Time to love beyond politics
One of the first things I learned when I started dating my husband was the ban his mom had set in place for their household. Keith is the oldest of his brothers and sister and was the first to bring home a serious date.
I quickly learned, that though both his mom and dad were persons of faith, they were from different political parties. This wasn’t such a huge issue in those days. However, they saw that it could become one.
With that in mind, Mom declared that though the family could discuss any other issues, discussion of politics and faith were off the table. As Keith’s siblings married and we had kids, grandkids, even great grandchildren in the family, political leanings might be mentioned in passing, but those discussions were quickly sidelined when we realized we’d moved into forbidden territory.
We had a fair idea from what was mentioned where each stood politically and there were discussions away from Mom and Dad. I remember one year, in Omaha—not Mom and dad’s farm, when I and two other sisters-in-law from different perspectives agreed we liked and that we’d vote for a certain possible female candidate. We were disappointed when she decided not to run.
With the loss of Keith’s mom, and then during the Covid situation, his dad and next oldest brother—though not to Covid, we held onto each other more closely. We kept in touch and weren’t afraid of hugging. Politics was the last thing on our minds. Keith’s family has been one to lift up, not tear down.
Then Trump syndrome set in with too many in the media and others going into full attack mode with little regard for reality or truth. Mark Zuckerberg says now, they were all but told to censor information and news in one direction. Politics became more than a position, it became a national life or death issue. Made so by those who valued control above the good of the nation. Politics got decidedly nasty. Even then the family held together, even those politically diverse.
Other families did the same, until the 2024 election. Nationally, lies were prevalent, emotions ran high and those that desired a different outcome became so fearful and angry that some could not deal with family that didn’t vote as they would have liked. There was vitriol and relationships severed.
In some cases, a few family members refused to see beyond a vote for someone they despised. Gone the idea of loving beyond a political position. It is a heartbreaking situation. While there are real fears and hurts, cutting off contact also becomes manipulation of those who see a situation differently. Yet too often the one feeling offended refuses to listen or try to understand why the difference in perspective. This goes for even serious issues that truly matter.
The election is over. Isn’t it time to mend fences and work together, loving and caring about one another, as Keith’s family seeks to do, beyond political affiliation and issues? Maybe more families would be better off to ban politics from the family dinner table and, once more, love beyond politics.
© 2025 Carolyn R Scheidies
Column published Kearney Hub 1/30/2025
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