What does it look like when people who have very different political and religious views get together for a night?
Well, if you're as fortunate in your long term friendships as I am, then it looks a lot like this :-)
(Space Cowboy)
In all there's somewhere around forty of us who have been gathered up and gathering together for the past twenty plus years. Generally at least once a year the majority of us show up to celebrate a particular event, and then a revolving crew of 15-20 every few months.
(A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one)
And this didn't even change much in 2020. If anything, we fit in a couple more to give us the much needed social contact at the time.
I'll never forget one of those in particular, where a few of the worriers among us still came, they just brought their own chairs food and beer, then sat at a distance in their masks. And while we may have good naturedly ribbed them, no one really batted an eye at that... or at those of us giving out bear hugs and breathing straight into each other's faces XD
(Take Two)
The other night I commented that our get togethers are like stepping out of place and time. Leaving all of the bs at home and truly relaxing and enjoying the company of those who are a chosen extension of family.
And we prove that it is absolutely still possible to agree to disagree! Possible to recognize that while we don't agree on everything, there is always common ground, and a lot more of it than people seem to realize. I'm serious guys, it really shouldn't have to be this idea of "us against them".
(No Diggity)
Pro vax, anti vax, pro life, pro abortion, pro gun, anti gun, pro mask, anti mask, All Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter, pro Trump, anti Trump, Vegan, Meat Lover, Support Ukraine, Support Russia... Support an end to wars-- ALL of this is just humans having different feelings and points of view- with different facts to back them up.
(Learning to Fly)
Nothing new and nothing will ever change. Which is why it So important to stop listening to those who would tell us that these differences are irreconcilable.
When I say my group is diverse, I mean there are representatives of All of these opposing viewpoints, yet not even at the height of covid did we let that come between us. And I have to believe that there other groups like this out there. And regardless I Know that there can be! That all it takes is recognizing that no one is perfect, that no one is exempt from misinformation, that no one has all of the answers. To let go of ego and pride a little in favor of peace and love.
(Alice in Chains)
And most importantly it takes recognizing when we're being manipulated by those who benefit from the chaos. Because we certainly don't, we benefit from reasonable conversations that result in peaceful coexistence.
Start rebuilding the bridges that were blown up by those who would see us fail and fall. Make it a world we All want to live in :)
🎶Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try and love one another right now🎶