Choosing Kindness Over Being Right When It Comes to Politics

@bethvogt

People are talking about both of the who’s and all of the what ifs of the upcoming presidential election.

I’m not going to be one of those people. Not here on this blog. Not on any social media platform. And very rarely with family and friends.

There’s the oft-repeated saying, “Never talk about politics or religion in polite company.” Maybe it’s because too often all semblance of politeness disintegrates the longer any conversation about politics lasts.

At least, that’s been my experience.

Everyone has their opinions about politics. Drive through your neighborhood and you’ll see a variety of “Vote for (fill in the blank)” signs in front yards. I choose not to comment on political signs, and I also choose not to post signs in my front yard. While I have the freedom to do so, it’s a bit like joining the conversation for me, in a non-verbal way.

Not talking about politics doesn’t mean I don’t think about politics. Not talking about politics doesn’t mean I don’t care about the election or about my country.

Not talking about politics does mean I care about relationships more than convincing you about my political point of view – and yes, it also means I care about relationships more than listening to you convincing me about your political point of view.

I know some people enjoy a good debate. I applaud those who can stay within the boundaries of “friendly” and “healthy” and “respectful” and “two-sided” when it comes to discussing politics. But all too often, people consider a difference of opinion a personal affront and go about attacking and unfriending others, in both virtual and real ways.

Sigh.

The presidential election is in 34 days.

Everyone who can vote, should vote.

And no, I don’t want to know who you’re voting for and why.

One candidate is going to win. One candidate is going to lose.

Some of us will be happy with the results. Some of us won’t be.

We are not in control of any of the candidates or the outcome of the presidential election – except that we can and should vote.

Please, consider this: Besides voting, what we do we control during the next 34 days are our words and our actions.

 Maybe it’s time to remember another oft-repeated saying: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.” And that quote, my friends, is attributed to Thumper, the bunny rabbit in Walt Disney’s Bambi.

I’m not saying your opinions and your values don’t matter.

But I do believe kindness matters more – that our opinions and our values should be undergirded with compassion and gentleness.

Choosing Kindness Over Being Right When It Comes to Politics https://bit.ly/33fqjdo #perspective #bekind #2020election
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''It's better to be kind than to be right.' Quote by @ANNELAMOTT https://bit.ly/33fqjdo #kindness #2020election
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