https://twitter.com/polNewsNetwork1/status/837001201384374272
On Wednesday, a Twitter account named after 4Chan’s “politically incorrect” channel, /pol/, posted this Instagram photo with the caption, “This is the future that liberals want.” The photo shows an unidentified Muslim woman and drag queen Gilda Wabbit riding the subway, just living their lives and not hurting anyone. (How dare they?) The tweet backfired spectacularly, with people replying to the tweet sarcastically and providing alternate photos of a glorious future.
The image was originally posted on Subway Creatures to highlight New York City’s diversity, before it was co-opted by a Twitter account trying to frame diversity as some kind of threat. Gilda Wabbit told Buzzfeed, “the clapback against the negative attention from the far-right has been fabulous.”
At first, people stated the obvious. Why is anybody clutching their pearls about Muslims and drag queens just sitting there, existing?
https://twitter.com/that1mum/status/837152490789425152
https://twitter.com/irlchuggo/status/837265437352153089
two people calmly sitting on a bus. oh the horror! I thought it was the SJWs who were supposed to be easily offended 🤔
— 🌞Sunny Burn 🌹 (@sunweasel) March 1, 2017
And others sang the praises of peaceful coexistence and reliable public transportation:
religious freedom, kicky daytime drag looks, and a robust public transit program? SIGN ME THE FUCK UP. https://t.co/6p24MIW9ZF
— Anthony Oliveira (@meakoopa) March 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/sadydoyle/status/837140247125315584
I think it looks nice — cultures existing comfortably together, no one being hurt in any way.
— Jane Espenson (@JaneEspenson) March 2, 2017
People wearing what they want to? Feeling comfortable in public? Going outside without fear? AWESOME LET'S DO IT.
— TechnicallyRon (On all the platforms) (@TechnicallyRon) March 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/BillionaireDad/status/837061896104652800
And other Twitter users pointed out that a variety of people already exist in the present and aren’t some kind of mythical creature that will pop into existence in the future through the sheer force of liberal wishes.
https://twitter.com/IjeomaOluo/status/837113878748127232
https://twitter.com/jesseberney/status/837318699841384448
https://twitter.com/huwlemmey/status/837207962653495296
https://twitter.com/BMinnery12/status/837099538703790080
But then the jokes really started, with sarcastic Twitter users providing photos to demonstrate, “This is the future that liberals want.”
https://twitter.com/darth/status/837343905129488384
This is the future that liberals want pic.twitter.com/aMyU4TiTOi
— Viktor Winetrout (@Cpin42) March 2, 2017
This is the future that liberals want. pic.twitter.com/WCJHcP1BuL
— Mat (@MatCro) March 2, 2017
this is the future that liberals want pic.twitter.com/6671NeUw3y
— Amanda Mancino-Williams (@Manda_like_wine) March 2, 2017
This is the future liberals want. pic.twitter.com/0V5LnUegQd
— it’s tron time (@DennisCalero) March 2, 2017
This is the future liberals want pic.twitter.com/BILQuNsJxt
— Sam Montgomery (@sammontgomery) March 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/dswingsbothways/status/837368491745357824
https://twitter.com/suraiasahar/status/837470523873452032
This is the future liberals want. pic.twitter.com/nFdYY6tyrO
— Peter (@PeteHeacock) March 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/mikemillerSBN/status/837357870521987075
https://twitter.com/SFtheWolf/status/837158594659282944
this is the future liberals want @polNewsNetwork1 @DOGONTHEBUS pic.twitter.com/o5TpW5adxO
— Ellie Duke (@elliecduke) March 3, 2017
this is the future that liberals want pic.twitter.com/Ckg1kpL585
— ishmael n. daro (@iD4RO) March 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/Qubiste/status/837354427900125184
https://twitter.com/AbelUndercity/status/837356842531569664
This is the future that liberals want pic.twitter.com/O2zUpvSehK
— @donalvar@col.social (@donAlvar) March 2, 2017
But this is what everyone got instead:
this is the future that Republicans got. pic.twitter.com/ALJSxYGCxU
— Ryan J. Downey (@ryandowney) March 2, 2017
(Hat tip to Buzzfeed, The Mary Sue, and Pajiba for finding some of these.)