During this current election season, tensions seem to be extremely high. It feels almost as if the country is divided right down the middle with each side representing their chosen candidate.
This election, of course, is a little different. It doesn’t look like it’s split between the Republican and Democratic parties, but rather people who want everyone to have rights and people who don’t, which is frightening.
I recently realized that a lot of people on social media are posting about how they had to stop being friends with someone because they did not see eye-to-eye on politics, getting several comments saying that they’re a bad person for doing that and that it’s crazy that these people can’t have friends that they disagree with.
Honestly, I do not agree. I think it’s perfectly fine and understandable for people to distance themselves from friends that do not share the same political views as them, especially during this climate that we are in right now.
Obviously, it is okay for you and a friend to have disagreements. For example, it’s okay to disagree on favorite movies or favorite food, but it is not okay to disagree on the human rights that everyone is entitled to.
As a Black woman in America, I could never be friends with someone who was on the fence about whether or not my life matters. I’m the kind of person that doesn’t like discussing politics because it’s an overwhelming topic. However, I know the basics of which side agrees with what and it’s important to me to share my time and energy with people who care about my well-being and everyone else’s.
If you’re friends with someone who doesn’t agree with the same political and social views as you, it’s definitely up to you on whether or not you want to continue being friends with that person. It all depends on your morals and what you seek in a friend. However, if you believe that that person’s morals are just not right, then letting politics get in the way of friendship is totally fine in my book.
