I am very disappointed in some of the mean-spirited and negative things I’m seeing across the Internet today. Feel the way you will, but the attacks are just plain uncool. I remember being disappointed when Bush won in 2000, and again in 2004, but I didn’t go out of my way to jeer at my friends who voted for him, or say hurtful things about how this country was going to hell or whatever. I may not have agreed with their choices, but I agreed with their rights to make the choice and not badger me about mine.
That’s not the case this time around. I’m seeing sides of people that I never thought I’d see; people I used to respect, people I had counted as my friends. And it’s hurtful. I feel as though they are attacking me with the things they are saying and believing. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not about who you support, it’s about how you handle it. With that said, there are some people who have been amazing and I find myself extremely grateful they are in my life or have come back into my life. I’m seeing compassion, grace, and respect on a level I never expected, but when I think about it, I don’t know why I didn’t expect those things from those people. I guess I just didn’t give it a whole lot of thought.
Frankly, I am also puzzled. No matter who would have won, this election was going to be historical and groundbreaking. It IS historical and groundbreaking. A black president, or a female vice president. How amazing is that? Why aren’t people more excited about the idea that this is freaking incredible, and would have been no matter what?
But if I’m learning one thing, it’s patience and tolerance. Not everyone is like me. And that’s OK. I just wish others would be OK with not everyone being/thinking/believing like them (minus the hatred and all the other bad stuff).
(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)