We are more alike than different RIGHT (or LEFT?)

My Mama says "Don't talk about sex, religion or politics?" I just don't know if Mama knows that's best.

I am obsessed with politics! Tony rolls his eyes every...single...time that I bring politics up, which is pretty often. Yes, even to strangers. Sometimes he will give me a warning not to talk politics, cause he might just not be in the mood to have to listen to it. The banter, the questions, the topics, the learning, the wondering...My favorite!!!

I have said it before, that I feel that I live in a bubble of Northern Illinois, I am surrounded by the deepest "Blue" within 2,000 miles. Since "that day", I have read, and researched, and asked questions that I have never asked before. I didn't "get it" and, sometimes still "don't get it", but I have tried to change because now I LISTEN to others, instead of secretly rolling my eyes.

Maybe it is because I have gotten older, or maybe it is because of all the questions and listening, but I realize that I am certainly not, duh, duh duh...a Democrat. I thought I had to be because I was a teacher; pro-union, pro-education, pro-big government. The thing is that my mind has changed a bit, and that is ok to do! (NO really...)

Don't get too worried, because I am def not a Republican either!!! Oh no, no, no. Pro-choice is my number one reason...sorry not sorry.

I think..think... I have convince my husband too that we are Libertarians. We believe if you want to have an abortion (or in-vetro fertilization), its your body, your choice for your family and the government has no reason to tell you what to do. You want to own a gun, good for you, just get a license and don't freckin' kill anyone.  You want to be a hooker and get paid for it, Work It Girl (might just want to wrap it up).  You want to send your kid to private school, sure but make sure it aligns with your beliefs. You want to go to college; Coo, coo, best work at JCPenney to pay for that shit, just like I did.

The last election, I stayed "quiet" (but not silent) because I was so cocky and sure of the results. A smug eye roll and assuring glance at Tony every time it was brought up. But who was smug on November 9 crying in their bathroom at 5am...me! So this time is different, I am going to ask questions, I am going to try to understand, I am going to attempt to convince others of my opinions, in my most respectful and resourced way. I am going to try my best to convince, OR not be so naive.

My challenge for you is to not keep quiet and be smug. I encourage you to respectfully ask questions and sometimes you even have to say "I am just trying to understand your opinion", or "I don't have a lot of information on that, can you tell me more". Sometimes you do have to fact check to see if their sources are current if you don't believe something (thanks Android phone) but maybe you want to check to see if YOU were misinformed..opps!

I don't have a news station, so the best I can do is a Facebook group titled "Let's Step into the Other Room (and talk politics)" in honor of my brother in law and my political talks that are always greeted with eye rolls and "you aren't talking politics again". So we take that cue, grab our drinks, and head into the other room, and always with respect for one another, will talk politics and even send text talking about our favorite political topics. Todd, you have taught me a lot about seeing others opinions, so thanks for participating. I hope this group too helps move everyone's learning and processing forward in the respectful way that I have tried to have over the past 3 years in my political conversations. Feel free to join us, invite others, chime in, or just observe.

I believe in LISTENING, sharing your opinions/perspectives/backgrounds, be willing to change your mind, or even be willing to "agree to disagree". This is where we can realize that we are MORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT.