I just had to let it go...

[nodressrehersal]

I've had it up to *HERE* with political conversations and posts that are disrespectful of people with opposing views and vantage points. We need to step back and take a long hard look at ourselves as human beings and how we're treating one another.

People are choosing sides like there's no tomorrow and it's creating an ever-widening chasm  - the "

Comments

[vivitalia]

I wholeheartedly agree. I had dinner last night with a woman who's worked in politics most of her life, and it was all she could talk about for the first part of the evening. She said something I found very interesting, when we were discussing the conservative Republican view of gay marriage, in particular. "I understand the 'them.'," she said, in reference to the lgbt people that group opposes, "That's clear enough, on this issue, I guess. But who's 'us?' Everyone except 'them?' Kind of scary if you know who you're against, but not who you're with." And that's what we have: a lot of people against a lot of things, and a lot of other people, but no one's willing to step across that chasm and agree to standing WITH someone.

[nodressrehersal]

What amazes me is the assumptions so many people make, as in, "Well, I believe this, that and the other thing, so I assume because you're an intelligent person, you believe the same things I do."

[kabuldur]

While I admit, I know almost nothing about your political system, I just wanted to say that I have never believed in party politics. I don't get the 'us' vs 'them', either. Thanks for putting up that John Lennon clip, I really enjoyed it. I didn't know much about him until I saw a documentary about him recently. 'There's no problems, only solutions' - I like that line. Somehow, we have got to find a way to talk to each other and to listen to each other - to communicate - without degrading, without insulting, without accusing. - Yeah, right on!

[nodressrehersal]

Other than perhaps "family," I cannot imagine an affiliation that would elicit blind faith and following from me. That's what "party politics" feels like these days.

[kabuldur]

I've known two or three people over my life who have blindly followed one party. I cannot understand it!

I thought more about your post overnight, and realised that we have two major parties over here, so in places where the vote is close, sometimes we are forced to vote for one to keep the other out. Not that I think there is a lot of difference between them.

Also, we have compulsory voting here and a lot of apathy; whereas you have a choice whether to vote or not, which might make those who want something voted on in a certain way make their argument very highly visible in society. That's just my theory on the limited information I have. I am not very interested in politics. Perhaps I should be because political decisions effect all our lives.

[bookglowwurm]

Sadly this has become the political climate and it almost feels necessary to keep "them" from getting the upper hand. I'm sick of it but also guilty of your charges because I find the extremists to be intolerable. Thanks for the reflection.

[nodressrehersal]

I think extremists on either side (and they do exist on both sides of the chasm) do more harm than good, serving only to divide - which eliminates the opportunity for communication and compromise.

For example, if I were to believe conflicting opinions expressed online lately, I would believe that all corporations are evil and bad, and that all unions are "for the people" and good. Neither statement is true, in my opinion, so that might put me out there in limbo, according to some.

[un_crayon_rouge]

Nothing to add except AMEN SISTAH. Also, I'd totally vote for you.