Entrenched warfare (originally written Feb. 1, 2017)

It's getting impossible to talk politics anymore without somebody going ballistic. Even the best of friends are treading on thin ice with one another when the subject of Donald Trump or the Presidential election of 2016 comes up. We must admit the fact that have lost the war on civility and have now dug ourselves a long, deep trench from which we are lobbing verbal grenades at each other seemingly totally oblivious to the long-term effects this will have on our friendships.

This parting of the ways on things political was building for a long time, but it has escalated to the point of absolute ridiculousness. We cannot any longer discuss the important topics that affect our nation and ourselves without pulling on our partisan uniforms, wrapping ourselves in talking points and strapping on our six-guns. We have become so singularly focused on trouncing our conversation partners and beating them into submission that we have forgotten what it's like to be kind and considerate...or listening.

There have already been many victims in this vicious partisan war, but perhaps the first was that old word, and necessary ingredient in any meaningful discussion, comity. Webster's defines comity as "courtesy and considerate behavior towards others," and it is sorely missing like the chili from our enchiladas. No matter where we look, someone is taking sides and girding themselves for a rumble. It's the U.S. against Mexico, Hispanics against the Anglos, pro or anti abortion activists against each other, internationalists against nationalists, women against men, and the list goes on.

The 'Million Women's March' of January 21st gave us a preview of coming attractions in what will become the crusade against perceived but yet unproven abuses of the established social order. If you are pro life you are anti woman. If you want a secure border you are a racist. If you want our government to follow the laws of our land you are a fascist. If you want lower taxes and a relaxation of job-killing regulations you are a capitalist apologist. If you support traditional marriage you are anti-homosexuals. If you support 'all lives matter' you are against Black America.

What we have totally forgotten is that there is a lot of space between the ends of the social and political spectrum and a huge gray area between black and white. The conversations between friends have become sparring matches as we desperately try to gain the upper hand. It's gotten to the point where the next victims are ourselves and our long-standing relationships with people we have known, in some cases, all our lives. This has got to stop or we will lose the very thing that holds our society together, the free, open and civil discourse that enables us to move forward.

Acting true to form, Washington, D.C. is leading the way in our rush to the bottom of the leach fields with the intransigence of the political parties (one in particular) to find common ground on the President's cabinet nominations and now, as of this evening, with the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to be the next Supreme court Justice, the battle lines are drawn. The Democrats are already delaying the vote on the cabinet nominees and will oppose Judge Gorsuch who was, approved, unanimously, by the Senate for his current position back in 2006!  Hypocrisy rules.

It's one thing to be the 'loyal opposition' in any government, but it's quite another to oppose for opposition's sake, and in this, both parties are at fault, as Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Charles Schumer have proven. They are both denizens of the same swamp that President Trump vowed to drain and emblematic of the destructive political war that is soon to engulf us all unless we take a different tack. It's been said that, "elections have consequences," and a truer statement is hard to find, but within that truth resides a larger truth, and it is the necessity to work together for the betterment of our country as a whole.

Our new President lost the popular vote by over three million votes, but won a legitimate victory with the electoral vote. While that gives him a mandate to govern, it does not give him carte blanche to ignore the 53% that didn't vote for him. Making the same mistake as his predecessor is still a mistake.

Leading a democratic republic like ours that is so divided along party and ideological lines is like walking through a minefield, but it is a journey that must be undertaken...carefully. One big misstep will be deadly for our democracy and could lead to wholesale social upheaval. We must all do our part to help him sweep the field for the undetonated mines that could rip us all apart, for we are all on the same journey.

Stephan Helgesen is a retired U.S. diplomat, now author and political strategist. He has written over 600 articles and six books on politics, economics and social trends. He can be reached at stephan@stephanhelgesen.com