Society today is based on sides: left or right, rich or poor, black or white. According to an article from Pew Research, our polarization is greater now than it has been "at any point in the last two decades."
Our greatest differences lie in that of political ideologies. Like it or not, we as a country have completely divided ourselves based on the people we vote for; the platforms we support. Friendships, relationships and Thanksgiving dinners have been ruined because of it. "It" being a bitter disdain -- a hatred -- towards anyone who doesn't explicitly share our beliefs.
In my lifetime, I have grown up identifying as a Republican.
As a young man growing up in Texas, this may seem appropriate. Although I was raised with such beliefs by my parents, I formed my own decisions in high school.
I called myself a Republican because I believe in term limits. Because I believe in isolationism. Because I believe that there are too many government programs, costing too much money, and doing too little to be worth kept alive.
Despite all of this, when I turned eighteen and voted in the 2016 election, I voted for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. My Democrat friends spewed, "A vote for Johnson is a vote for Trump!" while my Republican friends were keen to say the same about Hillary.
There were even people who stopped talking to me; cut me out of their lives completely. I found it laughable because both sides hated me for the same reason. By abstaining from making a choice between the two, I single-handedly united them.
Although at this point some might call me a Libertarian, an Independent, or even a Republican in name only (R.I.N.O.), the simple truth is, I vote my conscience. I don't vote because of religious convictions and I don't vote because of political hesitation or dedication. I vote based on my morals.
There is a very simple truth that our society has forgotten, and that is that we are so much more than a label. Every action in the last half century has been committed in an effort to eradicate labels, so that we may come together as people united.
Our objective as opposing parties never should have been, and never should be, to completely rid the world of our opposition. Without opposing views, how can we be expected to grow? To learn? To debate?
Political parties exist for a reason, and it's not so you can have someone to hate. It is so everyone is represented based on their general viewpoints.
That being said, it is questionable as to why certain viewpoints are Republican and why others are Democrat, but that's a whole other topic of debate.
Personally, I agree with our first president, when he warned us against founding political parties in our country. An ideal world would be one in which we vote for mere candidates, who have their whole platform and all of their policies out on the table, and can't be bought or sold by any party-dominating political action committee. But, alas, this is not a perfect world. So, we have to make the best of it.
The gist of all of this is that we should not wear our political parties like badges; like labels. We are not identified by a single issue, nor can we be reduced to one simple, shared ideology. We, as a country, are a melting pot of diversity, ideas and innovation, and our differences are what have allowed us to thrive and accomplish miraculous things.
So I urge you, dear readers, to put aside preconceived notions, look beyond stereotypes, and try to understand each other's differences and appreciate them, rather than hate them. Let our differences be our strength once more, and the rest will fall into play.
