I think we all want the same thing
...well, besides wanting our own candidate to win, that is.
We want to come out feeling like the process was fair. We want all our voices to be heard. We want our party to have the best possible chance of succeeding in the general election.
It's probably also true that a lot of us are tempted to try to gain an advantage for our candidate as a result of the unusual nature of this primary, but I suspect that most of us wouldn't choose that, because for one thing, it isn't honorable, and for another, it would leave the impression of not having decided things fairly - and that would only perpetuate the ill will and divisiveness that we are experiencing, and possibly sabotage our chances of winning in the general election.
We have a LOT of common ground.
Where we differ is mostly in the strategies we have adopted. Right now, our conflicts are working against us. I still hold out (faint) hope that we might find a solution on which we can agree, but time is running very short, and we have to prepare to deal with the likelihood that we will not all be entirely happy with the decisions that are made.
So, consider how you will deal with your inevitable strong feelings if that comes to pass. Think about the needs you see that led you to support your candidate in the first place. What response will be most likely to move those issues forward? What response will be most likely to make our party stronger? What response will you look back on and know you acted with grace and dignity, and respect for your fellow human beings?
If you still believe in yesterday's politics, the politics of making war, the politics of winning by lobbing grenade after grenade to try and derail the train, fine. You might believe the casualties are worth it. You might even succeed temporarily. But if you do, I promise you the rest of us will pick up every piece that is left, by hand, our millions of hands together, and carry it forward, fueled by our outrage, and by our overwhelming need to address the issues that plague us, and we will get our country back on track.
So, next time you're disgusted, or infuriated, or saddened by what you see happening, remember that you have a choice. You can waste your energy and good will hurling the detritus around, or you can lift up your piece and help us move on to a better place.
Make a donation.
Make some phone calls.
Help organize.
Get out the vote.
Redirect conversations back to pressing issues.
Make a constructive comment.
Volunteer in your community.
Help someone in need.
Find common ground with someone you oppose.
Practice disagreeing without being disagreeable.
Educate yourself about all sides of an issue you're interested in.
Make love.
Make peace.
Make us all proud.