I have worked in environments surrounded by liberals (at one place, Trump’s face was given a Hitler mustache and posted on a dartboard) and I have worked in environments surrounded by conservatives (at one place, we listened to Rush Limbaugh in the afternoons). The point of interest to me is that both parties feel marginalized because both are at odds with the surrounding culture. Urban mazes are proudly dominated by lefties, and areas beyond city limits are proudly dominated by right-wingers.
It is difficult to question people you agree with and it is a serious challenge to conclude polarized debates without claiming opposition is stupid or evil. I assume to be in the minority wherever I go. If you claim to be a Christian, I am considerably more orthodox. If you’re a liberal, I am too conservative. If you’re a conservative, I sound like a libertarian.
The result of “to each his own” is the comforts of an echo chamber.
This book was recommended by a friend. Our family backgrounds are similar, we are the same age, and went to the same elementary school and middle school. We then attended different high schools (although part of the same county) and different colleges, although both were funded by the same state.
Years later, we began talking again when I discovered he was writing for a prominent guitar magazine. The conversations were generally about music and art.
Then, the 2016 presidential election came. I posted a video of Ben Shapiro and he wanted to discuss the topics for my personal opinions. Up to this point we had expressed similar tastes, so he wasn’t expecting me to lean to the right when it came to politics.
Having spent the majority of his adulthood in New York City and recently moving to Seattle, he admitted to having few encounters with conservative viewpoints. When they were presented, they were easily dismissed.
This began a series of conversations between us, but the correspondence ended after about a month. I don’t believe it was due to a lack of interest, life just kept interrupting.
I miss our conversations.
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