On exclusion of politics from conversation

Tangentially to previous post.

Often I hear that one has to keep his politics to himself when socializing with people. And that we have to care more of building bridges and finding things that unite us rather than judging everyone along political divides.

I am completely opposed to that and I’ll tell you why.

It will hurt you more at the end when you find out your jogging buddy is a statist. It will bring you more heartbreak when you learn a person you shared same hobby is someone who supports re-distribution of wealth. It will make you feel betrayed when your pal with whom you have common taste in jazz and, like, totally connect -voted for a current nuisance in the Oval Office, on principle. It will make your life at the office an everyday torture if your boss will sing praises for”heroic Palestinians freedom-fighting against blood-thirsty Israelis”.

And -forgive me evoking Godwin Law – would you become friends over your mutual love for dogs with Hitler or Canaris?

See, it is a question of priorities. My priorities in any relationship, however brief: trust; sharing of same basic principles of right and wrong, same system of moral values. Everything else is a luxury, an unimportant addition. Not that I can’t keep up a shallow, on-the-surface connection with a Dem/Lib/vulgar socialist: I can and I do. But if you’re one don’t expect me allow you to get even a step closer to me: my instinct of self-preservation will signal: stop. Yes, I know – this “attitude” narrows my field of acquaintance – so be it. I am a survivor.