"You're the Anti-Christ!" "No, YOU'RE the Anti-Christ!"

I have had it with politicians—all of them—who demonize their opponents to gain supporters. And the political ads, in print and on TV? Gaaaaah! Utterly unhelpful, woefully short on useful information, with more spin than a bottle in a basement full of horny teens.

Is this necessary? I may be an Obama supporter, but that doesn’t mean I think John McCain is the devil’s spawn and needs to be stopped before he threatens to wreak havoc on the free world—nay, our very mortal souls.

Here are two items I’d like to share with you, food for thought:

1. A comment made by my friend Stacy (an excellent critical thinker) on another topic but which applies here: “Wouldn’t it be refreshingly honest for someone to say, ‘I want you to do the same thing I do, believe the same thing I believe, because then I will get my way?’ ”

Indeed, it feels so much cozier to be surrounded by like-minded people, and to see our beliefs reflected in our little universe. As much as I try to live up to my credo, “Let’s all try to get along, or at least agree to disagree”, the latter part is a challenge. When I’m talking to a person with a different opinion, am I really allowing them their own view, or am I subconsciously plotting ways in which I may change the person’s mind? And changing one’s political beliefs is near impossible, which brings me to…

2. An article I posted yesterday called “Political views ‘all in the mind’ ”; here are some tidbits:

“Their research, published in the journal Science, indicates that people who are sensitive to fear or threat are likely to support a right wing agenda.

Those who perceived less danger in a series of images and sounds were more inclined to support liberal policies.

The authors believe their findings may help to explain why voters' minds are so hard to change.”

Does this not make sense, that our world view dictates our political leanings? I don’t agree with pro-lifers and those against gay marriage, but I can understand how their beliefs are formed.

These random thoughts all point to something worth practicing: seeing people as people, and not running headlong into black-and-white thinking.

Try this: As you’re walking down the street, or standing in line at the grocery store, when you set eyes on someone, think…

“…that’s someone’s son/daughter…”
“…that’s someone’s father/mother…”
“…that’s someone’s brother/sister…”
“…that’s someone’s aunt/uncle…”
“…that’s someone’s cousin/best friend…”

I used this little experiment as I was walking out of the Boulder Public Library. The results were interesting. When I saw a teenage boy pass by, smoking a cigarette, I felt love and concern, thinking, “Don’t do that to yourself!” I felt compassion for the homeless guy with none of the flight response I normally experience. I began to feel connected to everyone.

It was amazing. And short-lived. Going about the world with that kind of openness is difficult and tiring. It requires practice, this loving kindness. But isn’t it worth the struggle?