I dislike how politics has become a game of taking sides—a relentless us versus them mindset that clings to our brains like a terrified skier gripping the tow rope, never pausing to consider whether letting go might be the wiser choice. Us versus them is dangerous. It erodes our shared humanity, replacing connection with division and stripping away the empathy we need to focus on what truly matters.
I’ll admit, I’ve been pulled into the scraps before. I’ve felt that tug at my heartstrings—the temptation to wade into the mudslinging, especially when a perfectly crafted zinger hits just right.
But if this is nothing more than a giant game of Red Rover, where the goal is to break each other apart, I’m out.
I understand the seductive call of belonging, how it hypnotizes us into choosing a side. Green, phew, we think. We’re one together in this color. There’s something deeply human about the need to belong, for our values and identity to matter. It’s as vital as breathing. It’s who we are—and something we’ll fight for, even die for.
But this allegiance, this conveyor belt mentality that sweeps us along without question, has been mine too. I’ve felt the collective dreams crumble and known the sadness of that loss. I’ve felt bitter and defeated. I’ve believed the gaps between you and me were so real, so unbridgeable, that I saw you as the enemy.
Politics is a dangerous arena to walk into alone. It’s polarizing and divisive, a funhouse of reactions that twists you until you don’t recognize yourself. You walk out the back door with gum matted in your hair, your pockets turned inside out, your money gone—and you’re left wondering, Where did I go wrong?
The truth is, when you go on the ride, you get the ride. So be careful out there.
Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 