Here's the thing I learned from the last Presidential election.
Politics and Facebook don't mix if you want to keep your friends.
Already, just this week, I have seriously thought about dropping two people from my Facebook because I get so tired of their snide, insulting political posts. And these are people I like....a lot.
I admit that I have had my share of posting politically polarizing statements on Facebook too, but I always end up either insulting someone or getting in a heated debate about who is right and wrong. And the end result is always the same....frustration or anger and nobody being persuaded to change their mind. So what's the point, really?
The truth is, most people, including me, develop courage behind the computer screen and post things they wouldn't normally bring up in a conversation with their friends who have different political views. It's not entirely different from a mob mentality, where you feel safer doing things as a group than you would as an individual. After all, most people's closest friends are those who are like-minded; therefore, posting something that would be well accepted by most of your friends on Facebook seems like a harmless thing to do.
But what about the other people you have chosen to share your Facebook page with people who don't stand on your side of the aisle and find your "clever" posts to be offensive and insulting? I mean, is it any different than if you were having a conversation with a group of liberals, standing next to a friend of yours who is a conservative and you say, "I think that anyone who voted for George Bush is an idiot"? Yet, I had two different friends who posted almost those exact words (substitute "dumbass" for "idiot" in one instance) and I actually did de-friend one of them until after the election because she enraged me just about everyday with her rants. She still drives me crazy with her insults, but we have made peace by deciding to agree to disagree and it's all groovy now.
Look, we all know Republicans and Democrats, both have a lot of faults and whether you want to admit it or not, each party has some good ideas too. But is there anything to gain by publicly declaring that "Southerners who didn't vote for Obama are racists" or "African-Americans who voted for Obama only did so because he is black"? To me, they are both horrendous and disgusting things to say and only add fuel to the fire....and both of these statements came from different people with whom I am friends on facebook.
It all just seems so meaningless to me! After the elections are over, we will all go back to posting about upcoming school tests, trips, roller derby bouts and how great our kids did at their soccer tournaments....but along the way did we alienate or lose a few friends because of some in-the-moment-of-passion posts? And when you look back, will it be worth it all? Will your life have been truly turned upside down or right-side up based upon who was elected President?
For me, it's not worth it. It wasn't worth the friends I lost because we both decided to go to the dark side with our political passions. We should have been talking about raising our kids or how much fun we had at the beach last summer for the last four years, but instead we are now strangers, pulled apart by letting our emotions get the best of us.
Please don't misunderstand my point here....we all have a responsibility to understand what is going on in our country, make informed decisions on who we want to be President, Governor, and Congressman....and then go vote based on those choices. But we can disagree with each other politely and considerately.
So, I am pledging here and now, not to post politically polarizing statements, links or comments on my wall this election year. There will be times when I must firmly fight the temptation to do so...but not risking the possibility of hurting a friend is undoubtedly worth it.
I invite you to make the same pledge....and I would love to hear from you if you too decide to abstain from political pollution.
Love and be loved.

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