Can Opposites Really Attract?

This post contains personal opinions and does not reflect the opinions of others.

Trigger Warning: this does discuss sensitive political and religious topics which may be sensitive to readers.

Before COVID, I didn't pay any attention to where I leaned politically. I wasn't political, I'm still not political, but now it's like I have to be to fit in to this world. If I were to choose, I'd say I'm liberal because I'm all about rights for everyone. I'm an advocate for mental health, LGBTQ+, and many other topics important to me. I still enjoy some traditional aspects, even though liberals usually aren't traditional. I'm mostly progressive, but not completely.

In this day and age, a political label is given to people and then people judge each other based off that label, even though most people tend to fall somewhere in the middle. There are people who can't be forced into one label or category. I know conservatives who are pro-choice, which is an example of how beliefs can intersect between parties. I feel like the labels try to put us in a box when most of us aren't all the way right on either side. A minority of us are on the extreme ends.

I'll be honest. One of my best friends is conservative and my other best friend is liberal. All my friends and family tend to be liberal. I have both in my life. I like to think we can respect both sides. I'm talking genuine respect, being able to talk to each other without getting into a fight. I'm able to have a conversation with my best friend who is conservative. Sure, there are certain topics that could get heated if we talked about them. There are more sensitive topics that her and I simply decide not to talk about. Our friendship is more important to us than talking politics. Politics is one part of us, and our friendship is so much more than having a debate. Her and I are only friends. We won't ever get married, therefore us leaning in different areas isn't a dealbreaker, not even close.

My other best friend, her dad is conservative and her mom is liberal. It works. It can work. I simply am trying to get out the message that it's not fair to make generalizations because everyone is different. Everyone's views are unique to them. There are conservatives who haven't liked conservative presidents before. All conservatives aren't the same, and neither are all liberals. We should get to know people as people first, instead of asking their political label and then dismissing them before giving them a chance. That's my proposal.

There are lots of Christians who are pro-LGBTQ+ and there are those who are not. It's not fair to say "all Christians are this" or "all Atheists are this." Labels cause more divides between people when we need to be united.

Relationships take effort. I've had people willing to alter and change some of their views because after I explained my side to them it opened their eyes. If we never get close with people who think differently from us, then we never have those conversations; and if we never have those conversations, then people can't get the chance to change their views if they want to.

My message is try hard not to judge someone before you get to know them as a person. A label like conservative or liberal is just a label.