My stepfather bought into the outrage machine 110%, focused largely on immigrants.
Plot twist: my mom and I are immigrants. The rest of the kids were also alienated by his sudden shift in attitudes. He went from teaching the value of diversity in the workplace in HR, to blaming diversity for all the world's ails. The crazy thing is that when I asked, he still absolutely understands the value of diversity in the workplace (more varied opinions, etc.) Somehow, the two things just don't click together for him.
I recall Obama saying something along the lines of "If I watched Fox News, I wouldn't vote for me either."
This whole thing was a huge lesson for me. We are easily programmed meat machines. Myself included.
But why did that destroy your family? Why can't you just laugh at your silly stepfather falling for the talking points of Fox News? Has he become actively hostile to you and your mom? Or do you just find the talking points that he repeats to be somehow offensive?
You say that when asked, he understands the value of diversity, which makes it sound like he hasn't become actively hostile toward you and is still with your mom who's an immigrant, so to the extent that actions speak louder than words, surely his bark is worse than his bite? I feel like the solution to these sorts of family tiffs is introducing a bit of diplomatic levity - in other words, not taking yourselves too seriously, and openly poking fun at your low information stepdad falling for the talking points, while allowing him to poke fun at you for being on the other side.
Plot twist: my mom and I are immigrants. The rest of the kids were also alienated by his sudden shift in attitudes. He went from teaching the value of diversity in the workplace in HR, to blaming diversity for all the world's ails. The crazy thing is that when I asked, he still absolutely understands the value of diversity in the workplace (more varied opinions, etc.) Somehow, the two things just don't click together for him.
I recall Obama saying something along the lines of "If I watched Fox News, I wouldn't vote for me either."
This whole thing was a huge lesson for me. We are easily programmed meat machines. Myself included.