By Dempsey Clancy-Symond
Staff Writer
The Presidential election resulted in some of the country feeling stress and frustration. For many, the impact went beyond political preferences, affecting personal connections in deeply significant ways. Some considered leaving the country, terminating relationships, and even distancing themselves from friends with opposing views.
Discussing politics in a relationship can feel tough. There might be an assumption of shared views that are later discovered to be greatly different. When those differences come to light, it can create a sense of distance and uncertainty in a relationship.
This tension often causes students to question their personal relationships, wondering how to maintain a strong bond with a partner who sees the world so differently. The divide can make even long-lasting connections feel almost nonexistent. Freshman Emery Owen reflects on this struggle by stating, “My parents have very contrasting views on the elections and the outcome, so much that my mom considers moving to another country because of who was elected.”
However, not all relationships fail under political pressure. For many, the disagreements are minor and do not significantly affect conversations and shared goals. In these cases, relationships continue to thrive.
Families with opposing political beliefs often pass those perspectives to their children, which can influence how they see politics, too. While some friendships dissolve over those differences, most remain unaffected, showing that politics aren’t a major part in the way they talk and act.
Politics is deeply personal for some people. It’s tied to their values, identities, and vision of the future. So when someone close to them disagrees, it may feel like a key element of their identity is rejected. The truth is, not every disagreement needs to be a battle. Respect goes a long way.
Mutual understanding and aligned values can create a sense of unity and trust, with politics acting as a source of purpose and conversation. When that doesn’t exist, accepting that someone has a different political opinion gives individuals the opportunity to strengthen relationships. If those involved work together to accept each other’s views, they can strengthen their relationship.
Healthy and loving relationships should not be determined by the outcome of an election. Politics is always important, but it’s not everything. Allowing it to overshadow friendships or relationships risks losing deeper bonds and shared memories.
Relationships are about compromise and understanding each other’s differences; they should not be based on perfection. If one’s personal opinion holds more value than their relationship with a partner, perhaps it highlights the end of the connection with that person. Unfortunately as of lately, politics seems to be putting many relationships to the test, revealing people’s true colors.
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