A personal "reaching across the aisle" story, if I may

[BuelahWitch]

I feel more comfortable posting this here than in GD or GDP, because the readers of this forum believe in healing, for the most part.
My first experience working election polls was in 2004. If you've done it, you know it's a long ass day (14-15 hours for a major election). There were five of us, all women, three Republicans and two Democrats. Most of the time we were going crazy, but we'd worked out a system and we took care of everyone who wanted to vote. There was no talk of politics, because that's not appropriate in that situation. We did our job and got along fine.
After the polls close in Kansas, two people have to take the ballots to the courthouse to be counted. The two people are supposed to be from different political parties. Since the other Democrat had an early class the next day, I volunteered to ride up with the election judge.
On the way to the courthouse, we got to talking about how nasty the election had been. Neither one of us liked the hate that came from either side. We both agreed that nothing gets done with all the fighting going on. To my surprise she said to me, "You know, people need to stop seeing the other side as "the enemy." If we just stopped and talked like normal people, we'd probably find much we agree on."
I realize this election judge isn't Rush Limbaugh or Rick Warren, but perhaps there are more like her who ARE open to decent relations between the two parties. I've often thought there needs to be healing in our country. I hope it can happen.

[I Have A Dream]

1. Yes, to see others as the enemy just continues the cycle of hate.

It's more difficult when just one side seems to be doing all of the work towards healing, but it still helps. Any effort put out makes a difference in the grand scheme of things, even if we can't see the difference it makes.

Thank you for sharing your story, cff.

[SheilaT]

2. While you are absolutely right,

I feel that the other side has treated us with scorn and contempt at least since Reagan was elected. And so many of them call themselves Christian. I wonder what part of the "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" they don't get. I feel that they need to have done unto them at least a little of what they've done to us.

And that's even though I understand that someone should be taking the high road here and not perpetuate this stuff.

[Cleita]

3. There was a time both sides could get along while disagreeing but the divide and conquer

M/O of the right has brought us to this, especially during the tenure of the "Uniter". No President in the last fifty years has ever been as divisive as this one, not even Richard Nixon.

[Why Syzygy]

4. That was my thought also.

It's the powers who derive strength from our division who have advanced this agenda. Not average Americans, who I believe are inherently caring people.