I don’t need to tell you how divisive this election has been. Rallies have been organized, protests have been held and elections have come with its divisions. But this election is different.
There was a time when Republicans and Democrats could at least see why someone on the other side of the aisle believed what they believed. No longer.
Our two presidential candidates became almost caricatures of what we were looking for in a president. People see the opposing candidate as the opposite of “American” or “Christian.” We saw supporters of one candidate threatening and trailing supporters of the other. These actions were unnecessary and misguided, but they may have roots in our current emotional states..
Obviously coronavirus is a big factor here as it is anywhere; our brains are essentially in survival mode, keeping us on edge in order to increase odds of survival. This is draining, but it does help in times of need. However, it also causes us to go back to a sense of “us versus them.”
We blame all problems, no matter how relevant, on people we may disagree with. This, thanks to the unfortunate timing of the election, is being tied together with political parties and people are beginning to identify with the flaws that have developed from this stressful time.
However, we have to look forward. We have to do the difficult work and begin to see past our present troubles. The coronavirus will still be raging on, the world will still be melting and we need to focus on something we can change.
We need to fix the tribal mentality that has been excused by our culture. We need to see both how some of the problems lie in ourselves and how some of the good things in the world live within those with whom we disagree.
“Us” and “them” have been around since the dawn of time. People pitted against people for resources, ideologies, religion and so on. But we know better than this.
If something matters to you enough, you cannot just write someone off as not being able to grasp it or empathize with it. You have to get deeper than the simple surface level of presidential candidates and party politics.
Especially as Christians, we need to exit this election season with an attitude of grace and reconciliation rather than proclaiming “I told you so,” rubbing the results in people’s faces or getting angry with the winner. Everyone will be sensitive after this election, no matter their party and no matter the results, and we need to be conscious of this fact.
Sensitivity is a virtue when interacting with others you may not agree with, but is one often forgotten due to the intensity of our feelings. Life will move on once the president is elected, but it will not move on smoothly without some sort of understanding on both sides of the aisle.
We can rise above our need for conflict and see that part of the resolution can be found in our similarities along with acknowledging our differences. No matter who you are or the outcome, know that we are all human and that we are all suffering in one way or another, no matter who the president is.
We can face the future together.
