We're all still people right?

I've thought about something recently, maybe because I'm trudging through this history book and I am reminded that during the Civil War, we were anything BUT civil. Families and friends turned against each other almost overnight, killing each other over ideology (right?). Well, we're a very happening and sophisticated people now, looking at the wars in Africa as if we're above tribal wars and arguments over land, etc.

The difference is, we don't shoot each other, yet. And the war between the Democrats and the Republicans is definately brutal, as a conservative I'm thinking how Sarah Palin and family were trashed and George W. Bush got disrespected on policy (often rightly) but the way he spoke and other non-policy related things that were just rude and completely ignorant and unnecessary. I'm sure Democrats can think of their own champions and they way they see THEM portrayed unfairly (some would say Obama and I can agree on a FEW of the ways he's been portrayed).

Example, why comparing any American politician to Hilter is the cool thing for the not-in-power-party to do is BEYOND ME. If they've killed 18 million people, yes, get back to me. SHEESH.

So we hate each other really. Twitter conservatives and liberals bash each other back and forth, and I join in. And then I stop for a few days and don't miss it much. Then I log back in and get back into the swing of things. But in the end, it's fruitless, it's pointless. No one changes anyone's mind, we all get frustrated, and further dislike each other.

But if I passed a person trapped on the side of the road in a burning car/bleeding and I found out he/she was a liberal, would I NOT get help or help myself?! NEVER. Obviously. My co-workers, neighbors, people in my church, and my friends whom I love have been liberals and I love them dearly, enjoy their company, and would do a LOT for them (for most, I believe I'd give my life).

But it's easy to forget they are real people, with small children, the majority of whom probably DO want what's best for the U.S. even if we've all got very different ideas of what that is. It's easy to forget especially when we just hear their idiotic statements on TV or see the latest laws or scandals. It's too easy to forget. But we need to remember:

We're all still people right?

We're a Lot Like You - A Little Different

Conservatives and Liberals, at the heart of issues are really quite the same. There are decent people and not so decent people. You'll find, as the news shows, the rude, adulterers, molesters, pornography addicts, thieves, and liars in every existing party and within all the offices. You also find the family men and women, the honest, the truthful, the hard working, and the good hearted in all of the parties and in every elected office throughout history.

Our fundamental differences are the way in which the decent people want to help others and improve/protect the United States. Somewhere along the way, the Democrat Party, the donkey with the stars and stripes got credited with being the only part that cares about "African Americans", immigrants, people of Latin decent, the poor, and the environment. This is not because they (politicians in the Democratic Party) actually do anything personally to help or improve life for any of these people or the Earth...it's because they TALK about it the most and come up with the most ways to spend other people's money to "help", often making programs that other people pay for that probably do help a little bit.

Let's look at the people who really help other people . . . well you have the people who believe in a higher power, whose religious text' encourage or expect "Loving Thy Neighbor as Yourself" (including Mormons, Christians, Jews...ironically enough probably because they are rooted in the writing of the Old Testament and Yahweh, or the God of the Jews). These people subscribe to many different political parties, but they don't care for others as a result of that decision, it's faith and love for others.

I personally am a walking contradiction, even hearing "I would have thought you were a Democrat" (to my horror), because I endorse caring for the enviroment and the poor. I think that's insulting. I can want to help the poor and not subscribe to the liberal "Give them fish" mentality. Someone wiser than me said "TEACH them to fish". World Vision, and other non-profit, non-governmental programs are far more successful than government is/could be, and they work hard, and they work. They take donations, they don't take tax dollars whether people agree or not. That's where the difference lies...some people want to help others with their OWN money and time...not their neighbors.

~ Conservative Minority