You’re not ridiculous for worrying, but I think you’ll be okay. Since we’ve got a bigot running the show, it’ll help even more if you’re white (I hate saying that, but that’s the situation).
The future is another thing to consider. I assume that the situation for immigrants will only get worse, and turn into a complete shitshow when Mango Mussolini goes for his third term. This might be the least precarious time to leave the U.S. for several years. Make your trip count.
Sadly, I must agree. Trump is an unpredictable, unreliable wild card. I don’t think he has enough humanity in him to care about how devastating a nuclear war would be. To him, they’re just brown people on the other side of the world, so whatever happens, happens.
I think it can be done if the parents are tolerant, flexible, and understand that people are naturally curious about other worldviews. Unfortunately, that’s a stratospherically high bar for a lot of people. When the parents sincerely believe that their child’s eternal soul is in danger, ethics come second.
Ironically, I think the people best suited to give religious guidance are agnostics, who readily admit that they don’t know squat about the afterlife or other supernatural topics. Ideally, they won’t pass on hate or bigotry whose only basis is ancient hearsay or hallucinations.
Beware people who mistake fun and humor for immaturity.
Anyone who’s “immediately turned off” probably wouldn’t be much fun to be with, anyway. Your idea is a good one. The propeller hat makes it screamingly obvious that this is a fun joke. DO IT!
Edit: perhaps consider including one of those giant lollipops
I remember an interview with a guitarist. He recalled being chewed out by the director of a video they were shooting. Their conversation went something like this:
“You need to stop making such ugly faces while playing.”
“But it just happens! I can’t help it!”
“Your guitar isn’t even plugged in to anything. Knock it off with the goddam faces.”
Hey, if that’s what it takes for Nathanael to have some human interaction, I’m cool with it. I don’t necessarily want to be involved, but I’m not against it.
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