Bridging the Divide

No matter which candidate you voted for this week, chances are you had strong feelings about the election. Our politics have become so divisive in recent years that losing friends and cutting ties with family members has become relatively commonplace. At a time when many people are already suffering from social isolation, losing or damaging our relationships over politics seems tragic and unnecessary.

I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.

—Thomas Jefferson

Although deep ideological differences can feel insurmountable, remembering our shared experiences and humanity can provide a solid basis for bridging the gap. Everyone has different life experiences and their own reasons to justify their opinions. Listening, staying humble and participating in respectful conversations that focus on our shared experiences and values can help us protect the relationships that help give our lives meaning.

We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond. 

– Gwendolyn Brooks

Focusing on our shared values and experiences, rather than our differences, can help us safeguard our relationships when our opinions differ on political matters. We all have a vested interest in moving forward together.