Avoiding Politics

I have had an outline of this topic for several weeks now. Even though I should probably grade some essays instead, today seems like a good day to tackle this post.

I don't tend to post much about politics. There are several reasons for this. First of all, I don't add strangers to my social media. That means I know all of my "friends." I respect them and realize that they have unique life experiences that contribute to their beliefs. I am not trying to negate their family histories and backgrounds.

Secondly, social media tends to exaggerate our differences. I suspect that in most cases, if I spoke with a person individually, we would agree more than we disagree. We have similar values, but we might promote those values in different ways. If I can't come across sincerely and respectfully through a certain medium, I don't want to use that platform to share my beliefs.

Finally, I want people to like me. If I don't say anything controversial, no one can hold it against me later. That's not a great reason to keep quiet, but it is a facet of my personality I have to acknowledge.

In general, I don't align with any particular political persuasion. I prefer to evaluate candidates and issues on an individual basis. However, I have friends and family members who do identify on either side of the spectrum. Lately, posts seem to discuss (or attack) people rather than ideas. Statements might include "all liberals are ______" or "anyone who voted for Trump is _____." If someone generalizes like that, it feels like they are disparaging people I love and respect very much. Sometimes they are criticizing me, too, without realizing it. I don't want to hurt anyone, even accidentally, so sometimes I say nothing.

Increasingly, though, I concede that silence might be misconstrued as supporting something I actually believe is wrong. Certain issues are too important not to discuss. Therefore, I might begin to express my thoughts more in the future.

In the meantime, my beliefs can be summed up by one overarching conviction: everyone, regardless of stage or state in life, deserves the same love, respect, and opportunities.

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