This is not a political blog, and while I’ve remained mostly quiet in public spaces, I have feelings about everything happening. I mean, who doesn’t? If you want to skip this post, you should look away now. If I lose some of you, I’m okay with that. But to say nothing on the subject feels too disingenuous.
I have big feelings about it—so big that I’ve begun mindfulness practices and imposed phone viewing limitations. When I’ve been in social groups recently, and we’ve briefly touched upon the subject, I’ve learned that I’m not alone in my strong feelings. As we all know, we are deeply divided along political fault lines.
For me, it feels like five-alarm energy regarding the present Republican administration and Congress as they engage in the daily dismantling of our country’s checks and balances. The firings of those who serve as our public watchdogs, the acquisition of our data, and the installation of uniquely unqualified chairs to manage key policing, military, and health positions seem to allow the present administration an opportunity to act without oversight.
Are people who voted for him worried? Is this what they bargained for when they went to the ballot box? I have seen some opinions bantered around on Facebook. Some people seem satisfied with what is going on. I don’t understand it, but I feel it’s essential to understand their points of view.
A Newly Minted Democrat
As a newly minted Democrat, as of 2016, I’m always surprised when I tune in to FNC and learn what the Radical Left Libs believe. Now that I am one, I can tell you that I don’t think most of the things they are reporting on. Yet, Trump, his Republican Administration, and fiery media brands are defining and amplifying my supposed views to the rest of the country. It seems to me they are spreading lies and untruths about my beliefs to serve their purpose and divide us. I understand that both sides do this, and I disagree with it.
And yet, a crazy part of our modern political experience is that we can’t discuss it because the division runs so deep between friends, neighbors, and families. And when it does come up, there are usually a few people in a group whose jaws tighten and bodies tense, making it clear that they have different political views from those being discussed. So, out of respect and the desire for peace, I often stop talking about it. Perhaps some in the group mentally unfriended them. I can’t say I’ve never wanted to unfriend those on the other side, but I don’t think that is good for any of us.
So we sit in book clubs, on hikes, at golf or pickleball, all avoiding discussing these big, essential world topics. In my long-time book groups, we’ve been through the loss of parents, cancer treatments, divorces, and many family hardships together. We’ve spoken openly about personal and emotional life-changing events, yet we can’t talk politics. It’s crazy, it seems wrong, and it is not serving us. How can we get out of this mess?
Can We Please Talk Politics
For me, the televised meeting with President Zelenskyy for the world to see was an extremely low day. I wanted to cry. If they are willing to bully a strong leader fighting for his people and country, how are they going to treat women? What example is that leadership behavior setting for our children, grandchildren, and overall culture? Are we turning our backs on our longtime allies (for many of us, these are our countries of origin) while the administration aligns with Russia? These are big fears for me, yet I can’t discuss them with the people I’ve been able to discuss almost any other topics.
Are we allowing cable news, social media channels, podcasters, and politicians to make enemies of those who believe differently? In many of Trump’s tweets and speeches, I am called a Radical Left Lunatic. Is that what my friends and neighbors think about me now? Sure, media and podcasters try to get clicks by reporting the outrageous, but having a leader loudly berate half of his own country is uniquely destructive. Why does he do it? I believe he does it because it seems to be working. Do we want to let this technique work in our country? These are just some of my many questions.
Is our collective need to belong so great that we have forgotten the moral values that have long guided each of us as individuals? I know we all have different opinions. I fear that forming bonds with a group by promoting a collective disdain for another group is not the correct path for us. Indeed, I do not want to subscribe to it, but I fear we are all being pulled into it.
These are such hard questions for me, and I apologize in advance to my book groups. I’m not sure that I can remain quiet any longer. But if I can’t stop myself, I promise to try to listen and not call you names. Sadly, that low bar seems to be a good start.
If you’ve read this far, don’t worry. My next post will be back to my regularly scheduled blog content. But if you ever want to talk openly about these topics and our country’s future hopes and direction, I am always available for a candid conversation.