In recent years I have noticed that people are no longer able to have a calm, rational debate. They are unable to listen to or consider a different point of view without becoming angry and even abusive.

For example, I have American friends from both sides of what I call, The Great Trump Divide. From the vitriol that is hurled about in cyber-space, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking that the USA is in the middle of a Civil War – thankfully one in which, so far, weapons haven’t been fired, but that could happen at any time.

My pro-Trump friends say that he is the elected president, and should be respected as such. They believe he’s doing great things for the country. They post memes showing angry, screaming faces with the claim that this is what all Democrats look like, as they hurl unjustified abuse at Trump-supporters. They say that Democrats are socialist, lefty libtards who are happy to see babies killed, and who are atheists, anti-Christian and pro-Islam, supporters of terrorists and intent on destroying the American way of life.

My anti-Trump friends say that he may be the elected president but he didn’t win the popular vote and there are serious questions about Russian interference in the elections. They say that he is a terrible president and they have a democratic right to protest his policies. They post memes of angry, screaming faces and say that this is what all Republicans look like, as they hurl unjustified, racist, homophobic, fascist and ignorant abuse at Democrats. They claim that all Trump-supporters are stupid, un-educated, homophobic, gun-loving white supremacists who are intent on destroying the American way of life.

BUT, I happen to know some Trump-supporters who are supportive of gay rights;  who are wary of guns; who aren’t racist and who are quite well-educated. I also know some anti-Trump people who are Christians; who have served in the armed forces, fighting ISIS and the Taliban; who haven’t gone to college and are blue-collar workers.

Generalisations are anathema! We have got to stop this, “All libtards are stupid” and “all Trumpsters don’t have a brain”, rubbish.  We’ve got to stop abusing and then de-friending people who have a different take on things. The first time this happened to me, it was done by someone I called “friend” in the real world as well as that of F/bk. We had shared many happy hours in each other’s homes, sharing meals etc.

I was deeply hurt when he turned on me. I expect he was also sad that I couldn’t see the wisdom of his political stance and refused to change my ways. I was under the illusion that in a democracy which champions free speech, it was perfectly normal to have a different belief system and still be friends. In fact, I still believe this. I think that, deep down, you probably think this as well. How about we all try to act like civilized, rational, polite people again? (If you’ve already thought, “Yeah, but they are all stupid, without a brain between them…” Then you haven’t quite got the message.)