"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you." - Frederick Nietzsche

Politics in 2024 is a very tumultuous subject and each side uses violent rhetoric to dehumanize the other party. Civility has been lost and there seems to be no end to the madness. Neighbors are mad at neighbors and the cesspool that is Facebook and Twitter/X constantly has name-calling, hate-filled rhetoric, and insults flying continually. We have all gazed into the abyss and become the monsters we have long warned against. 

This is a difficult time in American politics. We've seen this division before in America with the 1860 and 1876 elections coming to mind. But there is hope for all if we do a few things. 

1) Realize that for the most part, each side is scared and lashing out in fear. Democrats fear that a second Trump administration would roll back civil rights and many government programs with mass deportations of people to home countries they don't remember. Republicans fear that their dollars aren't going as far as they used to and stress over paying bills, buying medicines, and buying groceries. The echo chambers of "their side's" news channels constantly spew nothing but fear and the Us vs. Them mentality that leads to dangerous tribalism. Everyone is afraid and no one is helping to sage those fears. We should have compassion for each other and help work on facing our fears and making the world a better place. If we cannot see each other as human beings struggling in an ever-changing world we will not make it. 

2) Get the hell off of social media. Too often we become obsessed with trolling the other side so we can "own" them with a point we make. We say things that we would never say to someone in person but because we're keyboard warriors we feel invincible. The lack of human interaction with people whom we disagree with makes it easier to see the other side as an enemy and subhuman. The public square of social media allows us to be dicks to each other. Ask yourself, when was the last time being a dick to someone else got them to like me or change their mind? I can answer that easily, never. The rule of thumb to use for social media is don't post something you wouldn't say to someone's face. Trolling is not useful to helpful discourse.

3) Seek out people you disagree with in person. Get out of your comfort zone and try to understand why they feel the way they feel. If your friends all have the same views you do, it is very easy to think that most people feel the way you feel. The old cliche that we have more in common than we realize is very true. We all are hurting from something. We are all seeking to be loved. We all want to be heard. And while it may not radically change the world right now, you could be planting the seeds for bigger change down the road. Many people like to talk about traveling back in time and the smallest change could alter history radically. But many people fail to realize that you can make that small change now to radically affect the future. We may never meet the President or run for Congress, but we can make our neighbor's life better or help someone who goes on to do great things by merely taking time now. Patton Oswalt is a fairly left-leaning comedian who engaged with a man on Twitter who was trolling him. It ended up being a huge show of compassion by Patton and his followers for the man who started off as a troll. See where you can help and do.

4) Help where you can. We may not all have extra income we can donate to nonprofits but there is an even more valuable asset we have that is priceless. Time. Volunteer with a cause you find near and dear to your heart. Find a cause you are passionate about and volunteer for it. You may be sorting cans at a food shelter but you're helping them. You may scoop poop at a cat shelter but you're helping keep the cats' environment clean. Do a prison ministry where you counsel people in jail looking to change their lives. Find your passion and pursue it. You will sacrifice time but it will be for a better cause.

5) Get involved with politics on a local level. Ultimately, we have little impact on the federal level of government outside of voting in Presidential and Congressional elections. But we do have the ability to impact our state, county, and city elections. You can actively campaign for a candidate that shares your views. You can get out and help register to vote. You can attend school board meetings. You can attend city council meetings. It is important for you to know what is going on in your community. And guess what? While you're at these meetings you will meet people of different political beliefs. You will meet people of different backgrounds. Don't see them as enemies but as potential friends. Try to understand where they are coming from and speak calmly and respectfully with them.

I hope this helps you. I know it sounds like I'm preaching and I am. I have friends of all political leanings. I have bleeding-heart liberal socialists to hardcore Trumpers. But they all respect me and I respect them. They have helped me to rethink issues. They have helped me to strengthen my arguments. They have helped me to look at why I believe what I believe. I highly suggest that you do the same. And do it in person. Get out and experience the world and experience other people. The world is more than Facebook, Twitter/X, Threads, Rumble, and all other forms of social media. Otherwise, you become the monster you claim the other side is and fall into the abyss.