Everybody’s on edge. Very soon we will know whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris will be our president for the next four years. This is enormously consequential.
Over the past few weeks, as the zero hour has approached, the heat has gone up. Nerves and tempers are fraying. Each side feels as strongly as the other.
“How is it possible that anyone would even think of voting for [fill in a candidate’s name]?” is a question I often hear.
Forget about civility.
If you think Trump will destroy our country, why should you be civil with a Trump voter?
If you think Kamala is a disaster for Israel, why should you be civil with a Kamala voter?
One thing both sides seem to have in common is a high level of contempt for the other candidate. I know people who don’t want Trump but will vote for him because they hate Harris more; just as I know people who recognize Harris’ weaknesses but will vote for her because they despise Trump.
Many will vote for who they hate less.
Among many Jews, the most divisive issue seems to be Israel. One side argues that Israel’s enemies are more afraid of Trump than they are of Harris; and in a region where Israel is surrounded by genocidal threats, fear of Israel’s powerful ally is a strategic advantage.
Democrats respond with evidence that Harris’ commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad; and that, in any case, Trump is an unpredictable America-First isolationist who can’t be trusted.
Much of our division comes down to personal traits. Trump haters say he’s reckless, mendacious and dangerous; Harris haters say she’s weak and incompetent.
Given this level of polarization, is it even worth weighing in on the communal conversation?
What happens, for example, if Trump haters and Harris haters find themselves at the same Shabbat table? Is there any hope that we can manage our disagreements without a food fight?
One easy approach is simply to avoid the subject. I much prefer that option to seeing baba ghanoush fly across the table at an ideological foe.
Another easy approach — one that is highly popular — is simply to hang out with like-minded people. That one feels the best. You’re free to pile on against the candidate you can’t stand. You’re in a safe space.
Still, I worry.
If your candidate loses, where will you find a safe space? Regardless of who you’re with, every space will feel like an angry and disheartening one.
The feelings are so strong on both sides that we’re guaranteed some sort of trainwreck after Nov. 5, including a challenging of results. So, another question I often hear is, “What will the other side do if it loses?”
All of this to tell you that I get the current state of high anxiety. So many of us really care about this stuff; the presidential election is when our pent-up feelings explode in one intense moment with years of consequences.
The Journal has plenty of readers on both sides. What can we add to this intense moment to be most useful?
The Journal has plenty of readers on both sides. What can we add to this intense moment to be most useful? Among other things, we can add thoughtful analysis and commentary. We can help you better understand the dynamics behind all the emotions.
Among other things, we can add thoughtful analysis and commentary. Instead of predictable pitches for one side or the other, we can help you better understand the dynamics behind all the emotions.
We have two of the best political analysts in the business: Dan Schnur in the U.S. and Shmuel Rosner in Israel. They’re so dispassionate you can never tell which way they vote. Their goal is not to sell but to dissect the facts and lay out the implications.
They will have a very busy next few weeks and months. Indeed, we’re all in for a long and crazy ride. Very soon, half of our country will be in ecstasy while the other half will be in mourning.
But here’s the thing: Win or lose, our conversations will go on. That’s why we’re featuring on our cover this week a terrific sermon from Rabbi Michael Gotlieb on the art of conversation during times of division. And we’re including a report from Ryan Torok giving spiritual leaders a chance to weigh in.
None of this will make the losing side feel any better, but that shouldn’t be our role. At our best, we ought to enrich and elevate the communal conversation, even in (especially in) times of deep division.
If we can get closer to that goal, we all win.
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