When Trump became President the first time, my friend had sent me this news story about someone who was going around putting dog poop in Trump supporters’ mailboxes. I felt uncomfortable with what to say back, as I didn’t think it was so funny. I ended up laughing, but ever since then when I think about it, it bothers me.
I don’t know these people beyond who they voted for. Yet it was supposed to be funny they had dog poop put in their mailboxes? That just doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t know their life experiences or who they are as people. Judging people, even potentially hating someone we don’t even know based on who they voted for, to me, is dangerous.
I completely understand the recoil, I do. But, to instantly write someone off and not even be open to getting to know them based on who they vote for, that makes me worry. Worry that we are not remembering each other’s humanity. That we are viewing each other as the enemy. That’s scary to me. I feel like we need to not be so rigid, and ask ourselves, ok, maybe I really REALLY don’t like who they voted for, but why did they vote for them, are they actually kind, loving human beings who have different beliefs.
Honestly, that’s a hard one for me too, when it comes to people who are anti-gay for example, to remember to not be so rigid with judging them. When I hear someone is anti-gay I do have that knee jerk reaction that I don’t want anything to do with them and I close my heart to them. It’s difficult to make that pause and remember they might be really great people, but have opposing views.
Anyway, the point of my post is to ask you to take that pause and remember peoples’ humanity. You never know people’s stories or what they’ve been through, or even what they are like as human beings. Consider getting to know someone before judging them, or even deciding you hate them.
Would you want someone to judge you or decide they hate you without even getting to know you first?
Remember empathy. Remember love. Remember each other’s humanity. Please.
Kari Storm 