Our current political climate is very divided and it says a lot about our community. Primarily, it says a lot about our political identities. We have become very loyal to our political parties in a way that reflects social categorization. Meaning, that we have definitely taken on a “us versus them” mentality. Now, depending on what side you are on this is a very good thing. It can feel like you are fighting for what is right but when it is coming from an opposing side, it can feel like ignorance. The political rhetoric is passionate but also harsh and demeaning.
Social media is driving this divisiveness. Social Media has opened up the world and exposed us to a lot of information and to far away connections. If you live in a divided county or a place where your ideology is challenged you don’t need to deal with it, you are allowed to find a group of people who do share your views. This has proven valuable not just in that we can expose connect people to those who think alike to each other, but there is an opportunity to rally and organize to fight together.
But again, I come back to what that does to our communities. If we are not forced to try and understand the reason behind what our neighbors are thinking, we will never try and we will continue to maintain a “us versus them” mentality.
People will always be complicated and diverse and if we believe what we say when we say that “diversity is what makes us strong” then we need to develop the skill set of understanding that others develop opinions using different perspectives and that they don’t always jive with ours. We don’t have to share all the same opinions but for the sake and strength of our community and what makes our country strong, we have to learn to talk to each other.