Written By: Edward Vince Castillo
Editorial Cartoon By: Rose Venneth Hontiveros
Is it too much to “unfriend” someone over a political disagreement? “Kakampink kami!”, “Solid North kami, kay BBM kami!” These are the statements we hear in this upcoming election in which people support their respective presidential bet.
Some people are so fed up with the social media debate that they are "unfriending" or "blocking" people on Facebook and Twitter. People have severed ties with relatives, acquaintances, and coworkers in a variety of ways. With the official campaign period that began a few days ago, election fever has reached fever pitch in our country. Political debates, interviews, and large rallies featuring both national and local candidates are already taking place around the country and across all media platforms. Candidates are making promises, pledges, and plans all over again. Entertainment, mailings, and endorsements are all in full swing. Not to mention the filthy mudslinging they engage in with one another. It makes no difference if they are from the same family or circle of friends but are from opposing political parties. It's sad and terrible, but I don't feel entirely sorry for them because they are fully aware of the implications of their choices and still choose to make them. It is their choice to prioritize their political ambitions and interests before family and friendship.
You are not alone if you are battling with, or disappointed and angry with, a family member or a friend about who they are supporting in this election. Simply look through your social media accounts to observe how this acrimonious political gap is generating social polarization and harming families and friends. On social media, family members abuse and block each other. Friendships that have spanned decades have been impacted and fractured as a result of the stress. They begin "unfriending" or "unfollowing" one other on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. They don't attend family gatherings or "barkada" nights when people of opposing political ideas are present. I even know of a family that has stopped eating together because dinner has turned into a political dispute. Worse, what was supposed to be a political debate has devolved into a personal one, resulting in increasingly destructive interactions between parties and a growing sense of estrangement. As a result, "social separation" has taken on a new meaning. Regrettably, the irony occurs after the election. The opposing victorious candidates have patched up their differences, resolved their differences, coordinated their positions, and even joined forces. There are no permanent enemies or friends in politics, only permanent interests, as the saying goes. This makes it easier for them to go on and forget about what transpired during the campaign. "Walang personalan, pulitika lang (Nothing personal, only politics)."
In the meantime, the ordinary people who backed them have stayed enemies with their family and friends. Because family and friend arguments, disagreements, and antagonism are more personal, they are deeper rooted and long-lasting. Reconciliation may not even be an option in other circumstances. Because "Personalan ito, hindi lang pulitika" for these folks. (It's a personal issue, not just a political one.) That is the huge distinction between us (you and me) and our elected officials.
Is this, however, actually the case? Is it not possible to communicate our political beliefs without injuring, ghosting, or eliminating those who do not share our views from our lives? Is it feasible to campaign for our own causes while remaining respectful to people of other political stripes?
We all hold different beliefs, and all we have to do is respect them. No matter how strongly we feel about our own candidates and how much we want people to view them through our eyes, we must recognize and appreciate that others have valid reasons for selecting their own choices. Your decision is influenced by your own set of values, experiences, and beliefs. And they might be correct. However, this does not inherently imply that others' values, experiences, or views are incorrect. It's just that they're not the same. Even members of the same family can have different tastes. Of course, we hope to persuade others to see our candidates in the same light as we do, and to eventually support them. Highlight the positive aspects of your candidates rather than the negative aspects of the opposition. Instead of resorting to nasty and typical campaign techniques such as slamming opponents, it's more suitable to focus on your candidates' good deeds and successes. Is it because there isn't much good to say about our candidates that we turn to smearing their opponents?
Learn how to make good use of social media. Because social media has so many positives, including linking us with our relatives, friends, and coworkers, it has also become a platform for criticism, especially during this pandemic. Fake news is widely disseminated on social media. And, because social media is so easy to access and utilize, it's all too easy to post, react, and make unpleasant comments on the spur of the moment. Raw and unedited comments/feedback are frequently made. Disagreements and confrontations are frequently sparked by a political post or a comment on a post. Emotions are running high, nasty words are being spoken, and relationships are crumbling. So, what do we do now? Before you make a post or leave a remark, follow the 24-hour rule. After you've calmed down, you'll be surprised to see that it's not worth commenting or posting. The adage "don't make any decisions when you're angry" applies here. Only this time, don't post anything when you're feeling very elated. If you must make a comment or provide feedback, it is preferable to speak with or message the person personally and confidentially. When only the people involved are involved, there will be more understanding and clarity. When hundreds of people are engaged, a simple remark is usually exaggerated. Let us remember that anything we post on the internet cannot be taken back.
We live in the world that values and respects democracy. We'll find ourselves trying to agree and strongly disagree, supporting and contradicting one another, and getting up for and against one another on a regular basis. We may even accidentally damage others' feelings. That is how democracy functions. But that doesn't mean we have to treat one other with contempt, rudeness, or malignity in order to support the candidates we favor. Because, at the end of the day, families and friends should and will always take precedence over politics.
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