I think if we all stopped looking to the extreme nut jobs and stay near the center, recognizing we each lean one way or the other but have something to learn from one another—then it becomes productive. And recently I tried to write something that sought to understand what i think “is how you feel” and I struggled…it’s hard.

But the hard conversations are where we heal.

The hard conversations are where empathy is seeded.

There’s so much frustration and division and we have been played to fight against one another while the leaders enjoy pressing the buttons to get us to act or see the other in a certain way.

I’m off that ship. Too exhausting and from the tone of your essay: sounds to me like you’re quite irritated by it all too.