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In reply to the discussion: A Question about Older Voters [View all]raging moderate
(4,297 posts)There was significant pressure to choose one way or the other. I recall that about half of us tended to be politically right-wing little showoffs, girls with those stiffly hairsprayed helmet-type hairdos and nylon/heels, with crewcuts and ironed shirts/ties on the boys. They tended to be over-reinforced for this, handed all the best jobs and constantly praised by supervisors and other older adults. It was assumed that they would NEVER be the employees who made mistakes or got drunk or secretly stole cookies (even though they frequently were). This bunch was always somewhat racist and snobbish. Kids who were unable to achieve that bandbox Barbie/Ken look were treated like second-class. I know I drifted toward the hippie/liberal crowd because they were the ones who accepted me as I was, overlooking my ramshackle appearance. When that rogue bunch of US soldiers massacred that village at My Lai, I was shocked at the callous reaction of the junior right-wingers. They were outraged at the idea that any US military personnel might be held accountable for any massacre. And this was in the city of Chicago, Illinois.