Somewhere in the Middle

Somehow, I managed to forget that the election wouldn't be over on November 4 after all. In fact, all the post-election jabber - after 22 months of pre-election jabber -is just driving me further to the brink of insanity.

What is paining me more, however, is the devisive finger pointing that is still continuing. I woke up this morning and felt rather positive about things because I felt that, whatever anyone's political persuasion, the new president-elect just might be charismatic enough to at least get people to take action and try and sort out the historical mess he is inheriting. At the very least, what's done is done, we will roll up our sleeves and join together to make headway among failing finances, global instability and corruptive power.

But reality isn't in 30-second sound bites on the morning news. Reality is people misunderstanding. People calling names. People failing to respectfully agree to disagree. People breaking the basic rules of civility - sometimes politics and religion cannot be discussed - and that isn't a bad thing. Sometimes it is okay to not understand, not persuade, not see eye-to-eye. Sometimes it is okay to step back and say, "we see differently, but that doesn't make either of us a bad person - let's do lunch and change the subject."

Sometimes - one just has to sit silent, pray for understanding and strength and not answer. And sometimes one has to turn, brush away the tears and walk away.

My heart hurts this morning as I know several people, friends, on different sides hurling generalizations, accusations and hurtful things. Both sides making bold, sweeping generalized proclamations. Each is wounded. Each is pacing in the corner, like an injured bear - lashing out at any perceived attack. Some are likely guilty of taking a soundbite and passing it on - without really forming his/her own opinion.

I'm not proposing sitting down and singing Kumbaya with our fingers stuck in our ears and ignoring the issues, but I am pleading for civility. There has to be a better way.

I want to cry. Instead, I am sharing my own statement:

"If I disagree with you, it doesn't mean I don't like you, don't respect you, don't understand why you might believe differently. It doesn't mean I think you are bad or that I am 100%right and you are wrong. It just means that my own life's path has led me to believe something different. While everything in life gives me perspective, depth and consideration, no one forms my opinions for me. They are mine, and mine alone."

Maybe this post, by a blogger I do not know, and have never met, says it even better.

You don't have to agree with me to be my friend. You just have to play nice.