*Thank you for subscribing and keeping my voice independent. I like to make sure as many people as possible see my work, but some of the most fun stuff is behind the paywall. Please consider upgrading your subscription to continue supporting independent voices like mine.
I went to a local home goods, “big box” type of store yesterday. I was looking for Americana decorations for my backyard. Last year, it was nearly impossible to find American party flare in stores. Not because it wasn’t displayed, but because the stocks were so small they were emptied quickly. At least it was so in my neck of the woods - the California suburbs, where we enjoy the changing of the decorations in the way other Americans enjoy the changing of the seasons.
Last year marked what I called at that time “Peak Woke”. Four years of executive insanity and cultural inversion, and two years of presidential campaigning, had culminated in a real, national fatigue. I think it is one we are still experiencing, as evidenced by new terms like “Black Fatigue” springing up in the zeitgeist.
June is “Pride Month”, according to some, and by this time last year, there was no escaping it. Pride displays and merchandise were in every store and every event. “Pride” flags were plastered on municipal vehicles and crosswalks. Target was infamously selling “chest binders” for teenage girls and girl’s underwear that would simulate a penis. Cities flew “pride” flags, schools threw “pride” celebrations…it was everywhere, in every corner, without fail or mercy.
In fact, California has cleverly set up a system of municipal “pride” celebrations that claim different weeks (and months) throughout the year, on top of June’s national version. It works out to California celebrating “pride” for about half the year in one capacity or another.
So, I walked into the store fully expecting to see a complete takeover of Pride Month - flags flying in front and draped across the entrances; display shelves filled with rainbow cups, plates and knickknacks; “Pride” shirts and accessories…I’m sure I don’t need to go on. We’ve all witnessed the growing retail onslaught year after year.
Instead, I was greeted with summer displays, Americana decorations and Independence Day accessories. I walked past a single shelving display jammed with rainbow products and the familiar misnomer “Love is love.”
That was it. That was all. It was shocking enough to register in my psyche, and as I went to share my observation on social media, I discovered I was not alone. Others are noticing too.
It is clear America is over it. We are over the forced speech and the pronouns and the complete takeover of normal American life every June by a Deadly Sin most of us recognize as something to flee from, not celebrate.
We are tired of being asked to adopt the increasingly chaotic Alphabet flag over our own. We are tired of being asked to drape every part of our society - classrooms, courtrooms, street crossings - in that flag. We’re tired of being asked to pretend no other issue or problem exists for any other American.
We are exhausted.
Even worse…GenX is exhausted. We were the last generation in which is was perfectly fine to roll your eyes at “the gay stuff.” We retreated when the Millennials took over with their participation trophies. It wasn’t that serious to us and we just wanted to be left alone. Do whatever you want. Love who you want. Leave me alone.
Except “Do whatever you want” turned into “We can make you do whatever we want” and that doesn’t work for us.
So, now we’re pissed, and we’re exhausted and we’ve just about had enough of the inmates running the asylum.
The left wing in this country pushed too hard, too fast and Americans, emboldened by a very loud victory at the ballot box last year, are not in the mood to tolerate it anymore. The deflating balloon of “Pride Month” is proof positive.
We’re over it.
Pride Month is officially now Pride Fatigue.
*My work is completely supported by generous readers and listeners like you. If you’d like to help keep my voice free and independent, please consider a paid subscription or giving a gift subscription.
*Or share this post with friends.
*Or subscribe to my podcast wherever you find your audio podcasts or YouTube
Yes! But some companies haven't gotten the message so we shouldn't give up and assume it is over. A friend told me her Ralph's App was full of Pride stuff. I told her to write a letter and not shop at Ralph's for the month. I did that to Walmart a couple years ago and let them know that because of their focus on "Pride" it made me shop at Smart & Final where I discovered I could get everything I needed for my church's community food bank which meant I wouldn't be getting those items from Walmart even after the month was over. It's one thing to simply sell a t-shirt for that. I'm happy with American capitalism and choices in products. It's quite another to promote it front and center to families, or in the case of a grocery store, to an audience who's merely there to by food and doesn't want to think about what anyone does in the bedroom!
GenX - we are over this and so much more!