Why do I find it difficult to respect liberals? Because most political conversations I have with them tend to start like this:

It seems no matter what I actually believe, my opinion is subject to severe misrepresentation. Does not agreeing with abortion make me an anti-feminist? Am I a racist for wanting stricter immigration enforcement? Wow, I had no idea I was such a horrible person.

But, wait, you think, frowning at your screen with raging frustration. Did you not just post a comic that makes assumptions about liberals in the exact same way you think they do to you?

Yes, I did.

It’s funny how we fall into the same patterns, isn’t it?

We have a tendency to use something called the Strawman Fallacy whenever we study a political rival’s policy. I have witnessed politicians and voters both trying to simplify an issue until they can point at their side and say, “look at this. This is what makes the most sense. How can anyone dispute this fact?” And the answer is usually that the fact being displayed is much too hollow—filled with straw instead of the real arguments that the other side is using. It would be like my friend saying, “I’ll eat an orange, but too much citrus hurts my mouth” and me taking it to mean, “He hates oranges.” I have completely missed the nuances of his stance and drew a faulty conclusion as a result.

“I don’t agree with capital punishment because that makes us no better than the murderer we’re killing.”

“Oh, he wants to set murderers lose on the streets. If it were up to him, we’d have anarchy.”

Perhaps I am too optimistic in believing that the majority of people in this world—at least in this country—are good. They are not out to re-establish slavery or injure the less-fortunate. They are not here to shun others that they don’t understand. Have you ever listened to their arguments? I do not hear conservatives saying, “homosexuals are horrible people. We should treat them like animals.” I hear, “I have many good friends who are gay. I love them. That doesn’t mean I agree with some of their lifestyle choices.” I don’t hear liberals saying, “let’s drop all immigration laws and allow anyone to come here, no questions asked.” I do hear them saying, “people can’t be illegal. There’s a reason they’re risking their lives to come here and we have a responsibility to treat them like human beings.” Whether you agree with the ideas or not, you don’t have a right to assume you understand where the other person is coming from. How are we ever going to make progress if we refuse to respect the intelligence and goodness of the other party?

Don’t you want the other party to respect you?

Take a step back this election season. Think before you post or speak politically. Are you adding intelligent commentary to the debate, or are you misrepresenting the opinions of those you don’t agree with?