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Thread: 5 Ways to Move Forward in American's Hyper-Partisan Culture

  1. #1

    5 Ways to Move Forward in American's Hyper-Partisan Culture

    I just took some excerpts from the article...


    http://www.relevantmagazine.com/curr...Hx7a0O7tpIY.01

    ...Navigating post-election season isn't easy, no matter which side you voted for. But there are some productive ways to cope with the change coming to the White House in January and remain civil with those who are opposite from you in their political views....
    Read the Bible and pray.

    We see in Philippians 3:20 that a Christian's true citizenship is in heaven. God is in control of this earth and the things that happen on it. No election surprises Him. Christians must acknowledge this reality and function in this world as those who have hope beyond that offered by anyone in Washington, DC. Pray for God to heal our nation of brokenness and division, and work to be agents of peace in a world desperately needing the love of Christ.

    Love your neighbor well.
    As a middle-class white man, I have no right to tell a black man how he should or should not feel under the authority of President-elect Donald Trump. That also goes for women, Jewish, Hispanic, Muslim community members or any other group that may feel uneasy about the future under a Trump presidency. There is a great fear among many Americans that an alt-right movement is taking over the nation. When we take the time to study the course of history, we can see the damage that these fringe groups have caused when given credence. However you may feel towards his election or whoever you voted for, you can't deny that our President-elect has said some unnerving things over the past several months.

    Our goal is not to question how serious the rhetoric offered by Trump is. It is also not to test the validity of the feelings of minorities in America. We are to love one another and part of that is sidestepping our own perception and assumptions to better understand other points of view, including those we might not agree with. Failure to show compassion to those fearful of a Trump presidency and the policies that may be enacted is not only selfish, it is blatantly uncharacteristic of a Christ follower. Take time to listen to and love your neighbors, especially ones who don't look like you.

    Take interest in global issues.

    Gaining a better understanding of the conflict in Syria, natural disasters affecting Haiti or terrorism that continually ravages the Middle East and parts of Africa is important because we can then decipher for ourselves the impact Americans can have in those situations. We must see the world beyond just the things going on in our own backyard.

    Take a social media break.

    The adage is true: No one's mind has ever been changed by a Facebook argument and my perception of people—friends I knew personally—was changing simply because they didn't view things the same way I did. I was no longer loving people the way Christ loves them, simply based from what I learned about them on Facebook.

    Talk to someone you disagree with.

    Note the suggestion to talk to someone you disagree with, not argue with them. We just saw a rare election in that, according to a CNN exit poll, nearly half of those who voted had an unfavorable view of both presidential candidates.

    We make a lot of assumptions and bad generalizations based on who someone voted for, and that has to change. Every Trump voter isn't racist, just like every Clinton voter isn't pro-choice. What makes America great is that we have the freedom to believe what we want and say what we want. That can also be a detractor when our words are abusive and divide more than they build up. We find ourselves devoid of good compromise, the very thing we get so angry at politicians for failing at. Let's take on a trait we saw little of during the campaign season: respecting each other.

    Read more at http://www.relevantmagazine.com/curr...DcBI13EdDKZ.99

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  3. #2
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    you can't deny that our President-elect has said some unnerving things
    And, obama has not said and done some crazy stuff???



    Talk to someone you disagree with
    Why? If I agree with them... we would both be wrong!



    That can also be a detractor when our words are abusive and divide more than they build up. We find ourselves devoid of good compromise
    Sorry, me not compromising with liberals... that's liberal code for conservatives must convert to liberalism.

    How 'bout you mind yo'own bidness so you won't be minding mine?

  4. #3
    interesting article.. he makes some reasonable points.. and not just for election cycles.

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