Why Do Americans Hate Each Other Over Politics?

The United States of America used to be able to disagree, then shake hands and still be friends. We are not like that anymore. In fact, many Americans actively stay away from people that do not agree with their views. Some may believe that this started with Covid due to vaccines and masks, but it has been going on much longer. Democrats are worse about it than republicans, in fact an article out of GOP USA states, “A recent poll by the Survey Center on American Life at the American Enterprise Institute found that Democrats are twice as likely as Republicans to report ending a friendship over a political disagreement.” I am not going to point fingers because I believe it has become a problem on both sides, but the number don’t lie. 

One issue is social media. If you are friends with someone who is very politically active on social media, then you can get pounded with something that your friend may not push face to face. Another big issue is that we have been taught by the schools that people need to have tolerance, but they teach tolerance to mean that you should not get offended. If someone is offending you then they are not being tolerant. Tolerance does not mean a person cannot offend you; it means that you “tolerate,” or put up with something or someone.  

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When I was in Bible College my favorite teacher, Rob Carmen, had a saying that he repeated until it was ingrained in me. “You should never get offended. Either the person that offended you did not mean to offend you and it could be a misunderstanding, or they meant to offend you and then you are just giving them what they want. Either way, you should not get offended.” Why are we, as a nation, always offended by other people’s opinion?  

A new report out of the Daily Mail states that Rudy Giuliani was one of the masked singers. When it was revealed, two of the judges walked out in protest. They could not even “tolerate” being in the same room as him for a few minutes because they do not agree with his politics. COME ON, MAN!!! Be professional and suck it up.  

I will end with the famous quote from Rodney King. “People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along? Can we get along?” It is not hard. Don’t hold someone’s personal view over your relationship with that person and stop getting offended all the time.