I used to be pretty active in the Modern Whig political group. Closest to a like minded set.
As a whole with people from so many backgrounds, different cultures and lifestyles it was nice to have so many 'hot topic' discussions with people who stayed respectful and listened even to things that was against their own ideals.
I miss that because it reminded me as well when I was a child and left wing and right wing people could still sit at a table and discuss issues and share the experiences and how it formed where they stood. We talked about politicians without always bring up another. It was each politician had to make or break themselves on their own actions and reactions. It wasn't this evil is lesser or better than what so-so did. There was no need to compared people but results.
In the Modern whig group, it was if 70% could not agree, it should stay at a state level, and if the 30% having the changes they want did not infringe on the rights and liberties of other, there was no reason to restrict them. If on a state level, 80% of the population should agree and again if the 20% did not infringe, then it should be left to the individual to decide.
The fact is its a hard balance when we will have such complexities between consitutional, federal, state and individual rights and law.
I had and still learning as well to drop the filters I have had due to past traumas and how I grew up with my own cultural experiences. My views and my experiences has changed my own ideals, and between experiences with others countries and cultures, I know there is not very much is black and white issues. There is rarely evil or pure good in people. But I do believe in Justice and the Constitution but I also believe in most cases Everyone involved in discussion needs to enter both with the good will of learing as well as openly listening to how people's opinions have formed.
If someone had just yelled at me saying my experiences were not what most people will experience or that because it's in the past and should have no reflection on current issues... I would have just become devil advocate and dig in my heels to make their opinion irrelevant in my mind even on areas I actually could have agreed with or at least understood. For most I was praised for my convictions but for others it looked like I was always looking to be combative.
I do worry about my community, country and the world with its current state. Victimology leading the way and causing nearly everyone who was just trying to be safe and equal are now being not only the offender but asking to remove rights, liberties and freedoms of those they felt once held back for.
America has always been the bright beacon of an example of freedom and the rights of an individual to thrive and live with determination of their own will to how much to invest. The diversity was still a struggle in some areas but overall as individuals we appreciated the value of most everyone in our communities. Even those we could not get along, we would still respect that they could live the life or ways they wanted as we could without infringement to make the other live as we saw would be better. Same as if something bad happened, both would be there to help each other out despite the hostility that may exist. It was not about harming each other nor would they be happy with harm or bad experiences being experienced by the other.
I can not say I falter in feeling relief when the men who destroyed my life and innocent were dead... happy? No. Relieved, yes. Did I want them to die? I wanted justice... but I also was a scared but angry little girl who couldn't handle going through years of trials if they had been caught
before. Over time, I met plenty of people truly trying to escaped the oppression and terror people power that people who had different ideals who responded with great intolerance and violence to break not only the body, but the spirit of those who lived or thought differently.
Compassion is not true compassion but an act when we can not feel it for our enemies. Justice is not always pleasant but as a whole to unite as a community laws and etiquette is in place to help keep us enough on a common ground so we do not infringe on others, but given the opportunities to be respected and cared for by each person in our community. This is the America I do remember where in my home and community, it didn't matter who different each of us lived, we celebrated each other's successes and shared the burdens and struggles that people would experience.
I have a network of family who has given my noth care, love and support when I at my own worst time. I may only have my mother left of my blood family, but even with all of our own differences especially over the last 4 years as this world has changed, those brothers and dear friends are still the community that I want to see thrive. Each has good and bad aspects when it comes to my own ways but each deserve my care, love and respect.
