The Politics is Personal

I have my opinion, you have yours. Why are you taking this so personal? Can't we agree to disagree?

With the 2020 Election less than 50 days away, those might be common phrases we hear in social circles whenever politics is discussed. For many it's a sign of maturity and objectivity to discuss politics and be able to "agree to disagree". I used to believe the same. I was wrong.

"Objectivity" is not a sign of maturity or intelligence. No one can actually be objective. To have an opinion and beliefs are by very nature subjective. "Objectivity" is how we try to debate and argue topics, playing "devil's advocate" and distancing ourselves from the stances we may take. 

But in reality it's a sign of moral cowardice, it's a sign of privilege. It's white privilege. It's male privilege. It's natural born citizen privilege. It's Protestant privilege. It's heterosexual privilege. Etc, etc.

Let me preface this by saying I am registered as a Democrat and identify as a leftist. By no means do I consider my opinions and beliefs to be "objective". I'm fully aware my opinions are shaped by my experiences and my world view. To whomever reads this, your experiences and world view will shape how you read and interpret this blog post.

I had Trump supporters and sympathizers on my social media (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc). I "HAD" rather than "HAVE". The moment I saw anything that was MAGA or Blue Lives Matter related, I immediately unfollowed and blocked them. You may think that's harsh. Why are you taking it so personal? Why can't you agree to disagree? Can't you simply "MUTE" them?

No I can't. This isn't a simple matter of preference. This isn't like debating Star Wars vs Star Trek, Marvel vs DC, Coke vs Pepsi, McDonalds vs Burger King, Ben & Jerrys vs. Baskin Robbins, etc. Those preferences don't impact me. 

Politics IS personal. 

With the passing of RBG and Trump's attempt to push Barrett in as the new SCOTUS, women may lose their freedom to choose. That is personal. 

Trump mismanaged COVID-19 pandemic and over 200,000 Americans have lost their lives. For everyone who's lost a loved one to COVID, that is personal. 

When Black folx are continuously terrorized by police brutality and those officers aren't held accountable due to Qualified Immunity, that is personal. 

When Latinx families continue to be separated at the border and continue to suffer inhumane treatment by ICE, that is personal. 

When Asian Americans are vilified for COVID-19 by calling it the "China Virus", that is personal. 

When Muslims continue to be persecuted, that is personal. 

When millions of Americans lose their healthcare and many more may lose it due to "pre-existing conditions" of COVID, that is personal. 

Need I go on? So no, we cannot "agree to disagree" and they will not hide behind "objectivity". 

So why is "Agree to disagree" a sign of cowardice? It allows them to engage in debates with a "prove me wrong" and "change my mind" attitude and go to "agree to disagree" to end a discussion when things get too uncomfortable. It's a signifier that "I don't want to talk about this anymore". It allows people to hold on to their views and not be held accountable for them. "Agree to disagree" allows them to get away for supporting racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, homophobic, etc views without being labeled a racist, misogynist, xenophobe, homophobe, etc. It means that their privilege (wherever that may be in their intersectionality) is more important to them then others' humanity.

 "Agree to disagree" are for those people who's ego is too fragile to be held accountable. Think I'm being too harsh? 

Agree to disagree 

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