I typed all this just for the other thread to be closed before I could post it. So I'm just going to stick this shit here and go on another hiatus. Also, it's interesting how the poll ended up meaning absolutely nothing in the end despite claiming the community and not the mod would decide the outcome.
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The pandemic is over and most of us are in agreement about Russia's invasion, so there's really nothing left to discuss. But, more important it's not good that politics and race are starting to permeate every facet of our lives. We need something where that's just not a topic of discussion or concern. If nothing else, cars should be that one area where it just doesn't come up.
However, I've been to HPDE's and seen people give each other Nazi salutes during the driver's meeting. I guess it was some sort of sick inside joke they have. I've had a complete stranger come up to me and start bashing Obama. This same guy tried to talk me into running laps on my own during an intermission when no flag workers or anyone else was on the track. Something that surely would have resulted in me being kicked and banned. So was this his way of getting the only black guy there booted? I'm not liberal but maybe my disdain for Obama wasn't strong enough for him? IDK.
Regardless it would be nice to have something in America where how you identify politically or how you look just didn't matter, to the point it wasn't even discussed. It shouldn't be the first thing that's brought up the moment you meet someone at an HPDE when these events aren't even remotely related to politics.
Because of that, I voted no. This shit is everywhere and never amounts to anything productive. It just further divides us in absolutely everything we do, so it would be nice to see a car community ditch that shit and focus on what matters.