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Reasons why I’m okay with losing friends over politics: a list
Scrolled across that post on my Facebook timeline which is telling people politics isn’t worth losing friends over. It is.
So, in no particular order, here’s why:
- Life isn’t a campfire where we sit around singing Kumbaya and roasting marshmallows – our political choices impact people’s actual lives. I take that seriously.
- The way you vote could be the difference between someone losing out on their basic rights and freedoms. That’s important.
- There is a difference between having an opinion and taking Democratic action to back up that opinion.
- It does not matter to me how much fun we have, how good our conversations are or how cool I think you are if you vote in a way that infringes upon other people’s rights, liberties and freedoms.
- Unfriending over political views is a way to not be complicit in the erasure of folks, their rights and their liberties.
- As a black, bisexual, polyamorous, single mother of biracial children, a LOT of proposed policies and laws are written in a way to be a direct threat to me and my life. I cannot and will not maintain friendships with people who believe any of the ways I identify are morally incorrect and that I shouldn’t have the right to live my life the way that I choose.
- Politics isn’t just about the front men – politics is deeper than that. It’s not about Biden vs Trump. It’s about policies, rhetoric and rights.
- Privilege allows the privileged to turn a blind eye to things that do not affect them. Reread that.
- I’d rather have one less friend to meet up with for coffee than live in a world where everybody isn’t free to live how they choose, to love who they want and to be who they inherently are.
- Telling people not to rock the boat makes it easier for bigots and democracy haters to push their agenda. If we’re quiet and passive we cannot dissent. Do not be quiet and passive.
Anyonita is a bi, poly American in Britain. She writes with a confessionalist voice, exploring narrative essays, pop culture, parenthood, sex, relationships and intimacy, race, travel, literature and food.
