Full disclosure – this is a post about politics that’s not about politics. There is no ranting, no bashing of any candidates, just my thoughts on the state of our political environment at the moment.

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The older I get, the more I’ve paid attention to politics. I think this is a natural course in life…with age comes a greater tendency to lift our heads to see the world around us. And while I’ve paid more attention to politics, I still sit on the sidelines. I vote, I read, but I’m not politically active. That might change in the future, but at this point, I feel more like a spectator than a participant.

As I’ve observed the most recent presidential election cycle, and the conversations surrounding it, I’ve become deeply worried for the collective us. I recognize that republicans and democrats have always viewed the world differently, this isn’t new. But what feels different to me is a complete communication void between those that are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. The void extends from our congressmen in DC to friends and neighbors. More recently, there’s not even a common understanding of what information is true (this is NOT a reference to the “alternative facts” comment, but a more general statement about the very different lenses through which people view the world and how we obtain our information). I perceive little effort to step back and hear a different perspective, to listen critically about why someone feels the way they do. This weekend was a perfect example of the echo chamber in which we all live.

On Friday, Donald Trump was inaugurated. Many Americans voted for him with high hopes for the change he can bring to our country. They were excited to see their candidate take office, an “outsider” who spoke their language. Most of the conversation on social media seemed to center around the size of the crowds. Granted, Trump and his administration did their part to fuel that dialogue, but from my perspective, it was the most inconsequential part of the day. It distracted from other things that happened over the weekend…Trump’s inaugural speech, his speech at the CIA. Regardless of whether or not we voted for him, we should all be listening closely to what he says, especially in these early days of his presidency. We all have the responsibility of holding our elected officials accountable, and that starts with listening to their messages unfiltered. It is not about taking shots at the president’s family, what his cake looked like, or what kind of relationship the president and first lady might have. Those are all distractions from the real work of our government.

On Saturday, there was a march in Washington and in other cities around the world. The people who marched had many personal reasons for marching, and they varied widely. The march was grounded in a liberal perspective, which means I wouldn’t expect the message to resonate with those of a more conservative viewpoint. I saw many posts in support of the march, and many others that mocked marchers, suggestions that congress should enact laws that limit protests (!!), and articles that “ranted” at those that marched. The right to peaceably assemble is part of the first amendment of our constitution. Even if a particular march or protest doesn’t reflect our own personal viewpoint, we should all celebrate and support the right of our fellow citizens to participate in this most American exercise. There will be a pro-life march in Washington on the 27th. I am not the target audience for that march as it is not my cause, but I strongly support those who will march. Protesting is important. Marching is important. Whether or not a particular protest or march resonates with our personal beliefs is not.

So, what’s next? Where does the collective we go from here? How do we move forward from this place? If we are to create a more inclusive, respectful political environment, how do we do that? My personal belief is that the acrimony in congress reflects that acrimony present in our society. If we change, congress will change. It won’t be fast, but change will happen. If I could make a to-do list for us, myself included, this is where I’d start. It is by no means all-inclusive (I’m essentially spit-balling at this point), and I welcome additional thoughts on how we can collectively move forward from this dark, divisive place.

• Stop judging each other on the lowest common denominator. The majority of republicans are not racist, homophobic, gun-loving anti-feminists. The majority of liberals are not delicate flowers (i.e. snowflakes)  who live on welfare, expecting the government to fix all of their problems. In any group you’ll find assholes…whether that’s a political party, a group with a shared hobby such as runners, or a profession. We must resist the temptation to judge a collective based on the worst of that group.
• Focus less on what others are doing and focus more on our own sphere of influence. Don’t support the platform of the march? Don’t march. Think the Affordable Care Act is the worst thing that ever happened? Work with your congress-people to advocate for change. Believe that Planned Parenthood provides critical healthcare to women living in poverty? Get involved in advocating for the organization’s survival. Lets find those things that matter to us, and work to change those things, without judgment towards those who share different views.
• Have conversations with people we trust. Don’t understand why people are so passionate about the second amendment? Talk to people you know who are responsible gun-owners. Don’t understand why the LGBTQ community is concerned right now? Talk with people who are part of that community. Listen more, talk less. Even among those that share similar viewpoints, there is much to be learned through thoughtful dialogue. I recently had a conversation with two similarly-minded friends that reframed my view on a topic in which I thought I was well-grounded. I was grateful for the conversation, and appreciated the opportunity evolve my perspective.
• Resist the urge to use labels when talking about those with different viewpoints. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
• Recognize that most have complicated belief systems. Very rarely are things as black-and-white as they seem. Even in the most hot-button of issues, most have nuanced views that can’t be well-articulated by a soundbite or meme. So many conversations are reductive. I believe that by walking away from the 1,000 shades of grey that lay in the middle of most any issue, we do ourselves a great disservice.
• Get involved. Support candidates who reflect your beliefs. Help get them elected and communicate with them throughout their term. Volunteer for causes that resonate. Pivot away from things that don’t matter to you and towards the things that do.

I’m worried for us. I’ve observed more than a few friendships breakdown over this political season. This stuff matters, and it matters a lot, but so do the people in our lives. From this moment forward, I’m committed to building more bridges and listening more. When pushing back against a policy or candidate I disagree with, I’m committed to resisting thoughtfully, respectfully, and with grace. I recognize that this approach doesn’t resonate with everyone, and that’s groovy. But this will be my path forward.

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“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”
― John F. Kennedy, January 20, 1961