Twice Divorced by Grayce Goin
Dear Twice Divorced –
The political climate in this country has become so nasty that I don’t even feel I can talk to people anymore. Dear friends who don’t agree with me politically get almost violent when the subject turns to politics.
I try to limit the political discussion unless I know for sure that the person I’m talking to has similar viewpoints.
But what do I do or say when someone else brings up politics? I’ve already lost friends over this, and I don’t want to lose anymore.
The two sides are so far apart in just about every subject … where is this country going? I’m scared.
Fearful in Ferndale
Dear Fearful,
My only suggestion is to not be drawn into these conversations. I have walked away when a group turns the topic to politics. The vitriolic disdain for differing opinions has apparently made it into virtually every level of our society.
While politics has always been an ugly profession, the demonizing of the other side has been raised to an art form in the last 20 years and I refuse to be drawn into sound bite arguments.
Americans have become intellectually lazy believing anything that comes from their side. One case in point: Santorum has been spouting that the colleges in the California University system do not teach American History – simply an out –and-out lie – only the campus at San Francisco has no history courses because it is a medical school. This nonsense was swallowed hook line and sinker and repeated like the words came from on high.
So change the subject, walk away, even run . . . hopefully the ugliness of the current primary and the more intense vitriol yet to come during the general election will get people thinking about how Americans should be treating each other and demand more of our hirelings.
Be Well,
The Catskill Chronicle 
ellenneumann
I am not suggesting running away from the problem, rather refusing to be drawn in to a sound bite debate. Civility has been too long gone from our political discourse and I believe that engaging with those who believe that the loudest and/or nastiest voice is the way to prove themselves right is akin to trying to teach a pig to sing.
I had started a Facebook conversation trying to “out” the attempted new legislation that would limit our civil liberties more, and I thought that it was supported by Obama, so I attacked him. I was wrong and corrected myself after. However, the whole conversation turned into two women Facebook “friends” of mine calling each other “nutjobs,” etc. I deleted most of that converation. Yes, Ellennuemann, I truly believe we have totally forgotten “good manners,” something that, especially “online,” takes place all the time. Plus, the ignorance is terrible. I am a retired librarian and I, at least, remember how just being “civil” matters a lot.
Personally, I don’t think running away from the problem is the answer. America has become a country of entitlement. Indeed, we the people are entitled to our opinions but do not have the right to become overbearing bores while expressing them. We seem to have lost our ability to demonstrate common courtesy in the face of political adversity. Time for a crash course in good manners !!
Dear Fearful
I empathize with you and feel the same. I am a progressive, involved in many things, and MoveOn Sullivan (county), but discussions become ‘mush.’ Intelligent conversation is gone. I tried real hard to deal with a ‘MoveOn basher’ on Facebook, with a former ‘friend.’ I just had to unfriend her, she approaches every conversation, as ‘hers’ and if you don’t agree with her on everything, you are toast. I am trying hard to be reasonable, and talk intelligently with people, but its almost impossible. What to do?