Parks and Recreation is my favorite show. I feel like a broken record reminding people of this fact but it is the truth: I love that show with my whole heart. Meaning I know these characters like the back of my own hand. And people love to misunderstand Ron Swanson.
Played by Nick Offerman, the character is a libertarian, meaning that he’s basically against the involvement of the government. His job within the Pawnee Parks and Recreation department is basically his way of fighting the system by having the government pay him and yet he won’t do anything to actually help the government. Unfortunately, Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) does the job of 20 people so it doesn’t really work in Ron’s favor but he still gets money to do basically nothing.
One thing that Ron doesn’t do though is hate people for living their lives. As long as they mind their own business, he’s fine. If you try to celebrate his birthday or tell people his business? That’s when he has an issue with others. Meaning that Ron Swanson, who was the best man at Craig and Typhoon’s wedding.
So tell me why Mike Flynn Jr., son of former Trump administration National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, used a gif of Ron Swanson throwing something in the trash to share his thoughts on Pride month. The gif in question took a scene where Ron Swanson was throwing out a computer and replaced the computer with the rainbow Pride flag.
Flynn posted the gif, writing “Just wanted to post how I feel about ‘pride’ month.” The image shows Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson walking the Pride Flag to the trash can.
Offerman quoted the post, writing “Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb f***. Happy Pride.”
I’m taking Parks and Recreation memes away from Republicans
Let’s all have a seat while I explain that even when Parks and Recreation engaged with Republicans, the show was still distinctly Democratic and liberal. Leslie Knope idolized women in politics. Particularly Democratic women in politics and her one celebrity hall pass in her marriage was President Joe Biden. She took advice from Madeleine Albright, had a framed picture of Hillary Clinton on her desk, and was the happiest when she got to talk to Michelle Obama about Chicago.
My point is that even though John McCain was on the show for two seconds (and made fun of), the show was never found of Republicans. So for someone like Flynn, whose father helped aide a president like Donald Trump who quite literally stands against everything the show stood for, it is frustrating. So now you’ve all lost the privilege. Are you a MAGA? No more Parks and Recreation memes for you until you learn how your brain cells work!
On a more serious note, it is a fundamental misunderstanding about Ron Swanson. People see this grump of a character as someone who would hate progress, hate women, the LGBTQ+ community, and diversity. On the contrary: He loves it.
So be like Ron Swanson and Nick Offerman and wish everyone a Happy Pride because we need less baffoons like Mike Flynn Jr. in the world.
(featured image: NBC)
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