Daily writing prompt

What will your life be like in three years?

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If liberals invited me to their table, if conservatives cared to consider my concerns, here’s what I’d say. We all need to be kinder to each other and disagree without demonizing one another.

* The American Constitution wasn’t written for majority rule. It is set up with checks and balances and a Bill of Rights that limit what any one party can do so that one side can’t get everything they want, and political leaders will be forced to work together in bipartisan ways.

* The government can’t pay for everything both liberals and conservatives want (unlimited social programs and bigger tax cuts for example). We’ve been trying that for decades and dangerous debt demonstrates that it isn’t working.

* Healthy, respectful disagreement is a good thing but attacking (especially without convincing evidence) the character and integrity of political leaders and institutions that you disagree with destabilizes a nation.

* Calling people who disagree with you, “haters” or “phobics,” or constantly insulting them in political speeches and rallies, is a very ineffective way of trying to get your point across.

* Throughout its history America has been a mixture and example of both great freedoms and great injustices. It’s important to be honest and open about both.

* Government has the right to require people to treat each other fairly, but not to require people to agree with or approve of how other people live.

* Much racism has been overcome in America; however, every trace of racism hasn’t been completely eliminated. Much has simply become more subtle and passive.

* Abortion cruelly takes an innocent human life, but because it happens inside a woman’s body the government can’t completely control it. A middle ground that acknowledges both that prenatal human life isn’t a disposable body part and that the mother-to-be has legitimate concerns needs to be found.

* No one should be forced to applaud, approve of, or be silent about what they believe to be morally wrong, but all people should kindly respect each other’s right to behave in ways they disapprove of. For example, unlimited sexual confusion (from premarital sex to pornographic thoughts and images to adultery to physiology ignoring surgery) is widespread and constantly being promoted by media, government, and education while villainizing those who disagree.

* The American Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion, but it doesn’t mention Christianity or make it the official religion. According to the Constitution it’s not less American to adhere to another religion or to be an agnostic or an atheist.

The only thing I hate is hate itself (and the evil it produces).