Politics, can we talk?

Can we talk about politics?

I am writing this post on November 3, 2020, Election Day in the United States. It is a privilege to exercise my democratic right to vote, but the weeks leading up to today have been turbulent and uncertain.

One of the most challenging aspects has been the divisiveness between Republican and Democratic voters. Divisive to the extent that any civil discourse about who we are voting for and why is very rare. Many voters don’t speak up about who they voted in fear of retaliation and confrontation.

This became real for me this past weekend.

I met up with a friend for a socially-distanced catch-up chat. We talked about a variety of things, including the upcoming election. Both of us had already voted. Turns out, we voted for different candidates. Because of my respect for her as a person and a friend, I listened with curiosity. She had thoughtfully deliberated the different policies. While it was not an easy decision, she had cast her vote according to her guiding principles and values. She, in turn, listened respectfully to my reasoning, and we debated some of the key party policies. At one point we both recognized that being able to have an honest and open disagreement about politics was refreshing.

After we said goodbye, I realized that what had just occurred between us has become a rare event. It certainly was for me.

At this time in our history, when stakes are so high, it’s easy to get triggered. To see those with opposing political persuasions as opponents in a war. To label their thinking as flawed. To cajole them into seeing our reality.

Just as we vote according to our values and guiding principles, can we also engage with those who vote for the other candidate in a way that aligns with our values? Can we see the other as a whole human being and interact with respect and curiosity?

This is the challenge and the opportunity. Healing our fractured country starts with healing the interactions with those who think and feel differently from us.

“In many ways, making peace is harder than waging war. It takes time to forgive and for our wounds to heal. It takes courage to acknowledge our own failings. But whatever our position, there comes a time when we have to accept each other with all our differences.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu