Let's All Come Together - A Call To Understanding - Timothy Hicks's Blog

Hello fellow Soupers!

For those that follow my poetry will notice that I have been absent these last few months. The reason for this is not just a lack of inspiration, but an extreme interest in politics. I've never really been interested in past elections, until this one - which has almost every other country probably thinking that America has become one giant clown show.

I have my own political opinions, which have changed and fluctuated, through out the election. But let me just say one thing (and I'm not trying to "convert" anyone over to my side, so bear with me). What breaks my heart the most is to see friends and family get torn over a presidential election. I've seen people unfriend each other, over simple disagreements in political opinion. I've had disagreements of opinion either be blocked or ignored. I've seen people accuse half the nation as being bigotted, because of who they voted for, as if he/she knows ALL the motivations and intentions inside a person's heart. Friends that have known each other for years, either too scared to express their views in fear of being attacked, or too close-minded to have discussions with others that might not share their opinion, because of how polarized this election has made them feel.

But folks. What changes after the election? And by "what changes" I mean, how is your best friend or neighbor, who you've known for years, all the sudden the enemy? If you are feeling anxiety towards each other, ask yourself, what brought about these feelings? Are they based on hearsay or on hard evidence?

We are a divided nation, that all too often flock to echo chambers, only to hear our own thoughts and opinions reflected back at us. And the fact of the matter is, whatever the President does, whether it's good or bad, if you are predisposed to despise him, you will interpret it in the negative. The same thing goes if you are predisposed to like him, you will interpret it in the positive.

So what caused this division? What drove the wedge? What caused each and one of us to grab at each other's throats? Your enemy is not your neighbor, or your family. We all need to come together and unite as a nation, against the real enemy. A large part of which, is the mainstream media that has been lying to us for decades, whether through inherent bias, or outright deception. Every single news corporation bet on the wrong horse, with polls that were false, which tells you they are out of touch with the American people. Either the mainstream media will have to make drastic changes or independant media will rise up and take over (which it is already doing).

We all need to take a step back and listen to one another. Don't jump to conclusions about a person, then refuse to do the research on opinions that are different towards your own.

Pause. Examine. Reflect.

If Trump does something you don't like, then express your views on it. Have a dialogue with someone. If you are an American citizen he IS your President. We've had 57 elections, 5 of which where the popular vote was different than the electoral college. That's how our system works, and there is good reasoning behind it.

I could have written this post to defend my political views, but site guidelines prohibit me from doing so. My intention here is simply a call to be more understanding of one another, and be open to dialogue, rather than to flee from it when it makes you uncomfortable.

Each and everyone of us, no matter who is president, will continue to live our lives, to the best of our ability, as we've always done. It's been said a million times before, by a million different people, but it's no less true today than it was yesterday ... change starts with You.

You are all wonderful poets and great friends.  And I hate to see relationships between each other be tainted simply because of an election.

We will survive this, so long as we hold onto our humanity, and trust in one another long enough to have an open and honest discussion.

-Sincerely me