In today’s highly polarized political climate, it seems nearly impossible to have a conversation without tensions flaring up. We live in a time when political identity can often feel as important as personal identity, and with that comes the danger of seeing those who disagree with us as adversaries rather than neighbors. However, if we hope to preserve the integrity of our democracy and the fabric of our communities, we must learn to listen to one another rather than attack others for their political positions or votes.

First and foremost, democracy thrives on diverse viewpoints. The exchange of ideas, no matter how different they may be, is the cornerstone of a healthy political system. When we shut down dialogue through personal attacks or refuse to consider another’s perspective, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to learn, grow and strengthen our society. Listening does not mean agreeing, but it does mean offering respect to someone else’s lived experience and concerns. Too often, political debates devolve into shouting matches or character assassinations, which serve only to entrench division. Instead, genuine engagement is required if we are to find common ground and progress together.

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There is also a profound danger in vilifying people based on their political choices. Voting is a deeply personal act, shaped by an individual’s values, life experiences and understanding of the world. Attacking someone for their vote dismisses that complexity and reduces the individual to a caricature of their political alignment. When we demonize people for their political decisions, we create an atmosphere of hostility that stifles meaningful dialogue and further divides us into factions.

Love thy neighbor — especially this election season | COUNTERPOINT

Sage Naumann and I have been fortunate enough to pen our point and counterpoint articles for the last few years. You have seen our monthly back-and-forth and justifications on why we differ in our opinions. What you haven’t seen is the countless hours we have spent attempting to come up with topics we disagree on because, we have much more in common and agree often. Each political topic we write about has many nuances and is challenging to consolidate into 450 words. Like many categories of human beings, one group is not a monolith with the same lived experience influencing their politics.

Though it is easier to make assumptions about others and anonymously attack them online, we should all try to engage in politics with empathy, respect and a willingness to listen. When we listen, rather than attack, we hold a respectful space where differing voices can be heard, and political disagreements don’t become personal animosity. Though Sage and I differ on our politics, I still have the honor of calling him a friend. This election year, let’s not lose our friendships and recognize there is much more to others than their politics. If we take the time to listen, we will see we have more in common.

Lisa LaBriola is a principal at Husch Blackwell Strategies and was a Senate Democrat staffer for close to a decade. She served as chief of staff to former Senate Minority Leader Lucia Guzman and former Senate President Leroy Garcia. Opinions expressed here are her own and do not reflect the opinions of any other organizations.