In our lives, we have circles of people. You have your church circle, gym circle, kids’ soccer team circle and the list goes on. The defining characteristic of these circles is having something in common with each other. Whether it’s grumbling about “leg day” at the gym or the shared laughter when your kids win the game, these similarities unify us and cause us to comfort, cheer and connect with each other.
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Unless you bring up politics.
Then things can get nasty. We automatically assume one opinion is superior to the other. The person with the different viewpoint is the enemy. We imagine that they will do anything to shake up our lives. It’s amazing how one difference can completely disrupt and even destroy your circle. The assumptions we make about “the other” put us on defense, and for some, the urgency to strike first.
Not only are we responsible for the care of our circles, but our elected leaders should set the precedent. They were elected to represent all their constituents, not just their restricted circle.
The Robbers Cave Experiment demonstrated the circles we create in our lives and how quickly we can vilify those seen as different. Fifty-two fifth-grade boys were divided into two groups and were completely unaware there was a second group. They packed up, went to summer camp and did typical camp activities like hiking and swimming. Then the two groups were allowed to discover each other.
Even though these two groups of boys could find many similarities with each other (“You can dive how high?”), they immediately identified the other group as a threat. One interaction led to an altercation that eventually led to fistfights, flag burning and flinging rocks in socks. What’s even more bizarre about this is that these boys were of similar economic status, age, religion and race. The only thing that led them to believe the other group was a threat was, well, because they were from that group.
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Take a minute to look at one of your circles. I’m looking at my family circle. I know these people pretty well. There are different political ideologies in our circle. The narrative being pushed screams that they are a threat and that I should be up in arms, ready to protect myself. The question is, why would I be willing to listen to these faulty narratives when I know the people in my circles?
Our circles can expand and unify despite differences, and become all the more enriching because of them.
Not only are we responsible for the care of our circles, but our elected leaders should set the precedent. They were elected to represent all their constituents, not just their restricted circle. Elected representatives who encourage or tolerate political violence have failed their sworn responsibility to the public. The public should demand accountability from their representatives. Any type of political violence should be publicly condemned.
We see people willingly tossing aside their similarities to blindly follow these concoctions of the other party. Some adhere so unquestioningly to these canards that threats and violence start to fester. Instead of being mindless in the face of these upsurges, let us check ourselves to discover the connections we share with one another and what we have in common. Our circles can expand and unify despite differences, and become all the more enriching because of them. Political violence has no place in our society.
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