Lately there's been a lot of angst in the air about an Amendment that Floridians will be voting on in November. Politics in general have been angrier than ever. The divisiveness is palpable every moment. I've caught myself feeling my own anger-- not against those who take the opposite side, but against those who spread misleading information and use it to polarize relationships. Okay, honestly, sometimes it is against those who take the opposite side, just because I feel so passionate about my side.
I do remind myself that what's great about America is that we can have political differences, exchange conversation representing different viewpoints, and in the end, we can still co-exist without retribution for our convictions. We can dwell more on what we have in common while using dialogue about various perspectives to make our society better.
But do we really? Or do we call the opposition "ignorant" and distant ourselves from them socially and otherwise?
I'll admit having done this. And I couldn't say I would never do it again. But it's usually when that person is not just vocal about his/her politics, but obnoxious and offensive.
I'm not sure anyone taught us how to disagree respectfully, and that it's okay not to feel the same about everything as your neighbor. What's important is to be a neighbor.
Maybe so many of us turn angry when our sacred beliefs are challenged in the political process and we feel helpless to change them. I think the anger comes from a feeling of injustice, or more simply, not being heard.
Either way, we don't all agree. We never will. And until we can be civil to each other, nothing, absolutely nothing will change.
6 comments:
Life would be so boring if we all had the same opinion. It's ok to be vocal. Just be nice about it, right?
I think I know what you're talking about. Then every once in a while I have to remind myself that our founding fathers indulged in the same types of behaviors. Um, so maybe that just underscores your hypothesis - some things may never change?
Someone once said to me that religion and politics are by far the worst topics to discuss. I agree!
I think it's important to know that all you can do is point out the facts as you understand them, and then leave it alone, because you can't convince anyone through simple argument. All you can do is show them more information than they had. And live by example.
As long as we're being squishy about specific amendments ;-) I'm totally for Amendment 4, which has tons of signs all over the place(sponsored by developers) sayinG "No on 4." If developers hate the amendment, then it must be good for the citizenry. Too often, local governments are bribed by developers into helping jam new development into an area where the residents don't want it, and the residents have no voice and no recourse. Now they will.
So agree about it being so important to be civil to each other... "I'm not sure anyone taught us how to disagree respectfully" - if someone did, it would be a good thing and would make the world a better place. This just made me think now how parents should probably start implementign such valuable life lessons early on. (Note to self for the future! lol)
I was taught the phrase "agree to disagree" from a young age. While I did not fully understand it at the time, have been learning what it means ever since.
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