I don’t really know to respond to this. You’re projecting things onto me that I can not defend against without divulging too much about my personal life.

And I also don’t mean to invalidate your experience. I do not doubt that you have gone through that countless times. Nothing I can say can convince you that I’m sincere. And why should it?

But that leaves me in a weird place. Should I have said nothing? Just criticize a government and make no statement on its average citizens? Assume the sentiment will be implicit? I’m not comfortable with such assumptions on the modern internet unfortunately. I’m not happy with the state of things either.

But I strive to form my own opinions and always see the individual. Whether you can recognize or trust that or not I feel I have to go on that path.

I appreciate your input. Even if, or especially because, it led me to think a lot.