By: Robert Jones
Reel Urban News Political Op-Ed
Well it looks like we will have a new president soon. Although I have not seen many presidential elections in my adult life the division and angst that has fueled this one seems particularly unique. This national chasm is no doubt partially fueled by the polarizing personality of our current president Donald Trump. His demeanor has inspired visceral support and vigorous opposition. However, there seems to be more than just a choleric personality at the foundation of our national discord. More prominent to our separation than the disdain or support for any given politician or policy, is the underlying assumption during these times that those who think, believe and vote differently from ourselves are evil and must be resisted as such. It will be the demonization of others and the resultant atmosphere that line of thinking incubates that will destroy our society, not any one or set of elected politicians. Therefore, if something resembling national unity is our goal, it will do extraordinarily little to simply install the candidate of our choice.
It is obvious that we have deeply held social and political convictions that will be debated among ourselves and our posterity for centuries into the future. However, because we believe our convictions to be good, true, and righteous does not automatically make opposing or alternative thought diabolical in nature. We must resist this simplified dichotomy of thought because within it we create entrenched tribal conflict along every issue that arises. We bred the us versus them mentality and carry it to its natural end where all contrary thought is stamped out and only those who think and believe in line with the dominant philosophy are allowed to exist without persecution. We create an atmosphere that plays only to the extremes and ridicules any reasonable middle stance. This is quite troubling because most of us stand somewhere in the middle of most issues and from there we decide which extreme with which we will join to avoid the persecution or ostracizing of centrist ideas.
For most of us there is not much difference in the ideal world in which we would like to live. We differ only in the best means to achieve those ends. The commonality amongst the ideal should scream to us that we are not enemies. Instead we are friends with varying opinions that shape our ideologies and lead us to vote in a certain manner. Because of our political structure we will vigorously debate these issues and voting results will fall one way or the other. However, when it ends let us walk away as friends and family with differing opinions not as foes preparing for our next opportunity to vanquish one another. It is okay to support your favorite politician or policy. It’s not okay to dehumanize others because of the politician and policy they support.
There is beauty in diversity that must be embraced in all its facets. Not only in racial, sexual, or cultural diversity but also in political ideological diversity. If we can resist the extremes and embrace those that make up the variations along the spectrum that differ slightly from our own we might find ourselves in a land where no matter who is president the atmosphere is one in which we all can thrive.
