The political climate in the United States is extremely tense. With growing frustration on both sides of the aisle, it appears that mutual respect may be unattainable. Is it still possible to find common ground with our political “enemies”?
The two-party political system in America has split the country in half. People’s political beliefs are so strong that they are shattering the relationships of friends and families. However, not all hope is lost if you find yourself on the opposite side of the political spectrum from a close friend.
Birds of a feather
Some people rarely encounter a situation in which a close friend has vastly different political views than they do. The fact is, most people– whether it be consciously or subconsciously– gravitate toward those with similar opinions to them. It is much easier to connect with someone who has similar interests to you, making it much more likely for people to surround themselves with like-minded individuals.
Furthermore, people tend to go out of their way to avoid people with different beliefs from their own. It is much easier to just ignore people with different opinions than to have one’s own beliefs challenged. With something as tense as American politics, this behavior is magnified.
While someone’s political beliefs may not be immediately apparent, it is something that can be picked up on fairly early in a friendship. However, sometimes you could be completely caught off guard when a close friend expresses a political opinion. That doesn’t mean you have to immediately cast them aside. In fact, this situation can present a great opportunity for growth.
Go get humbled
While surrounding yourself with people who think the same as you might feel safe and pleasant, it is extremely important that people step outside of their comfort zone. Especially in the digital age, people find themselves stuck in echo chambers of their own opinions. This is unhealthy and is actually creating even more political polarization.
A Pew Research poll from 2023 found that nearly six-in-ten adults in the United States find it stressful or frustrating to simply have a political conversation with someone who holds opposing beliefs. This highlights Americans’ lack of emotional tolerance for a difference in opinion.
Openness to differing opinions is a key life skill that people are increasingly refusing to engage with. People have grown heavily intolerant of opposing views, making it much more difficult to reach a consensus.
Be more open-minded
Speaking with someone about their beliefs only serves to help you. Learning from a person with a different political ideology than your own can expand your worldview and make you think in ways you hadn’t previously. This can help to challenge your own beliefs and force you to think critically about why you have those beliefs.
Perhaps two people can change each other’s opinions on a topic. While not completely impossible, that is not the most likely outcome. Instead, you can seek to find common ground in certain areas. Most people will be able to find at least one thing in common, even with somebody who has vastly different beliefs from their own.
Finding common ground can be extremely beneficial to your relationship. Searching for areas in which you can agree with your friend will strengthen your bond and hopefully increase your respect for each other. On a larger scale, finding common ground with your political “enemies” can help to bridge the divide between parties.
Know your limits
In the current political climate, the line between political beliefs and personal morals has been blurred. The differentiation between the two is more of a personal decision than a straightforward fact.
Some people may find it much easier to hold different political beliefs on economic topics such as taxation and trade. However, for more social and human rights issues, it can be dangerous territory. These types of political “beliefs” are less of a belief and more of a moral opinion. It can be exceptionally difficult to maintain a friendship with someone who has vastly different views on basic human rights.
Occasionally, you may encounter someone with whom you simply have irreconcilable differences. In these cases, it may be best to just distance yourself from the person. If you find yourself having multiple emotionally heated conversations, it may be best for both of you to go your separate ways in life.
Have some empathy
Even in cases where you have irreconcilable differences with someone, this doesn’t mean that you have to hate them. It is important to treat everybody with a basic amount of respect. One way you can do this is by challenging yourself to be more empathetic.
If you are having a conversation with a friend who has different beliefs, you don’t always have to turn it into a debate. Sometimes, the best solution is to just sit and listen to what the other person is saying. Rather than trying to push your opinions onto them, simply echo their own opinions back to them. You don’t have to acknowledge whether you agree or disagree, just show them that you are listening and understanding what they are saying.
One exceptional example of this being put into practice is The Enemies Project. This is a YouTube channel and organization that aims to bring together people on different ends of the political spectrum. It forces them to see each other as people rather than opposing forces. This channel is a great resource for those looking to improve their empathetic reflection.
Finding humanity in others is a base-level skill that should be developed by everyone. Even when individuals have completely opposing worldviews, they still have commonality in their existence as human beings. Being willing to have difficult conversations and treating everyone with basic human decency is what can close the political divide.
