Republicans believe in individual charity - meaning it is an individual's decision to give what he/she will - versus the Democrats belief that charity should be enforced upon everyone. That's probably a controversial take but that's what I've personally experienced.

[@controversialopinion5722]

I've also experienced this difference but specifically in the way that democrats consider giving more to the government charity.

[@oblitusunum6979]

If it's forced, it's not charity

[@patrickd5274]

You're right. Republicans donate and volunteer significantly more than Democrats per surveys and studies but reject forced charity.

[@elouise5593]

Exactly!

[@lisaleone2296]

Republicans believe in sensible charity, like structured giving and programs to change peoples' situations rather than addressing an immediate need. Democrats believe you should just give people your money when they hold their hand out.

[@Majamster]

The reason why this group of people were very respectful to each other is because they know how each party operates and thinks. They’ve been on both sides of thinking and can relate to each other.

[@Zxorcon]

So many people want to help "all these single mothers" yet no one wants to address WHY we have "all these single mothers" one is empathy for individuals one is empathy for humanity

[@Deadaccount741]

It seems to be the nature of humanity to be much more interested in corrective than preventative measures, unfortunately.

[@emilyh8687]

I’ve always been very left leaning but I enjoy listening to other perspectives. I’ve been obsessed with watching your videos lately and I appreciate your perspective❤️ All the love to you!

[@johnmiwa6256]

Great video. I call myself "Fiercely non-partisan". Once a person becomes active in a political party, they become obligated to follow the party line. And the political system is inherently partisan. Amala is the closest person to myself that I have found on the internet. Keep up the good work.

[@rebeccapinto9926]

I’m sorry for your loss. Prayers and thoughts to the individual’s loved ones. X

[@DBaty4]

So very sorry to hear about this loss. Yes, please go talk to someone if you’re feeling overwhelmed, in a dark place.

[@becca53444]

I deal with the pronoun nonsense by never using he or she pronouns for them at all. I say their first name or just say “you” or “them”. That’s it. I’m not calling a man a she and I’m not calling a woman a he. But as long as I use their name (whatever they say their name is), they can’t complain.

[@Maehedrose]

The problems with that argument about suicide are manifold. First, it's often the case that people feeling this way are trying to escape a betrayal of their own brain. You can tell this person that they are loved and cared for but they don't feel it, it doesn't stick, their brain makes them believe that it's either all lies or it's just not enough in the face of the daily agony. People call suicide 'weak' far too often, when the reality is that these people were fighting a battle every day and it shows strength that they lasted as long as they did. Also, as someone who has been through this, from every direction, I can tell you that people are only willing to 'save you' so often before they decide you're just doing it for attention - at which point the people who talked you down before are no longer there when you need them again. That doesn't make the depressed person stop being depressed, it just causes them to stop telling you about it and write you off as someone they can turn to when they are in need. Their world shrinks a little further. It's such a deep issue that there's no way to do it justice in a paragraph online.

[@JosieMarie-vg9ei]

You said a lot of important things in those paragraphs. ❤ You captured complexity and nuance, and helped explain why it's not as simple as telling someone to "just go get help".

[@SG0779]

I think a major point is that “getting help” shouldn’t ONLY be asking friends to talk you down. Professional help to change an individual’s mindset is absolutely necessary in many cases. What do you believe is a solution?

[@Maehedrose]

@@SG0779 Medication and counseling definitely can help but that is a long process of getting the wrong medications and suffering through their horrible side effects only to discover they didn't work so on to the next one. The same goes for counselors. It can take a long time to find one that actually cares, and hasn't been burned out and is only going through the motions for a paycheck. Even then, it can difficult to find one that clicks with you enough that you can trust them. It does help, though, to have someone who will listen to your problems, and who isn't part your social circle so what you say will never get back, never be thrown in your face. It's a difficult process that rewards you well if you manage to get to the end of it.

[@genevarodriguez8523]

Sadly, I had a friend do the same on Thursday last week. Please reach out to someone if you are having these thoughts.

[@rebeccapinto9926]

I’m sorry for your loss

[@TheAmalaEkpunobi]

Wow. I’m so sorry about your friend. That’s just devastating. I hope you are doing well.

[@therealmouseymouse]

Im so sorry for your loss

[@elouise5593]

Oh, I am so sorry! I don't know what else to say, but I hope you are doing ok.

[@MissaOftheDawn]

I lost a friend to suicide when I was 13, it still hurts 20 years later.

[@Beerdwolf]

The study they are talking about was 174 people. I'm not a psychologist, but I don't think 174 is enough to get a statistically significant correlation to 8 billion humans.

[@Xaviallin1]

Ye, that’s an extremely small sample pool.

[@thatdeliagirl1491]

My 2 uncles struggled with this.... one attempted and was hospitalized 3 different times, luckily he is still with us today. His older brother, however left behind a wife and 3 kids in 2020 😢 RIP Uncle Danny 🙏

[@Xaviallin1]

Condolences.

[@jessiwhite2658]

I lost my brother to suicide last year. He was 23. I miss him everyday. It's still so painful. My heart goes out to his friends and family and all involved ❤

[@lloydsenterfitt4913]

The worst place to be is in the middle. "I'm on the fence and can see both sides." "You can't be in the middle. You have to pick a side to be on and if you don't pick... Well your obviously not on our side."

[@xso_0]

Amala, I am so sorry about your boyfriend's friend. I hope that these days that follow go smoothly and in the best direction possible, as that is such a devastating situation. I applaud your ability to compose yourself while sharing your time of grief. I can't imagine the pain you and your partner are feeling. Thank you for spreading awareness and encouraging people to reach out to loved ones when they are struggling, especially during these tough times.

[@WinteringHeart]

I agree with Taylor. It’s easy for me to respect trans pronouns. You’re just flipping the script. It’s the neopronouns and the they/them non-binary stuff that I struggle with. Even in those cases, I still try to be respectful to avoid conflict and to show basic respect, but if that respect isn’t reciprocated if I or someone else “messes up”, then it’s a different story. Don’t try to police language.

[@Carey86]

I try to be respectful, but it’s difficult to play into delusion & mental illness. It’s messing up kids today too & that’s not ok. I’m not ok with kids mutilating themselves bc of mental illness. What’s next? We believe ppl with schizophrenia?🤨🤷🏼‍♀️

[@sadiewhite8803]

I am a registered Republican, and a new mother. When I first moved to Florida, i needed government benefits. I needed the snap, and i needed the medicaid, and i HATED it the whole time! But i desperately needed it. I was getting asimilited into the coommunity, and i was struggling to find work because i was pregnant. But its meant to be temporary. I think the issue is when people dont use them on a temporary basis and abuse the system. I dont have them anymore, and im struggling without it, but ill be OK! After a year, honestly, they kind of start holding you back....

[@sadiewhite8803]

@@rachelforshee6014 oh man. I've never heard a Republican explicitly say that, I hope they don't. As a republican myself and a poor white person, I honestly think that it's poor white people who abuse the system the most! I've known (white) people that stay unemployed to keep their benefits for years and years and years. Even getting pregnant on purpose so that they can keep their benefits... but I will say that I think people of all races are capable of abusing the system, but in my personal experience, I've seen white people abuse the system more.

[@elouise5593]

​@@rachelforshee6014 The operative word here is "reasonable" without so much government overreach.

[@its_just_me_acb]

And liberal compassion can be enabling, which isn’t good in the long run and therefore isn’t really compassionate, just emotional without care for the outcome.

[@myal7532]

Amala, your message is incredibly important and heartfelt. I hope and believe it will touch anyone who might be struggling. Thank you.

[@itreallydoesntmatter160]

Lost our stepson on Jan 15, 2021 at 22 to suicide. It has been the most heart wrenching, home crumbling, gutting experience of our lives. I’ve lost many people in my life to this, but this one was the worst thing in the entire world. Not a day goes by I don’t replay that morning. The “what if” goes through my head all the time, every day. This type of loss…. Is gutting. That’s all I can say. And now I’m bawling because I didn’t expect that topic. *hugs to all the broken out there* you are not alone.

[@carolnoelle2468]

My condolences 💐 thank you for your lovely message I the beginning, Amala.

[@darkur13]

I was a SUPER conservative right wing Christian when I was young but I started moving away from that world because I started asking questions and was ostracized and told that I was divisive and had to stop and just tow the line. Then when I started coming to terms with my own sexuality as a gay man, I was essentially demonized and rejected by most of my family, friends, church and even strangers or people I barely knew. So my experience was that I was pushed to the left initially because of who I am and because I asked questions. And that being said, my experience is that the right wing is more “cult-like”. But I do find it interesting how all sorts of people can have similar experiences but some on the left and some on the right. Maybe people just suck in general? Maybe we personalize things too much? I’m sure there’s a lot of psychology in there and perhaps we should stop blaming the “right” or the “left” and try to just acknowledge that we are all people with biases, and limited experiences and limited knowledge just trying to get through this journey of life as best we can. I guess my biggest thing nowadays is “live and let live.” Mind your business and let me mind mine.

[@brosef5033]

I can see how religious people on the right can be cult like but people on the right in general? Is it your experience with religious people or just people on the right?

[@prestonochsenhirt1246]

All the love in the world to you and your man. I'm sorry for your loss.

[@shannon6666]

Nothing more heartbreaking than suicide, my condolences Amala. Even for people you didnt know very well. This passage by Joseph Conrad has helped me enormously with my depression. I now think of depression as not part of who I am and it's not a real place. It's more like a long patch of of bad weather or an extended deep dream that bends your reality. When I feel myself being sucked into this hole, I try remember, get out. Come back, reach out and get out. It's dark but I hope it helps someone the way it helped me. Going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings. An empty stream, a great silence, an impenetrable forest. The air was warm, thick, heavy, sluggish. There was no joy in the brilliance of sunshine. The long stretches of the waterway ran on, deserted, into the gloom of overshadowed distances. On silvery sandbanks hippos and alligators sunned themselves side by side. The broadening waters flowed through a mob of wooded islands; you lost your way on that river as you would in a desert, and butted all day long against shoals, trying to find the channel, till you thought yourself bewitched and cut off forever from everything you had known once -somewhere- far away in another existence perhaps. There were moments when one's past came back to one, as it will sometimes when you have not a moment to spare to yourself; but it came in the shape of an unrestful and noisy dream, remembered with wonder amongst the overwhelming realities of this strange world of plants, and water, and silence. And this stillness of life did not in the least resemble a peace. It was the stillness of an implacable force brooding over an inscrutable intention. It looked at you with a vengeful aspect.

[@dianevierra781]

this was an awesome Middle Ground video! this discussion was great to listen to! The livestream chat had some trolls, though.

[@MochaValorant]

was waiting for this reaction!!!

[@oliviat.4672]

Amala I feel for you, my boyfriend and I got similar news in the past 2 weeks. Prayers and good vibes for you and your family.

[@themusicactor]

This is a great conversation.

[@darkur13]

I’m so full of comments, lol😂! So this is the first video of yours I have watched so far and I have gone back and forth while watching, thinking about agreements and disagreements with your commentary. But it wasn’t until you addressed the fact that America and the world at large in this day and age is the best time to be alive and progress is important to acknowledge that I finally decided to “like” this video and give a chance to more of your content. Thank you for your thoughtful and critical thinking, even if I have some clear disagreements with you. I appreciate the conversation!!!

[@SNAFU78]

This explains part of why I’m neither right nor left, many reasons, and as you said it’s on both sides. Hopefully more people step away from the right vs left narrative in time. I’ve already noticed it starting to happen.

[@agskater1914]

It makes my heart happy to see the relatively peaceful discussion between both parties. Thanks for featuring it, Amala.

[@randomentertainment180]

Im really sorry for what youre youre going through amala. Keep being strong and keep being yourself! Also i can totally relate to both sides in this video, and honestly its interesting looking into what causes ideological shifts

[@ILHoneyBadger]

Compassion is wanting what's ultimately best for a person. In some cases it might be more compassionate to give someone food and in other cases it might be more compassionate to not help and instead let hunger be the necessary driver toward self rewarding behavior (employment). It's NOT compassionate to create a system of dependency in anything if that diminishes another's potential.

[@gavinevans7380]

To everyone in the comments and beyond, take care of yourselves and those around you! Don't be afraid to reach out for help or to offer it, keep on pushing on and no matter what you're going through there will be a light at the end of the tunnel

[@KerriForsberg]

I've always been a conservative, but I feel like it would have been good if I was a liberal because then I would know how the enemy thinks. And I would understand them a lot more on why they're so psychotic.

[@SS-te3nl]

"the enemy" is a really interesting way to frame your political opposition. it would be worth exploring why you consider them as such

[@thawingkarma233]

@@SS-te3nlI was about to say that. Gosh, even if I lean in more towards the right, it is obvious that this country was always going to, and WILL destroy itself from the inside out. People just can’t get along.

[@dedalesigma6755]

Trust me, you wouldn't want to have had that experience the gaslighting is real, it's like you have to learn to trust yourself after years of abuse.

[@riosommer1604]

I was not expecting the ending, that made me laugh.

[@XxLostFinalGirlxX]

"Anyone who disagrees with me is the enemy" yup you sound 100% like a leftist and if you consider yourself a conservative you just make conservatives look worse than what people already think

[@angle1786]

I think it was very important that you touched on the subject of mental health in this episode I myself this year was diagnosed with ehlers-danlos syndrome a connective tissue disorder I went from being able to work long hours and support my friends and family with the money I was making to some days I am not able to get out of bed at all I've had this condition my entire life but apparently it doesn't become a problem until the year 20 for some people the pain has been almost unbearable and a lot of depressive and self-deleting thoughts but they are mostly managed because I have had depression since I was 8 years but facing this challenge has been more than I had ever expected and I have had a few major dislocations that have made my quality of life go down even it really means a lot to me that you would speak on this thank you so much

[@alisonfavacho5037]

My heart goes out to you, your boyfriend and loved ones for their loss. My brother in-law lost a close friend to suicide. He had a wife & young children when he took his life. I met him a number of times & he was always that person who appeared cheerful, happy & friendly (there's a saying that goes along the lines of "the ones that laugh the loudest..." He called some my brother in law & other close friends on the night it happened but said nothing about his struggles. I know he was loved & given the chance those people would have rallied around him. As someone who has her own struggles, it is difficult to speak those dark thoughts to loved ones because it is attached to feelings of guilt. On a separate topic, I love the respect between demenstrated between Amala & Taylor. Amala is not religious while Taylor is, but neither forces their beliefs on each other and respect these are personal beliefs that are their own and what guides them through their own life's journey without expecting the other to change. We wouldn't be seeing such extremes if people followed their example & simply treated others with kindness & respect. Respect is earned, not demanded. Thanks Amala & Taylor for demonstrating this.

[@marcushanes100]

I think generally conservatives are more personally compassionate, and liberals are more publicly/societally compassionate. What I mean by that is if a liberal sees someone broken down by the road they are likely to think oh that’s terrible they can’t get where they need to go, we need better public transit or programs to help people get to where they need to go. Where as a conservative is more likely to stop and try to help fix that persons car.

[@hinalshah4092]

I'm so sorry to you and your boyfriend ❤ some people are too pure to be able to deal with this world. They need to be in a better place. I hope peace has been found xx I send love and light x

[@mminksy]

I lost my gramma/mother April 19th 2022. I am completely shattered. I didnt have much stability in my childhood and she changed my life. She saved me many times from myself, my family, from life. She passed at 73 years young, after getting pneumonia. She had been battling kidney disease for a couple years but her body could not handle the pneumonia. I saw her dead in the hospital. I hugged her lifeless grey body. Seeing this incredibly strong matriarch slowly lose her freedom, her independance, has crushed me. Seeing this incredible woman sacrifice her dreams, her life for her family, only to pass in a beige room of beepers, no one around (during covid), and no hope. I have no idea how to gain my security back, i have no idea how to deal with this rage. Ive done so much therapy in my life (thanks to her), im trying to get help from the hospital, medical professionals. But she is gone. Nothing changes that and it makes me want to be with her. It makes me feel like the only way to change this is to be with her

[@krystallos81]

My best friends step son just died recently due to taking his life. It is so hard to feel like you can’t do anything to help. You want to take the pain away or make it better, but all we can do is be supportive in the ways that the loved ones need. It always hurts when you know someone has left this earth due to not knowing how to get past their personal pain. I wish I didn’t happen, but we can change it little by little. Be there for people and don’t push off their pain. Be open and just listen because sometimes that’s all they need to keep going. They don’t need you ti fix them, they need someone to listen even if you don’t understand.

[@sarasvensson6026]

My friend took his life a little over 2 years ago and I still do a double take when I see someone in public who reminds me of him. I have struggled a lot with thoughts of "was there something I could have done" because he and I were supposed to meet up less than a week before he did it, but I cancelled on him last minute due to my own mental health issues getting in the way :( I believe he had already decided to end it at that point and was doing a "goodbye tour" of sorts since I know he met up with a lot of other people in the days leading up to it, but I still worry that me cancelling on him might have added to him thinking people don't care :'( I'm really sad that I missed out on seeing him one last time. If I had only known...

[@imakeshapesnstuff]

My heart goes out to all of you who have lost dear friends or family to suicide. I've lost too many over the last 7 years that it's becoming hard to keep track. It's horrible, it's horrific, and so devastating. I truly wish for strength to those coping at the moment. I feel you deeply ❤️

[@tt-redd]

Oof... that intro was hard. Harder for you im sure. My heart breaks for all those that loved your friend. I'm sorry for you and especially for your Bf to have to go through that. ❤ On a positive note... I love these Jubilee videos and all your opinions on them! 😁

[@pleasantdashi7112]

Sorry for your loss ❤ God bless their soul

[@Arthera0]

this might be the most civil debate i have seen from them yet even though they had that heated pronoun bit

[@EuphemiaLiBritannia_]

I think we as people have to learn how to receive people who are going through hardship. A lot of people pat them on the back and say “you’ll get through it” without saying anything else. Some people don’t understand how to express their feelings and sadness.

[@parlerdisscuteretsameliore6005]

I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of your boyfriend’s friend, I hope both he and you can find peace with it. It’s always tragic when a young person takes their life, over 25% of people who feel suicidal don’t demonstrate symptoms and I hope that changes in the future.

[@AneXineohp]

36:17 i thought the same, haha, the whole Robert Frost's "Nothing Gold Can Stay" thing with Johhnycake and Ponyboy

[@kbabym86]

I love the reference to a pendulum swing. Being i went from right to left back and the came back somewhere in the middle that really resonated with me.

[@user-ll4rf1br6r]

Amala- I grew up in interior alaska. The amount of friends and, yes, teachers and professors, that me and my community have lost to suicide and overdose is staggering. It never ever gets easier, no matter how many times you get the news. I am so, so heart broken for you and your boyfriend, and for everyone in this person's life who now must live with that void in their life. Praying for all of you.

[@megangosiak1489]

Hubby's grandpa took his life last year. About 6 weeks before that, hubby's grandma Rose had a huge medical crisis that she didn't survive. Hubby's grandpa Flo took it extremely hard, even though they had been divorced for about 30+ years. Grandpa Flo had his own medical crisis that landed him in a nursing home for a while to recover and get back on his own again. It was a very long and clearly known idea that he would take his own life before living in a nursing home. After 2 weeks in the home, he was able to go home. They had removed all firearms from his home in the event someone broke in. So when grandpa went back, he asked, begged, to get a gun to protect himself. Being his home has been empty for a while, it as a realistic idea that someone might break in. Hubby's uncle left a handgun and went to go run some errands. When hubby's aunt came around about 2 hours later to check in on him and spend time with him, she was the one that found him, dead in his chair. She was so deeply traumatized, i still don't think she's been able to step foot in that home. It's been 13 months and she's still dealing with ptsd symptoms from that. Hubby has lost a close friend back on early college days that made some bad choices and felt there was no redemption available for his mistakes. Back in 2020, a church member that struggled with addiction took her life and left behind her 5 children and love of her life husband. Suicide isn't the answer. The level of damage left behind is INSANE. Reach out, people. You are worth so much more than you think. And your life MATTERS. Period.

[@kwazokuhlemfeka]

Quite the heavy sentiment you started on. Hope you'll heal from that situation.

[@boba6890]

Switching sides seems to help people see both sides. It was this way up until a short time ago. I'm a classical liberal who regularly stayed at a B&B run by an elderly Lutheran minister (and his family). I quickly realized I agreed with him on almost everything, I just disagreed on how to accomplish it. The referenced study on "Left-wing Love" is problematic. Scans show those on the left have high activity in the brain's limbic system yet it's where anger and fear, not just love, come from. Highly activate your limbic system and your frontal lobe activity, controlling those emotions, decreases. It's why so many on the left act so irrationally, hatefully, and even violently all in the name of caring and justice. It's why uncritically following your emotions is so incredibly dangerous; using only love to uncritically advocate for someone or some thing means there's often nothing to control your anger, which rises up unchecked and leads to dehumanization and violence. In order for people to be moral and truly compassionate emotion must be balance by reason; that's not politics, it's just how the brain is meant to work and must work, it's pure biology.

[@htac22849]

Unfortunately sometimes no one is listening. Sometimes opening up makes it _infinitely_ worse.

[@delix]

Dealing with the suicide of a loved one is so hard. Went through it with my cousin(we were close) after he got back from Iraq back in the mid 2000’s. We were planning on making a visit the day after. It’s hard .

[@okwhateverhaha]

Awwwww honey, I can see your struggling with your guy’s pain. What a lucky man to have someone who loves him so much. I’m sorry for his loss.

[@w.samuel213]

The problem is some people don’t want to hear it, get insulted because they feel like they “need to walk on eggshells”, or they are annoyed by it

[@lolsaXx]

I loved this episode. It was rational and people actually listened to one another.

[@adurna101]

What's really confusing is if you take a quiz to try to find out what side you belong on, they ask you what you consider yourself. Like I'm trying to find out? And then they put you in whatever side you chose. The same quiz resulted in two different sides I was just more toward the middle on one side and more towards the far side on the other. Honestly, I feel like the sides flip constantly. We're all just two sides to the same coin.

[@leifreon6117]

So here's my take on Pronouns when it comes to 1 on 1 conversations. They're pointless. They won't come up in a direct conversation. Literally when you're one on one talking with someone, you're going to call them either their NAME, or just "you". Pronouns are only applicable when you're talking ABOUT someone, instead of TO someone. And in the majority of cases if you're talking about someone, they aren't going to be part of the conversation to be offended if you misgender them.

[@leahsandeman4700]

Wow wasn’t expecting this. I am watching this after getting back from my best friend’s brothers funeral. Suicide too. So young, sad it’s so common these days 😢

[@Autumn1988]

Sending ❤ Amala. Recently lost a family member to this

[@WhatYourMimiNeverToldYou]

Love and light to you and all the loved ones of the friend who passed 😢❤away

[@timl4923]

Thanks!

[@dezvul4817]

There's a lot of really good studies and observations that have been made on stages of mental maturity, or mental growth, these stages we have to go through not just once, but in many topics we hold opinions on; some theologians have converted these stages of mental maturity to what they consider stages of faith. It goes like this: There is an ideal that we hold some topic to, and reality that we experience that seems to contradict the apparent ideal. Initially (the first stage), one tends to overly reject the reality they experience clinging to the ideal. But from there (second stage) people experience so much of reality that appears to contradict what they saw as ideal that they stop rejecting it and give up the ideal, turning completely away from it. Finally (last stage) people are able to reconcile reality and ideality so that they no longer contradict one another; this is mental maturity on a concept. We go through this process in all sorts of aspects of life: a child sees his parents as perfect and they have all the answers, they'll see hints that this isn't true but often reject these hints. They then recognize their parents are flawed, sometimes this turns kids' worlds upside down, "it's like they were lied to," kids will often hate their parent for a while over this awful feeling. Then the kid is able to reconcile their ideality and reality, "they aren't perfect, but they do love me, they aren't perfect, but they're trying to be good; they're pretty good parents." The second stage usually hurts, a lot. It's like everything you knew to be true was a lie. In the "changing sides was traumatic" section of this video, this is what they're expressing that they felt. They had an ideal, and they learn that reality didn't perfectly fit their ideals, it's painful. This isn't a perfect analogy because there's both reality and ideality to be experienced on both sides of the isle here, and they aren't necessarily flipping from clinging to ideality to clinging to reality; for example, instead this could be felt by flipping from an expected reality (not an ideality) to a different apparent reality. This phenomenon of going through these stages of mental maturity is a manifestation of the pendulum analogy Amala uses in this video. When people come to realize that either what they held as ideal, or what they thought was reality, isn't how things actually are, they tend to make a full swing to the newly perceived reality, as far away from the previous perception as possible. When after that you can reconcile with reality, the resentment disappears.

[@kelliecarlson6164]

So sorry for your loss. ❤

[@sophielesher8002]

suicide is such a big problem / epidemic today. so so sad. praying 🙏

[@Ash-hp9zd]

Aww.. Amala.. my condolences to your bf and his friend's family + friends 💕

[@onlymfkanz]

So sorry for y’all’s loss…😢❤❤❤

[@fluffyfurball7777]

I skipped the beginning because i lost my brother the same way but i got the jist of what you were saying and i want to reiterate the part about talking to someone if anyone reading this is feeling that way. Please find someone you can open up to about what's going on in your life. You're family and friends can't imagine life without you. I also want to offer my condolences you and the family and anyone else effcted by the loss 💜💙

[@MszCharney]

Im so sorry Amala. My heart goes out to you and your boyfriend and his friend and family ❤

[@cassiel.6918]

I love your top, it looks cozy.

[@Lucy-ev8oj]

I lost a very good friend to suicide a few months ago and this intro really got to me, wow

[@atombug101]

Amala, I've lost a very close friend on Friday. I still don't know what the cause was exactly, but even though knowing it wouldn't bring him back, I truly wish this wasn't due to suicide as it would make things even harder to process/accept/deal with.

[@annacartaya7021]

thank you amala

[@milliewoo337]

If this goes to show us anything, it’s that conversations could be so much healthier if people would be skeptical of dogma and leave behind their ideologies

[@Ghostie-2323ghostgirl]

I’m so sorry about you and your boyfriend’s loss. I pray for the family’s healing and peace. May you and everyone affected be consoled and comforted in this time. 🕊🤍

[@SelfTaughtArtist1]

Ok❤.I can support you on most of these issues.

[@duwonelashley3832]

I grew up in a house where we were told to stand out you’ll have to it work those around you and that’s how I was, and i had success in life. But a huge part of that was how my parents raised me. My father believed you work for your meals and that meant when we woke didn’t just get up and go to the kitchen and begin eating. We got up, made our beds pulled out our clothes, if you had lawn duty you turn on the sprinklers, showered , dressed, then turned off the sprinklers, had breakfast, then we’re off to school. That farmer mentality… and it worked for many of us.

[@rubyforsey]

So sorry to hear about you boyfriends friend :( praying for him and his family

[@donackerman4529]

I’m glad you brought up your cameras. All our tech and conveniences cost.

[@senaska4328]

The solution is DIRECT DEMOCRACY :) A system that works in Switzerland in which politicians are selected only to create laws but it's the CITIZENS who vote either for or against them locally. And the citizens can veto/remove any law that's been passed in the past and propose their own if they get enough signatures to put it under the referendum. This is by far the superior system.

[@asterisksspace9865]

Will it be applicable in countries with large populations?

[@senaska4328]

@@asterisksspace9865 yes - especially in a country like US that's divided into states, but in any country really. Because people vote mostly locally. Every 6 months or so there's a referendum for all citizens and no law is passed in any other way. This is also the single way I know of that can free us all from corporations... because no corporation can intimidate or bribe millions of people to vote against their best interest like they can do with politicians. The only problem is that people don't know about this solutuon and yt makes it very difficult to inform people so please spread the message.

[@isaklytting5795]

1:43:32 Taylor, that is so wise, and sounds like it would be a good thing to remind oneself of to spare oneself needless desperation and grief.

[@nolanmclaughlin2361]

I really like the content you guys make but I really wish there was more viewer engagement

[@michaelajoseph6856]

Thank you!