Not That Into Parties

My brother, Paul, died from ALS. I remember one year, early 2000s, when we all met at his house in the Woodlands for Christmas. The stunning number of "Fox and Friends" swag in the gift exchange was a statement as to the majority of my family's political leanings. Nothing I didn't already know. But it was weird. I don't know if it was a coordinated effort which actually would make me feel a bit better or if they all just decided that this was the year they would make their statements. I looked at these people I loved so dearly and just thought they must ignore the parts that seem so counter intuitive to who they are as human beings. Regardless, I didn't care. I loved both my brothers and my mom. I wonder now how Paul and my mom would feel about the GOP now. Would it still be so easy to ignore the parts that didn't line up with the values and beliefs they held so dear? I look at the Democratic Party and I see a vast array of opinions, beliefs, core values. I am not "pro-abortion". I don't go out encouraging expectant moms to change their minds. I am pro-education, pro-choice, and pro-reality. I believe that women and girls who are given the education, the tools necessary to control their sex life will make informed decisions. I am not a single issue voter. I don't care if people have guns. I just want some common sense regarding who has what. Isn't it strange that we have not been allowed to grow a plant and use that plant for all its medicinal advantages by the government? Yet the thought of limiting assault weapons runs a chill of 1984 down the spine of individuals? So I look at this Democratic Party and I see variety and diversity. Yet others see it as a nefarious socialist organization that will take what you have and turn you into a slave of the state. I look at the Republican Party and how it is being portrayed and realize that they too are being characterized by their most extreme. Is that accurate? Has the GOP turned into the party of Trump? Of QANON? Of OAN and NewsMax? Is that who they all are now? Because I don't believe it. I can't believe it because if I do then I have to apply that same algorithm to the Democratic Party. Are we all Antifa? Actually that's a dumb example. Because honestly, I am anti-fascist. Obvi. And I do identify with the more progressive of the party. But we are led by very centrist boomers. Any time we paint an entire group of people with a broad brush, we get it wrong. And we play into the plan established by those who thrive when we are divided. When we refuse to talk to one another. When we fear things getting heated or causing fallouts. I have never been one to ignore an issue. And I am often made to feel like a troublemaker or instigator when I point to an issue and say hey. Look. A problem. Can we talk about it? What are your thoughts? No really. I want to know. I challenge you to talk to someone who is nothing like you. Talk to and listen to that person. Do not get defensive. Do not take things personally. We all have different ideas and backgrounds. Digest what that person says. Revisit if necessary. And understand that everything improves with communication. With understanding. With investment. Everything. We need to talk to each other. We need to see each other. We are not all extremists. We have more in common than we think. We need to put down the devices, exit out of those social media platforms and have a cup of tea or coffee or juice with someone wildly different from ourselves. And learn that there is an innate beauty in our complexity. Let's not oversimplify. We are not just our worst or best selves. We are not our passive or extreme selves. We are as varied as the colors in nature and as complex as the universe. Learn to see the trees for the forest. See the individual.