The Great Divide
Finding Common Ground in Divisive Times
This is one interview in a 6-part series. The interviews were anonymous, and names changed to keep anonymity.
Why do you think our country is so divided right now?
Virginia: Because I don’t think the Republican party is really a Republican party anymore. MAGA took over. It wasn’t so divided when I was growing up. What Donald Trump has done to this country since 2016 is divided us. It’s sad.
- Tell us a little about yourself. Your job, your family, where you are from.
Virginia: I’m a stay-at-home mom, and I’m originally from South Florida.
- Would you describe yourself as liberal, conservative or independent? Why? Have you always seen yourself this way or have you changed over time?
Virginia: Liberal. I’ve actually become more liberal over time. The craziness on the other side has made me more liberal. I grew up with a Republican father and a Democratic mother, so I could have gone either way.
- What are the issues that you feel most strongly about?
Virginia: My biggest issue is abortion rights for women. I have 3 children. I’m concerned for them. People think of abortion as someone just “decides to have an abortion.” Someone I’m close to would have carried their baby for 40 weeks. And the baby would have lasted about 2 hours. It really killed her to have an abortion. It’s not something anyone wants to do.
Also, books in schools, it’s absurd that they want to remove books from schools. I truly believe that the Republicans want to raise uneducated kids who won’t ask the right questions.
By the time kids are in high school, they should already know what they want to do. Our government wants them to sign off on everything, i.e. my son is a part of an LGBTQ Club at school. I shouldn’t have to sign paperwork, allowing him to participate. But these days, you have to sign a form for everything.
As a mom, I feel like I’m losing my three kids due to the politics of this state. All of my three kids are leaving Florida. After I’m an empty nester, I will probably leave Florida too.
I put up a small Kamala Harris yard sign, and the neighbor across from me put up a giant “Guns, God and Trump” banner.
I was raised with guns growing up and I feel there should be stricter rules about them. After the Parkland incident, you could not get into the Wellington Schools. They were locked down, which was good. I was also horrified at the Uvalde school shooting. I know someone who lost their kid in Parkland. I definitely believe in background checks.
- What subjects would you say might be a place for common ground? In other words, places where your views might intersect with someone who you would otherwise be voting very differently from?
Virginia: I think fundamentally everyone wants what is best for their families. We want safe schools and educated children and the ability to grow old with dignity.
- How do you feel about the January 6th insurrection?
Virginia: Horrified. I can remember we were all locked down at the time. I can’t believe that it happened and the man that caused it to happen is still a candidate. He should be in jail. Trump treating them like celebrities is just disgusting. My son and I just looked at each other and were like “what in the world is going on?” It was awful. The fact that people do not remember or choose not to remember is even worse, in my opinion.
- Do you have friends who think differently politically from you? If so, do you have conversations about what’s going on politically? Or do you avoid them?
Virginia: We avoid these conversations. We have family who think differently.
- What do you think the solution is for bringing people together again?
Virginia: I’m hoping that in a world after Trump…(I hope that he loses) that we can find common ground. I think MAGA needs to go. In a perfect world, people can see that we really just want what’s best for our society.
I wish more people would get their kids involved in giving back to the community. I would love to see more families involved in volunteer work. Start them young. I’m proud of my three kids for the volunteer work they’ve done.
- When we don’t agree on things, what’s the key to maintaining civility?
Virginia: I think appreciating that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts.