We All have Something to Say
The birth of an opinion is complex
It comes from the gut
Shaped by beliefs, values and experience
There exists no human life devoid of hypocrisy
I get it!
I also know that within the universe of each individual
Who walks this Earth
There are conflicting drives
The good cop and bad cop
Sitting with pride on opposite shoulders
Despite this
Most of us latch on to one side of an issue
Hold it tightly
Push an opinion to influence friends and family
Or sound off on social media
I am no innocent here
Of late, I force myself to watch FOX News alongside CNN
Flip channels for ten or fifteen-minute chunks of time
Curious about what the hell makes the other side tick
To consider how passions can become twisted
Finessed into a blustering “stand”
I’ve begun to see some overlap between the two extremes
Contrasted with the scorching “dis” between the parties
The venomous words tossed from one bank to the other
Yes, I admit that I heavily lean to one side
And I believe it’s the good side
Voraciously embracing my political beliefs and principles
Which I feel represent the freedoms I think are right, fair, compassionate
Yet just before I drift off to sleep late at night
Staring up through the skylight above my bed
At the bright moon and twinkling stars
I find myself braiding the two distant political agendas and convictions
I dream of working in Congress or at the House
Where I eagerly reach across the aisle
Offer a handshake, an elbow bump, a head nod
To my opponents
Offer an open ear
A willingness to understand the underlying motivations
This practice before I fall off to sleep
Has given me a thin slice of inner peace
Like a mini-meditation
That allows my mind to float
Explore the possibilities
Imagine the potential
Of two sides coming together
In truth
Though
I still remain a hypocrite
Linda S. Gunther is the author of six suspense novels: Ten Steps From The Hotel Inglaterra, Endangered Witness, Lost In The Wake, Finding Sandy Stonemeyer, Dream Beach and Death Is A Great Disguiser. Her essays and short stories have been featured in a variety of literary publications. www.lindasgunther.com
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