By Nate Abraham Jr.
COMMENTARY
Two days after the election, my wife and I went to the doctor’s office. We were seated in the waiting room next to an older couple – I was wearing my cowboy hat, the husband was wearing a Make America Great Again hat.
His wife and mine are both people who believe that you speak to everyone nearby. They struck up a conversation, and we discovered that the other couple recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. “You got married a year before I was born,” I remarked. “We’re old enough to be your parents,” they laughed.
That sparked a long conversation. We talked about life, the difference between being married 60 years versus 35, raising four kids versus three, losing a child to breast cancer, planning weddings, the wife’s trauma over losing her left eye to cancer, various health issues, favorite travel experiences, etc. It never crossed our minds to discuss politics, because in the greater scheme of things, it wasn’t important.
Our conversation continued as we walked to the parking lot. Before parting, we hugged and prayed for each other as though we were lifelong friends.
In today’s climate, that type of civil conversation is not supposed to happen. We are supposed to be at each other’s throats over political differences. There are even people in the media advocating that citizens end relationships with friends and relatives
who voted for politicians they don’t like. That’s ridiculous.
I have very strong opinions. But I have never gotten emotional or had animosity with anyone because of their political views – or any other opinion. I don’t require people to agree with me to be a part of my life. If I did, I would have an empty, lonely existence – completely devoid of friends and family. I would also be broke, because my business would not have any customers.
This conversation reminded me of something that too many Americans have forgotten. The things that unite us vastly outnumber the things that divide us. We are all Americans. We may have difference political views, but we have the same hopes and dreams. We all experience tragedies and hardships. We are united in our humanity.
We must stop seeing our fellow citizens as enemies. They are not. They are just Americans with different opinions. Talk to them. Engage with them. You could make new friends who can enrich your life in ways you cannot imagine.
