Explaining the ‘Future That Liberals Want’ Meme Taking Over the Internet
A tweet posted in a forum on the elusive image board website 4Chan that’s a supposed safe haven for “political incorrectness” — but has often been a breeding ground for hate-mongering — has revealed, well, just how off base those claiming to despise PC culture really are.
Apparently, according to the post Wednesday from @polNewsNetwork1 that has since gone viral, an image of two people — not in the future, but in real life on planet Earth today — minding their own business on public transportation is, to some people, a representation of the undoing of America.
/pol/ News Network @polNewsNetwork1
This is the future that liberals want.
But by labeling such innocuous behavior as the goal of liberals, the social media voices of the far right got way more than they reckoned for when others on Twitter started calling them out on their indignation.
Gilda Wabbit, the flame-haired drag queen seen in the photograph, even
issued a statement of her own. “I’ve been attempting to ignore the negative feedback it’s received, although some friends have been sending me screenshots,” she noted. “The positive comments have been thrilling though! I’m reminded that the country was utterly divided during this election and there is so much hope for the future still left in our country. I won’t speak for all liberals, but I’d like to see a future where it isn’t a big deal for a woman in full modesty garb to sit next to a drag queen in NYC. It’s become a bit of a sensation, but her and I were just existing. The freedom to simply be yourself in a sea of people who aren’t like you is a freedom we all deserve.”
As one Twitter user succinctly stated:
It says something that a conservative looks at picture and thinks, "This is the future liberals want." That's not the future; that's now.
Others pointed out that if this is the “goal” of liberals, then, well, the bar is pretty low:
This is the future, period. You can either deal with that or move to the woods and let the rest of the world spin on without you.
@amaditalks the future liberals want is…people feeling free to dress and present how they prefer, and using public transportation?
@ScottMadin apparently. Seems like low goals, tbh.
Some jumped in and made clear that if this is the future, then they’re all in:
Sign me up!
And plenty of other people pointed out what a nonissue everything in the photo actually is:
cool. doesn't make it any more or less shocking tbh. just people living their lives
Looks like a typical Monday morning. I really see this as my city being a great place to live.
right? they're sitting peacefully, nobody is hassling them... I wonder how consensual the pic taking was, tho
"This is the future liberals want" people peacefully sharing space without issue (and apparently affording luxuries)? Uh...yes?
... And others pointed out why the tweet in question speaks for itself:
this is good. When the fascists accidentally make a strong case for your values
And then, of course, there were the memes (all saying "This is the future liberals want." I can't copy some videos, see article):







