As many of us have seen, recent years have seen things get so polarized that one has to wonder if it's even possible for people of different ideologies to be friendly on any terms. But a few days ago, something happened that gives me reason to hope that maybe, just maybe, this is merely a passing trend.
On a close friend's advice, I signed up for an online Christian dating site. I was texting with one of the gals I met there on Friday night, and she suddenly asked me what I thought of Obama. I wasn't expecting this, but I told her honestly I was 100 percent for the president in November. She replied, "Not me--I'm not a baby killer." Then she said that if Obama won in November, it would usher in the New World Order. Needless to say, I was totally deflated. I didn't expect to find someone who was a radical lefty Jesus-lover like me, but a tea partier?
Well, yesterday, we were texting back and forth and she told me that she thought I was an amazing and handsome guy, and just because we disagree about our government doesn't mean we have to disagree on everything. Now that surprised me. I didn't think she'd still even be considering me as a possible boyfriend after what happened on Friday, but the fact she said that is reason for hope. Further evidence--this gal is 27 years old, younger than me.
I sometimes think back to my days at Myers Park High in Charlotte. I wore my Democratic ties on my sleeve, and yet several of my closest friends were as conservative as they come. In my senior year, I was one of the bigshots of the school and helped found a chapter of Young Democrats there--and yet, a good number of the underclassmen in Young Republicans looked up to me. The last few years have had me longing more and more for those days. Yesterday gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, those days might be coming back sooner than even I thought.