When I went to church today, my pastor talked at the end of the sermon about the upcoming election. After reminding us that internal surveys showed our church was split about 50/50 politically, he said something that really spoke to me. He said "No matter what happens this week with the election, just remember that we are not enemies". When he said that, I was reminded of this ad.
I have to admit that when I first watched this ad I cried. I cried because I hate how rancorous our politics has become in this nation. While I think we can all agree political debate has gotten bad, I don't want to discuss on this thread why it's gotten bad because I know on that topic we would also disagree.
I have never been a person who believes "the other side" is evil or full of evil people. I've always believed that "the other side" are just people like me who have different political beliefs. When I started posting regularly on the Corral in early 2016, I always made sure that I would be ok if friends or family ever saw what I posted on here. Not whether they agree with me...because I do have family and friends who are on "the other side"...but would they be ok with knowing how I conducted myself on this board.
And while I was able to hold myself to that standard in the beginning, I know that in the last year or two I've fallen short of that standard. I know I have responded to people in ways that I would be embarrassed by if my family or friends were to see. So I'm vowing today to change and to go back to the standard I used to hold myself to.
One last thing. As much as we talk about politics on this board, sometimes it's hard to remember that we all do share one thing in common. Our love of UT Football! (Maybe not our love of Tom Herman...but that's a whole another divisive topic!) Sometimes its hard to believe that we could all sit in a bar (back in the before times) and enjoy a UT Football game together.
So no matter what happens this week with the election, just remember that we are not enemies. We are just UT fans who happen to have different political beliefs.
Can I get an amen.
I have to admit that when I first watched this ad I cried. I cried because I hate how rancorous our politics has become in this nation. While I think we can all agree political debate has gotten bad, I don't want to discuss on this thread why it's gotten bad because I know on that topic we would also disagree.
I have never been a person who believes "the other side" is evil or full of evil people. I've always believed that "the other side" are just people like me who have different political beliefs. When I started posting regularly on the Corral in early 2016, I always made sure that I would be ok if friends or family ever saw what I posted on here. Not whether they agree with me...because I do have family and friends who are on "the other side"...but would they be ok with knowing how I conducted myself on this board.
And while I was able to hold myself to that standard in the beginning, I know that in the last year or two I've fallen short of that standard. I know I have responded to people in ways that I would be embarrassed by if my family or friends were to see. So I'm vowing today to change and to go back to the standard I used to hold myself to.
One last thing. As much as we talk about politics on this board, sometimes it's hard to remember that we all do share one thing in common. Our love of UT Football! (Maybe not our love of Tom Herman...but that's a whole another divisive topic!) Sometimes its hard to believe that we could all sit in a bar (back in the before times) and enjoy a UT Football game together.
So no matter what happens this week with the election, just remember that we are not enemies. We are just UT fans who happen to have different political beliefs.
Can I get an amen.
