Bruce Frassinelli bfrassinelli@ptd.net
A ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have a civil conversation with someone who does not share our political beliefs, yet each of us listens attentively and respectfully to the other’s point of view? If we did that, we might learn something.’
BRUCE FRASSINELLI is the former publisher of The Palladium-Times. He served as a governor of the Rotary Club District 7150 (Central NY) from July 2001 to June 2002.
Politics Tears at Fabric of Relationships
disagreements with friend of mine from family or friends over Fulton was lamentpolitical issues have ing the fact that she and her uncle barely talk to each other hurt their relationships. I can relate to this first-hand. One of my anymore after several clashes over opposing political views that turned into ugly closest boyhood friends and I reconnected about a decade ago. We would go to lunch shouting matches. She labels him as an “election denier’’ periodically, chat by phone frequently and and “conspiracy theorist,’’ saying that he stay in touch almost daily through text and “totally is all in’’ on the notion that the 2020 email messages. Then came the 2016 Presidential Presidential election was “stolen’’ from former President Donald Trump. She also election, which was won by Trump. Our ticked off a number of annoyances with conversations began to devolve into shoutthe number of “crazy, off the wall’’ theories ing matches in public places as he tried to he believes in and which she dismisses as persuade me to accept some clearly false and unverifiable information to “prove’’ “pure insanity.’’ He, on the other hand, accused her of that Trump was the greatest thing to come being a socialist, who, along with her “woke’’ down the pike since sliced bread. When friends, is leading our nation down the path I did not buy into his theses, he became enraged. of ruin and destruction. After several of these unpleasant Before the Trump era, she said, they could discuss some of their political differ- encounters, I suggested to him that we ences rationally and calmly, but no more. eliminate politics from our discussion Aside from politics, she said, “we had a great menu when we get together. He agreed, relationship.’’ Now, however, she said, their but our relationship has never been the political differences have overshadowed same. When I texted him in May about their entire relationship to the point where having lunch, he said he would check his they don’t even want to be in each other’s schedule and get back to me. It’s nearly three months later, and I have not heard company. Isn’t this sad? Have our political dif- or seen a word from him. The recent poll reports that Democrats ferences transcended the importance of family and friendships? Apparently it has and Independents were more likely to indicate deteriorated relationships at 21% in some cases. The results of a recent Siena Col- and 20%, respectively, compared to 14% of lege-New York Times poll showed that Republicans. The poll also concluded that political 19% of registered voters said that recent disagreements hurt relationships for women and white registered voters with a college degree more than with other groups. After all of this is said, though, the poll found that a solid majority across all demographics said their relationships had not been affected. With the Presidential primaries less than a year away and with the violent political rhetoric ramping up in a divisive climate, battleground candidates regularly paint their opponents as “extremists.’’ Threats against lawmakers and their families and against voting officials have intensified as the election draws closer.
My Turn
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2023 OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
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