Here we are in another Presidential election, and I truly believe that our country is completely out of sorts.
There are so many terrible things being said and so much negativity.
I know that this is generally what happens during an election. But I feel that this time, things are more divisive than ever.
It’s crazy to me as I watch where we are as a country and as a world.
When Did Politics Become a Wrestling Match?
I was just at the grocery store in the checkout line.
While I was there, two people nearly got into a fistfight because they were talking about—you guessed it—politics.
I’m not sure when politics became a good topic for the checkout line.
Still, these people felt it was the perfect place to sling not just words but fists.
We’ve come to the point where you can’t express an opinion without someone disliking you for it.
My heart longs for the days when the general consensus was “agree to disagree.”
But here we are in a world where there is so much hatred on both sides of the aisle.
I’m not saying that it’s worse than it’s ever been.
But it’s so outwardly worse than it’s ever been that it’s really hard to break through the noise.
Everywhere you turn, there is a whole lot of fighting going on and not enough listening.
We Can Still Be Friends Even If We Don’t Agree
Trust me, I have plenty of friends who disagree with me politically.
But just because I don’t agree with them politically doesn’t mean that I want to beat them up over it.
It’s crazy to me that this is where we’ve come to in regard to politics.
It’s become so bad that it’s scary to think about what could happen after this election is over.
What is our country going to look like?
Because no matter which side you are on, people are going to be angry.
But what would happen if we let go of our anger and chose to respect one another instead?
What if we chose to walk away when things started getting heated instead of adding to the intensity of the conversation?
The truth is, we can still be friends, regardless of what side of the political aisle we stand on.
We need to learn to respect each other no matter what we think politically.
We do this with religion; when did we stop doing it with politics?
But kindness still matters—even in politics.
I Am Not a Political Person
I don’t generally talk about politics.
But I can’t help but say something when I see how politics is causing so much division among otherwise good people.
To me, politics are very personal.
Yes, I vote. I think it’s very important that we vote.
But I’m not going to fight with someone about it.
I’m always happy to share my opinions. But at the same time, I recognize that there is always more for me to learn.
I try to be respectful no matter what the situation.
And if someone says something that I am vehemently opposed to, I choose to walk away.
Because getting into a fight with someone is not worth my time.
You can’t change another person’s mind, but you can change how you react to that person.
In This Election, Put Humanity First
The point of this entire article is to remind each of us that behind political affiliations are actual human beings.
There are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, who are just doing their best to make sense of an over-polarized world.
And no matter what we believe, we should choose humanity first.
We should choose to be kind.
We should choose to be respectful.
And if you don’t like what someone else has to say, simply choose to walk away.
Don’t get into a fight over someone else’s opinion—especially not a fistfight.
We need to respect one another’s right to vote, regardless of who we vote for.
It’s my hope that whoever you choose to vote for this election, you will choose to put humanity first.
Five Ways to Put Humanity First
If you are struggling to know how to put humanity first this election season, here are five simple suggestions.
Listen to understand, not to respond
Listen to actually hear what a person is saying instead of preparing counterpoints to what you perceive is an argument.
Approach conversations with genuine curiosity rather than trying to prove you’re right.
Practice active listening to help the other person feel respected, even if you disagree.
Remember that sometimes people just want to feel heard, and understanding their point of view doesn’t mean you have to agree with it.
Set boundaries on political discussions
If you know that political conversations can become heated in certain environments—like family dinners or work gatherings—it’s okay to set boundaries.
Politely let people know you’d prefer to keep the conversation on lighter topics or agree with family members or friends to limit political talk if it gets too tense.
Focus on shared values rather than political divides
A lot of people have more in common than they realize.
Focus on shared values like family, safety, opportunity, and freedom.
Rather than dwelling on what divides you, talk about the things you both care about, which can help bridge the gap.
Agree to disagree and move on
Sometimes, the best way to keep the peace is to simply agree to disagree.
Letting go of the need to convince others can be liberating.
Acknowledge that it’s okay to have different perspectives and politely steer the conversation to another topic.
Lead by example with a calm demeanor
In emotionally charged discussions, people often mirror each other’s tone.
If you try to maintain a calm, respectful, and kind approach, others are more likely to respond in the same way.
Change Begins With You
If you truly want to make a difference this election season, change doesn’t just happen in the ballot box.
It happens with the choices we make every single day.
I hope that in the coming days, we choose to be civil to one another.
I hope we can respect one another’s opinions even if we don’t agree with them.
And most of all, I hope that whatever happens with this election, we can have thoughtful and respectful conversations regardless of the outcome.
Our country and our world can use a lot more goodness in it.
Let’s make the choice this election to be the good we hope to see.
That will truly make all the difference.
