When did we stop identifying ourselves as humans and resort to only Democrats or Republicans?
There has been a dangerous division between these political parties since the current administration took office. While there has always been a divide, it’s never been as hostile as it is now.
Families with partisan differences can barely stand to be in the same room. Introducing yourself as a Democrat seems to get you labeled as a “wimpy liberal” and identifying as a Republican has people assuming you’re a racist who hates women. Not one person has the same ideas or perspectives as another, so why are we assuming people registered in the same party are all the same people?
Parties were formed to build coalitions so the country, as a whole, could win. Lately, it doesn’t feel like we are winning anything at all. We’re filled with a lot of hate and despair and the hostility is clouding the air quicker than our carbon footprint.
Other countries have become fearful of us because of this divide. Just last weekend, in the wake of back-to-back mass shootings in two separate American states, several countries sent out advisory warnings to their residents about traveling to the U.S.
Differing political views on the shootings and gun control laws quickly turned into a social media frenzy. People weren’t having intellectual conversations on the subject, or discussing ways to work together to stop these tragedies that continue to take away our loved ones, they were attacking each other.
Democrats were calling Republicans evil and Republicans were accusing Democrats of only having one motive: taking away their right to own a gun. Our pain turns into anger and our anger turns into hatred.
How in the world are we going to get anything done if we continue to blame each other?
These political ideologies have turned into a way of life that has drawn a huge line down the country, separating blue from red. And it’s spreading globally. George Washington may have had the right idea about warning his fellow founding fathers about the dangers of separated parties.
I’m a registered Democrat because I believe in equality and power being held by the population as a whole. Whether you agree or disagree with that view, I think we can all agree that we want our country, the place where we live and raise our families, to be better. We want to feel safe.
Democrat or Republican, I don’t think anyone feels safe right now.
We have a country in crisis. We need to stop pitting our views against each other and start using our differences as strengths instead of weaknesses.