To the Editor:
I’ve heard how politics in this country has torn apart relationships between family and friends, and I believed that my family could navigate the reality that members have different views on candidates and policies. Yesterday I learned I was wrong. I believe the details may help other families to see the light and avoid this tragedy.
Several days ago, I saw a meme on Facebook that addressed the death toll that gun violence is having on this nation’s children. Its brutal reality literally reduced me to tears. After composing myself, I typed a one-word comment: “Powerful!” Now I normally don’t post political content online because I know that some of my family members and friends have opposing views. But in this case I believed my comment was appropriate and relatively unbiased.
Within an hour, my 51-year-old son posted a Facebook post that said the following: “It really is distressing when a son has to come to terms with the reality that his mother truly is consumed by evil. I cannot begin to understand how one could be led down this path. A path that leads away from salvation. I believe I have done what I can at risk to my own family’s well-being and I will hope for better days ahead, but I will no longer expose myself or my family to this darkness.”
I was stunned and wanted to explain my position and reduce the tension. I typed this reply: “I have the right to express my opinion on the politics of guns. I’m tired of all the senseless gun violence in the United States, especially the claiming of lives of so many innocent children. What is evil is that certain politicians are not willing to address the daily gun violence in our schools and country.”
He then wrote the following: “You talk of ‘certain politicians’ but look at what you’ve done. As you defiantly trudge forward further into the darkness, you are consumed by evil. I no longer recognize you. I have reached out my hand to no avail. Until you have recovered from whatever vile affliction has taken control over you, I shall choose to forget you as you are today and instead memorialize you from years gone by.”
I was stunned! No, my son is not mentally ill and rarely drinks alcohol. He is a very successful architect with a beautiful wife and two adult children. We spent a week with them in June for a wonderful vacation in Colorado with no conflict or disagreement. What afflicts him is a cult-like worship of one of the two political parties and presidential candidates. He apparently is willing to sacrifice his relationship with his mother over politics. I fully accept that he has different political views than I have, but he can’t accept the same about me.
This is the real tragedy of today’s politics. It is tearing apart our families, friendships, and consequently our country. In order for these pillars of our society to survive, it has to end! Anyone who believes differently than you is not an evil person, they are merely a person who has the right to think for themselves!
