***Disclaimer: This article was not written to offend or impose my beliefs on anyone.
I'm not extremely politically savvy, but this recent election year, as it did with so many others, definitely sparked my interest. Now I have always leaned towards the left side of issues, all while trying to be mindful of those with varying opinions of me. Because truthfully for most issues I can see and understand both sides of the spectrum, or at least I attempt to. Unfortunately, some of my opinions can come across extremely strong, as I am passionate about almost everything I talk about.
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But politics can really fucking suck. I have seen them bring people closer and tear others apart. Unfortunately, I let the politics of this season get the best of me. Personal story moment: I recently stood witness as someone took away my good friends' freedom of speech because she supports Trump because it didn't agree with their own. I stood and did nothing, which I now realize is just as bad as doing something. Even though I didn't at first realize the severity of what had occurred. Her reaction rocked me to my core and finally woke me up from the fantasy land I have been living in.
Not everyone hates Trump, and some people really dislike Hillary. Although it can seem like it as the media, comedians, and your friends on Facebook love to bash him. Now I'm not a fan of him, but this doesn't come as a surprise. He and I just do not share many similarities in opinions. However, this friend and I do. We have all sorts of things in common, and I let one of our minor differences get in the way of a friendship that's lasted several years.
Then I really took a step back and realized I'd let this entire Trump-Clinton fiasco take over me. And it's gotten really, really personal. Two-party systems are low key bogus anyway, but the truth of the matter is somebody's party affiliation does not determine who they are. There are shitty republicans, liberals, democrats, conservatives etc. etc., everywhere. But there are also some & mostly wonderful people who identify themselves as those as well. Because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what party you put yourself in, or who you're voting for. It matters what kind of person you are.
So to my friends who support Trump, I'm sorry it took til election season was almost over to realize how little the topic of politics matters in the grand scheme of friendship. What matters is how we treat one another, the kinds of adventures we go on, and all of the great memories we share. Your beliefs are valid, I support you, and I respect your opinions, even though they may differ from mine.
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