The word ‘patience’ is not usually paired with the word ‘politics,’ but in today’s society it is increasingly important that we use these words together. We cannot forget the necessity of having political patience.

It is no secret that the Democratic Party is divided. Of course, there will always be some amount of political in-fighting, but this degree of separation is alarming. Many have forgotten that at the end of the day, two Democrats who supported different politicians will still have many of the same goals.

This division among Democrats was highlighted during the 2016 primary, but this divide still lingers. For many young voters, Bernie Sanders was the candidate that spoke to many millennial sensibilities and concerns. For many older voters, Hillary was more appealing. In many political arguments, I heard the contrast of the Democratic Party being torn between “evolution” and “revolution.”

Many young people have forgotten, or perhaps have never known, an essential fact: The democratic political process is slow and torturous. Change does not happen overnight, no matter how much we might hope for it. Throughout our history, every social victory was only possible after years of struggle. These victories were each hard won, but nevertheless they were worth it. We fought the Civil War to end slavery. People were murdered, beaten, and jailed in the pursuance of civil rights. Women were (and continue to be) denied their most basic civil rights, such as autonomy over their own bodies and access to affordable healthcare. Not to mention, women struggled for years to gain the right to vote. Members of the LGBT+ community have been brutalized in their pursuit of equality and legal recognition. Despite all of the horrors that oppressed groups have undergone, many obvious social divides still remain.

Change is gradual. So many of you have just woken up to the world we live in, but it has always been the same world. There have always been unjust policies in place. Minority groups have always been stepped on. These are not new things. I am very glad that you recognize the issues in society, but you cannot demand that everything be repaired in a short period of time. I love seeing your protests, but it makes me wonder about how many of you went to the polls in November. How many of you wasted your vote with a write-in or a third party candidate?

I have become exhausted by your arguments with moderate Democrats. You act as if they do not do enough to advance the rights of women, LGBT+ individuals, etc. In reality, moderates have been fighting the good fight for years before you showed up to the party. Moreover, moderates understand the rules of the game. Politics is about learning how to compromise and understanding that change takes time.

I voted for Bernie. I am a moderate Democrat. Like many of you, I was saddened by his loss in the primary. However, I was more angered that a man who boasted about “grabbing women by the pussy” won the Presidency. The many heinous qualities of Trump should be enough to unite all of us, but still I see fighting amongst ourselves. I am not saying that your values are wrong or less important than those of us who live happily in the middle. The far-Left and moderate Democrats are both working towards similar goals. The difference is that one demands change on a scale and time period that is unachievable.

We have been impacted by our huge losses in the 2016 election. Moving forward, we have to put all of our petty fighting aside in order to win seats in 2018. If you hate Trump, vote for someone who will undoubtedly oppose him. Lobby your representatives. Send letters, make calls, and attend protests. Look at which Democratic candidates fair well with independents. Factionalization serves only to divide us. Remember that no candidate will ever align perfectly with all of your personal beliefs and values.

We cannot win anything if we spend all of our time and resources during primaries. The real issue will be winning the hearts and minds of America’s more apathetic voters.

We face a steep uphill battle, but I believe it is possible to come together again. Those of you who have just started paying attention: Political issues are dirty and difficult. There will be times when you feel so frustrated that you think about never turning on the news again. Historically speaking, when voices of millions have called for change together, change has been the result. Do not stop fighting the good fight, but you have to stop fighting each other. Your liberal-thinking contemporaries are not the real source of oppression.