2 days Ago
How many friends, co-workers and family members have you cut out of your life over political differences? Maybe it's that outspoken colleague at work who is a left-leaning liberal. Maybe it's that blowhard uncle who is a ranting, flag-waving conspiracy theorist? Maybe it's that former college classmate who repeatedly shares social media posts that don't align with your definition of democracy. Or maybe you are the one who's been extracted from people's lives without anyone saying anything to your face.
Instead, they just slowly fade away from you and never return. Millions of Americans are experiencing similar scenarios. Things will only intensify as Election Day nears in November.
No debate is needed to agree on this fact of life in our divided states of America. On my recent vacation, I spent several days with relatives who don't share my political positions. They've known me most of my life.
We share the same bloodline. We've attended weddings and funerals together. They are my kin.
I can be myself in their presence, which is something I cannot do with most people. People are also reading..
. Not once during my vacation did we talk politics. We had so many more important things to share with one another.
And so many other things to laugh or grieve about. One of the relatives I spent time with is an elderly uncle who was recently diagnosed with dementia. His memory has lapses, and it will get only worse.
My uncle's attitude is remarkably upbeat. He understands his situation. He has plans for when his condition bottoms out.
The journalist in me barraged him with questions. The nephew in me barraged him with admiration. At one point, one of my questions compelled him to cry.
The last time I saw him get emotional was at my father's funeral 37 years ago. I don't regret asking him the question. I regret not asking it sooner.
Not once did I even consider asking him about his politics, which don't align with mine. Politics seems so important in our world until it doesn't matter in contrast to things that truly have significance in our personal lives. Love.
Compassion. Empathy. Sorrow.
Pain. These human emotions mean so much more as I get older. Nonetheless, every day I have to deal with people who are obsessed with politics and the human emotions giving it power: fear, anger, suspicion, gullibility and paranoia.
These people are consumed by national politics. They can't have a casual conversation without politics hijacking it. I'll bet you know someone with a default obsession that's focused on political radicalism, whether it's to the left or right or somewhere in between.
I no longer have tolerance for people who want to kidnap my time under the guise of "conversation." What may have started as a two-way dialogue quickly devolves into a one-way monologue. Politics seems like a paint-by-number self-portrait.
I'm more interested in someone's blank canvas before politics splattered all over it. Recently, as I was walking down a street near my home, a female motorist honked her horn at me and yelled something out of her window. All I heard was, "president .
.. election .
.. stolen.
" All I could do was smile and shrug. Just think of all the things she could have yelled to me or anyone else. Nope.
It was political rhetoric that spewed from her mouth. As a columnist, I tend to hear from people like this. It doesn't matter if they're Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative.
I hear from all of them. When I meet people who are obsessed with politics, I tend to guide the conversation away from their well-honed lectures and media-fed sound bites. I'd rather hear about their joys or regrets in life.
Or their family situation. Or the worst day of their life or their proudest moment. These are the human commonalities that can transcend our man-made differences.
And this is what has the possibility of repairing friendships, redeeming relationships and restoring civility to our troubled nation. Davich writes for The Times of Northwest Indiana: Jerry.Davich@ nwi.
com . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!.
