Warts and All

With today’s climate, the gulf between political views has created a chasm between family members and friends who differ in their leanings.  You only have to go on social media to observe the comments (some bordering on nasty) arguing their version of Kool-Aid and blasting anyone who doesn’t fervently agree.   I’ve posted on this topic before because it saddens me that friendships and relationships can suffer just because of a difference in ideology. Where is the love? Where is the acceptance?

I recently invited a close family member over for a visit, knowing that he and I differ significantly in our views, but not wanting those differences to dictate our relationship.  The visit started well, and then during a meal, he began to disparage a particular political party.

I politely reminded him that I was a member of that party (a fact to which he was well aware.)

(I am not naming the parties because this post is not about starting yet another debate on who’s right and who’s wrong.  It’s about acceptance and love.)

My family member began to loudly decry all the reasons my beliefs were invalid and questioned my understanding of the world.  Without rising to the bait, I again reminded him that I did not agree to debate him on our differing political views.  Unaccepting of my refusal to engage, he began to get angry and accusatory of all the evils I condoned by following the “wrong” party.

I looked at him squarely in the eye and said, “I accept how passionately you feel about your political views, despite my strong feelings against them.  And if you love me, I’m asking you to accept me as I am, even if you perceive me to be flawed.”

Miraculously, that stopped the tirade.  He looked at me quizzically, as if to figure out how to win an argument that I refused to engage in. And as suddenly as the tension filled the room, it left, and he went back to what he had been doing before the discussion.

Question of the day, and feel free to disagree, I invite discourse that is mutually respectful. Can you love someone, whether family or friend, if you find out that they do not share your political beliefs?

Lesson Learned:  When my Momma told me, It takes two to tango, maybe she knew a little something after all.