Why Can't We Be Friends?

This isn't my first election season to have gone through in my adult years.  It is, however, the most hostile and divisive I have ever seen.  It has amazed me to see relatives, close friends, even people who hardly know each other, calling each other names, deriding and insulting each other.  The civility of political discourse has been horrible.  Shoot, we are all starting to act like politicians!!!

One particular friend of mine has had quite a number of his "friends" unfriend him on Facebook due to his political views.  Now, the only people on his page seem to have the same political beliefs as he does.  He doesn't like that, of course.  He likes to have the other point of view to an issue.  He will disagree, but always does so in a polite, mature manner.

Personally, I have been viciously attacked with profanity and other insults because of my views.  It seems that this election season, there is no discussion about issues.  It is cut and dry, you either agree with me or we can't be friends, or you are an idiot, etc.  There is no debate between people, only name calling and hostility.  I often wonder if those same people would act in person, the same way they do on Facebook.

My brother and I differ on our political views and which issues are important to us.  I vehemently disagree with him and he tolerates my views and comments.  The other night I asked him one question, "Why do you support the guy you support?"  He said he would answer me if I would promise not to talk politics with him anymore.  He told me, I disagreed...and now I will keep my promise.  The point is, we were able to discuss it, disagree...and still be brothers...be friends.  Too many, it seems, have gone to the extreme.

What I don't understand is how anyone, regardless of party affiliation, can put their support of a candidate ahead of a friendship, familial relationship, etc.  People who six months or so ago, were sitting down having a drink together, now won't even look at each other.  What has happened?  Neither of these candidates is such an awesome person, or deserve such loyalty as to cause people to turn on each other.

In less than a week, we will be past the election.  What then?  What happens to those friendships that were damaged or ended from this nasty process?  Let's hope that decency returns and those friendships and other relationships can be repaired.