My Blatantly Polarized Political Views

I have very strong feelings about Donald Trump (although I'm NOT going to say whether these are positive or negative feelings for him*).

My feelings are much stronger than I've ever had, for any other president, or for any elected official in my lifetime.  

And, at this point, I'm not open to persuasion.  There is absolutely nothing that you can tell me that will cause me to change my mind.

Not this time.



I was given some advice earlier tonight after discussing my feelings for Donald Trump with a close friend, that I should just get out on Facebook and blast away.  "This is important, the future of our country is at stake" I was told.  "Show some leadership."  "Make a difference!"  

Here is why I didn't follow my friend's advice:  

From what I can tell, there isn't anybody that is open to persuasion - i.e. nobody is in the "undecided" category.  There isn't even anybody in the "I (don't) like him but I could change my mind" category.

So everybody is just like me.  Unpersuadable.

Posting on Facebook will only make things worse.  I certainly won't be convinced to change my mind, and clearly, neither can they.

Therefore, posting my feelings on social media not only won't change anything, it will make things worse.  More polarized.  More hate.  On both sides.

I don't want that to happen.

I'm sure each person reading this blog will have his or her own view on who or what made us become so polarized.  It is definitely worth close examination.  We can't let this happen again.  And I'm damn sure voting in November, and I'm damn sure you will too.

*You might be able to guess (or already know) my views on Mr. Trump based on your prior interactions with me, but that is not the point of this post.

Comments

  1. WillieJune 7, 2020 at 10:57 AM

    And herein lies the quandary; What is the best form of action these days to win minds and influence people? I hope that music plays a part in this. I music, can build something with people who hold radically different views than myself and find some common ground. I hope that it leads to better understanding and recognition of richness of a person beyond a simple left/right view as displayed in a meme. Some of the conversations with people whom I have met through music have been fraught with tension and angst. But it helps me at least better understand why they think the way they do and I hope that it works both ways. Hopefully this leads to an environment where people are more likely to work towards the middle. So I think the answer is just to arm everyone with instruments and make them have to work together to try to produce a pleasing sound. Just no banjos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeff WesterinenJune 7, 2020 at 1:29 PM

      YES! I love that. Music unites us, brings us together, lubricates all of the rough spots... The bluegrass community is so diverse and composed of every political opinion from A to Z. Some of my closest friends are on the hard right and play fiddle, others are on the hard left and play guitar. And they come together with nothing but love for the music and each other. True, deep, lifelong friendships happen because of music - friendships on opposite ends of the political spectrum too. Hard to believe but it is true. Excellent comment, thank you!!!!

      Delete
  2. WillieJune 7, 2020 at 10:57 AM

    s/I music/In music/ oops.

    ReplyDelete

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