I
don't know about you, but this political season has been brutal for me.
I cannot recall any time in my lifetime that political opinions have so
polarizing, so divisive, and so destructive to friendships.
Over the past few months, I have preached tolerance between political parties, because if a deep-rooted belief that elections – shifts in power at the White House – are transitory, and change every 4 to 8 years. We, the citizenry, are not the President, and must deal with each other when all is said and done, regardless of whom is elected. Understanding, acceptance, and all.
Well, I have learned, first hand, that there are a lot of people who do not share my idea of acceptance. I've had friends online unfollow me, unfriend me, and accuse me of all sorts of things, based upon whom I voted for.
Just last week, I posted a picture about our new President (one that could have been taken a number of ways), and was immediately de-friended by someone I considered one of my best friends since high school. A mere picture was enough to trigger that response. It hurt a lot to find that long-time friendship, during which politics never entered conversation, boiled down to whom I voted for, and was grounds for ending that friendship.
Regardless of whom you voted for (frankly I don't care), I implore you to do three things, before it's too late. First - recognize that not everyone in your circle of friends adheres to your political ideology. If you have any respect for that friendship, respect that your friend is different than you. Second – differing opinions are the gateway to productive conversation. It's far too easy to label those who did not vote “your way” as (insert epithet here). Third – if you have any friends left who voted for differently than you, make time to thank them for being part of the democratic process. It happens every four years. Make time to understand why they voted the way they did, and – if you still disagree – and here's the most important part – agree to disagree. Painting others with the broad brush of what you don't like with a political ideology is very easy. That paint is hard to wash away, once you have insulted your friends for the sake of letting your voting preference known.
I've got few followers on social media these days, and will likely have fewer and fewer as time goes on. On the rare times I actually express my political preference, it's usually met with anger. I've come to grips with that. But I have been consistent in my belief that understanding between ideologies is the key to improving the lives of everyone. I don't see any logical reason to wrap one's self so tightly in a political cocoon that differing ideologies are grounds for hurtful behavior, or ending friendships. I hope that, among you few friends I have left, you appreciate that, too.
Over the past few months, I have preached tolerance between political parties, because if a deep-rooted belief that elections – shifts in power at the White House – are transitory, and change every 4 to 8 years. We, the citizenry, are not the President, and must deal with each other when all is said and done, regardless of whom is elected. Understanding, acceptance, and all.
Well, I have learned, first hand, that there are a lot of people who do not share my idea of acceptance. I've had friends online unfollow me, unfriend me, and accuse me of all sorts of things, based upon whom I voted for.
Just last week, I posted a picture about our new President (one that could have been taken a number of ways), and was immediately de-friended by someone I considered one of my best friends since high school. A mere picture was enough to trigger that response. It hurt a lot to find that long-time friendship, during which politics never entered conversation, boiled down to whom I voted for, and was grounds for ending that friendship.
Regardless of whom you voted for (frankly I don't care), I implore you to do three things, before it's too late. First - recognize that not everyone in your circle of friends adheres to your political ideology. If you have any respect for that friendship, respect that your friend is different than you. Second – differing opinions are the gateway to productive conversation. It's far too easy to label those who did not vote “your way” as (insert epithet here). Third – if you have any friends left who voted for differently than you, make time to thank them for being part of the democratic process. It happens every four years. Make time to understand why they voted the way they did, and – if you still disagree – and here's the most important part – agree to disagree. Painting others with the broad brush of what you don't like with a political ideology is very easy. That paint is hard to wash away, once you have insulted your friends for the sake of letting your voting preference known.
I've got few followers on social media these days, and will likely have fewer and fewer as time goes on. On the rare times I actually express my political preference, it's usually met with anger. I've come to grips with that. But I have been consistent in my belief that understanding between ideologies is the key to improving the lives of everyone. I don't see any logical reason to wrap one's self so tightly in a political cocoon that differing ideologies are grounds for hurtful behavior, or ending friendships. I hope that, among you few friends I have left, you appreciate that, too.
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