My Dogs Are Apolitical

I get lots of pleasure from my dogs every day. For one thing, they don’t seem interested in politics and never bring it up. Certainly they don’t see the world through an ideological prism.

In contrast, however, I have some friends who view most everything through a political lens according to their preferred ideologies, be they liberal, conservative, or libertarian. Too often there is an edge to conversations even when an innocent remark is made in passing. The Covid-19 pandemic has accentuated this as so much has become politicized. I never really thought about it, but it is really difficult to carry on routine conversations with friends without ever saying something that can be construed to have political implications.

I have seriously liberal friends who simply cannot utter a kind word about Republicans, regardless of the circumstances. Most often I chide them for being so partisan and try to point out the merits to specific conservative arguments. Many conservative friends, in much the same manner, find it difficult to say the word “liberal” without ridicule and contempt. Their strong animosity toward Democrats often makes them vote irrationally. Libertarians reflect an unbridled animosity toward left and right and rant about the virtual duopoly of the two major parties in politics. Rather delusionally, they work and wait for the coming of a multi-party system that will give them a seat at the table.

We risk becoming political fundamentalists who disrespect and reject out-of-hand all that challenges our beliefs. Doing so is toxic to us as individuals and to the larger community. Like my dogs, I prefer not to view the world through an ideological prism.