The day after arguably the most divisive election in recent United States history, Blue Valley Northwest was silent. Students sat in somber acceptance or muted celebration. The world felt like it was on pause, and a heaviness weighed everyone down.
This undeniable feeling was the result of the rampant polarization that burdens our nation. People avoid face-to-face discussions but publicize their political views online without hesitation. The day after the election, social media feeds were filled with raging influencers, Instagram stories were used to express commemoration or discontent and online conversation permanently damaged relationships.
We have lost our humanity. On online platforms, we no longer treat each other like the valued individuals we all are. In the eyes of liberals, conservatives are fascist racists, and in the eyes of conservatives, liberals are evil communists. This divisiveness is a trick played on us by our algorithms and rage. Ultimately, political affiliation is a spectrum. In order to recover, we must stop feeding into the delusion that politics exist in black and white. We must stop treating each other as the enemy.
We can disagree about how to solve problems, but it becomes dangerous when we deny problems exist or ignore them entirely. Rather than spend our time discussing policies and how they can be improved, it has been a trend to hyper-fixate on the people running our government and their personal histories. Our elected leaders are OUR elected leaders.
We have every right to disagree with, question and protest our government when it fails to serve us. The problem starts when we condemn members of our community for the state of the world rather than our elected officials. At the end of the day, each and every American wants what’s best for themselves, their families, friends, communities and country.
Right now, many people are fearful. The hatred that exists among neighbors for each other breeds a culture of polarization, and it strips the humanity of anyone different from their political party. Americans should not be worried for their lives and question if they have a place in the country.
The best way to navigate our feelings is through honest conversation and genuine consideration. The best way to resolve issues is together. We need to encourage difficult discussions and handle them with respect. We need to double down on caring for ourselves, our neighbors and our communities. We need to learn how to become the United States once again.
Most of all, we need to remember we are all human. Our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness should mean something. We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, need to do better.
