The pressure to be political is inescapable
Even all the way here in Britain, we can’t stop talking about American politics and the plethora of “juicy” scandals that have come with this year’s upcoming election. It’s not that we don’t have our own problems here, we certainly do. It’s because it has become fashionable to talk about it.
I don’t like to hear about all the bad things going on in the world on a 24-hour news cycle, it really does become obsessive. I am not particularly political, but I will say this politically charged thing:
If I were to choose a side, I would probably end up somewhere in what was once considered “centre”. I am the daughter of an immigrant who does manual labour for a living. In life, I have some right-wing views, and I have some left-wing views. It does not mean that I cannot be a decent human being. We should be treating others based on how they treat others, not based on their political bias.
When did politics become so overwhelmingly polarising? When did political slants, or a lack of, begin to dictate this hostile treatment of others? There are more important things to worry about in life than a view, or absence of, on something specific by someone that you may not have even met.
Look at the uproar regarding Chris Pratt in the media recently. He was crucified because he was not outwardly and publicly political, something that used to be frowned upon in Hollywood anyway. Someone’s lack of political interest or support should not be enough of a reason to berate and degrade someone’s character. Is he a bad human being? I honestly don’t know, probably not, but I haven’t met him. Is he killing, hurting, stealing, or spouting extremist rhetoric by not stating his political alliance? No, of course he’s not, so don’t retaliate with those things in return.
I am not a political person, never have been, but as someone who used to work in the medical field, I do know a lot about how you treat fellow human beings. You treat them fairly, without prejudice or bias. You treat them how you would want to be treated. You treat them in a way where you can both maintain your dignity. Unfortunately, that seems to no longer be the case when it comes to politics.
People with no political stance are now also seen as an enemy, by both sides. Rather than taking the opportunity to open up a dialogue, they take the opportunity to attack. Much like the political, the unpolitical are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. No side is wholly innocent and no side is wholly guilty, stop pretending that they are.
The beginning of the pandemic was bringing out the best in us, as friends, family, neighbours, and colleagues. Lately, the focus has been shifting in the opposite direction. Focus on being a decent human being, not a bitter, intolerant one, please.
