I have so many thoughts on the midterm elections...and especially the outcome of some key races here in Florida. I don't believe that anyone should just vote straight across party lines without really considering each candidate and their potential impact on the country/state/community. However, with Republicans dominating all three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial), there seems to be a lack of balance of power/checks and balances that was supposed to be achieved by having 3 separate branches in the first place.
I personally find Donald Trump to be a vile human being. He seldom smiles. He's rude. He is divisive. He seems to thrive on conflict and drama. He is vexatious to my spirit in a way that is beyond words. But what causes me the most pain are the people who rally behind him, politicians and citizens alike, continually turning a blind eye to his abominable behavior...or worse, openly supporting it and cheering it on.
The Democrat agenda seems broken down into the special interests of any and every marginalized group known to man, which isn't really a unifying agenda...it just speaks to the volume of marginalized people. But this holding hands-singing Kumbaya-laissez faire-everyone's a winner platform isn't really something you can establish political policy around. In spite of that, at the heart of left of center agenda, there seems to be a common concern for humanity in general. It's impossible to make "be nice to everyone" a law, but it shouldn't be impossible to consider others (whose struggles/needs may be different than yours) when approaching policy.
The Republicans seem unified in the mindset that every marginalized group is just a bunch of whiny, butthurt, snowflakes. I find that people just want to be acknowledged and validated. That doesn't mean you have to agree on anything. You have to be willing to say "I have never experienced that, but I believe you when you say that you have." And you must understand that validating people's experiences/beliefs/needs does not consequently diminish your own. It seems that any time a group speaks out about their struggles, the Right says "suck it up and shut up; not my problem." I feel like there can be no productive discourse because the right immediately becomes defensive and refuses to listen, choosing instead to just outshout the other side or put their fingers in their ears saying "I can't hear you."
Yes, I know it seems like everyday there is another random subgroup in society screaming for attention. It becomes weary. I get it. Everyone is crying about being offended by something, which ultimately diminishes people's capacity or desire to care about anyone. But when did it become kill or be killed? When did people only start listening to others who think like them?
For me, the fundamental reason I have such a low tolerance for Trump supporters is because I believe that not standing up to a bully speaks to their character more than Trump's. I became disheartened and disillusioned when so many people who are supposed to be Christian are celebrating cruelty and judgment and succumbing to fear to the point of losing any semblance of human decency. It is hard for me to see the spirit of Christ in someone who has so little value for life. They say don't become that which you hate. It seems like the fight against abortion has turned many well-meaning people into murderers of a different kind, losing respect for all life except for the unborn and refusing to acknowledge that inherent value in every person. The Right does not exemplify unity, empathy, compassion, kindness, or love. It is for that reason that I shudder at the thought of being surrounded by so many who voted for people who openly support Trump.
I WANT to understand the other side; I really do. But I just don't get it.
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