Listen and act like adults
The presidential election campaign has concluded. Unfortunately, the divisive, mean-spirited, name-calling and bullying has not.
To point fingers at which candidate or which party started this or who was the most divisive during the campaign reminds me of trying to referee a disagreement among my young children. The point of the matter is both sides are guilty of propagating divisiveness and cruel stereotypes. There is an excellent op-ed piece found at the New York Post website, “Trump supporters were hidden in plain sight,” that I would encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read. It does a lot to dispel the media’s narrative of the typical Donald Trump voter.
We the people do not need a complex government program to begin to heal this divide. We the people have that ability and power to heal the divide if we truly desire. It was President Obama who once said, “We can disagree without being disagreeable.” We can start to come together and heal by showing respect for different opinions or worldviews, by taking time to listen for the purpose of understanding as opposed to arguing, and by showing kindness.
We do not have to agree with each other on all of the issues all of the time to be kind, respectful, mature adults. Our children will learn more from our words and actions than they ever will from any politician; and we owe it to our children to behave as mature, respectful, considerate adults. After all, that is what and how we tell our children to behave every day when they go to school.
Katharine J. Stayduhar
Canonsburg