We know people in our lives from practically every walk of life. From this, we meet people with different backgrounds and world views. (The truth is) there's absolutely nothing wrong with this... in fact, I think we need more people in our lives that challenge us as individuals.
However, I've also genuinely noticed something from BOTH sides on the political spectrum. According to Sage Pub Journals, they stated in an article that "one of the most important trends in American politics has been the heightened level of partisan polarization at both elite and mass levels. Fueled largely by the growth of negative partisanship, the polarized nature of contemporary American politics is one in which individuals no longer affiliate with parties and candidates through positive attachments but, rather, identify against the party and candidates they view with enmity, fear, and suspicion."
Partisan differences have grown immensely over the past few years. (If you don't believe me, maybe post a Pro-Trump or Pro-Bernie post to your Instagram story and see how that blows over for you... it won't be good).
Often times, I have noticed that the political climate has been (unfortunately) more and more expected today. (And with the Pandemic, according to the Pew Research Center, has immensely grown because of the virus.
But, the political climate has become more and more toxic. Political sides are becoming more "cliquey", where people from BOTH sides are only talking to those that agree with them politically. The first thing that may pop up in a conversation is asking an individual who they may have voted for in the 2016 Presidential Election. On more drastic occasions, some Democrats who seek romantic relationships would not consider dating a Trump voter.
This is an issue. Back then, people did not have issues with others politically as they do now.
People make the candidate whom they voted for a personality trait. And, if you're a person that voted for the wrong person, (in that persons eyes) you will get murdered verbally, regardless of your political party.
And then, those that are very outspoken about their political beliefs find themselves putting a wall up of themselves that alienates friends and future relationships.
Stop alienating yourself from other people. If you are making generalizations of others, you are part of the problem. Stop making your candidate your entire personality, where you build a wall and believe that those around you are evil if they disagree with you politically.
People need to try and be more welcoming and we need to listen to each other better. Disagreements are okay, but name calling, bullying and threats are (however) not okay either, this stemming basically on BOTH SIDES, and it needs to stop.
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