In every town, village, and city across our nation, there is a fabric woven through the lives of its citizens, a tapestry that tells a story of community. Here on our little peninsula and surrounding islands, we’ve prided ourselves on the strength of those ties, each thread representing a shared sense of purpose, commitment to one another, and unwavering love for Door County. But as the election draws near, I cannot help but notice that this once vibrant tapestry is fraying at the edges, pulled apart by the sharp claws of political demonization.
Door County is a healthy community, a place where neighbors help neighbors and people come together to solve problems rather than letting them fester. Unfortunately, during this election, it has begun to feel as though something is shifting. The signs are subtle. There’s the hesitant greeting where once there was a warm hello. A condescending glance at the grocery store. A conversation that turns silent when politics is mentioned. I worry that these are the warning signs of a deeper fracture, one that is fed by the growing trend of political demonization.
The political landscape in America has always been a spirited one, full of passionate debate and lively discourse. Ours is, after all, a nation founded on the principle that the competition of ideas is essential to democracy. But somewhere along the way, something has changed. Political disagreement, once a healthy and necessary part of our democratic process, has transformed into something far more toxic. It’s no longer enough to simply disagree with someone’s political views. Increasingly, we must demonize them. We characterize those who differ from us not just as wrong, but evil.
The problem with political demonization is that it creates a false sense of division. It convinces us that those who differ are not just opponents but our enemies. The dangers are not theoretical. When political demonization takes hold, it erodes trust in our institutions, making it harder to address issues like affordable housing and childcare. It creates an atmosphere of hostility, where disagreements escalate into conflicts that tear at the social fabric. That leads to a downward spiral of hopelessness as people begin to conclude that compromise and common ground are not only impossible, they’re unwanted.
As November approaches, the rhetoric will only become more heated. While it’s true that elections are important, it’s also true that no single election should be allowed to tear apart the fabric of our community. Long after the ballots are cast and the results are in, we’ll all still be here, living next door to the same people. The question is, what kind of community will we have then?
We need to preserve our Door County where, despite our political differences, we come together to solve our shared problems. A community where the bonds of friendship and respect are stronger than the forces that seek to pull us apart. This is not a utopian vision but a very real possibility – if we are willing to work for it.
It requires each of us to make a conscious effort to resist the pull of political demonization. It means choosing to see our neighbors not as representatives of partisan ideologies, but as human beings with whom we have far more in common than not.
I’m not arguing that we should avoid political discussions or pretend that differences don’t exist. On the contrary, it’s important we engage in these conversations, but we must do so from a place of humility and respect. We must be willing to listen as much as we speak. To seek understanding rather than just victory.
The spirit of community in Door County is strong, but it is not invincible. If we allow political division to take root, if we let the poison of demonization seep into our daily interactions, we risk losing the very thing that makes Door County special – our incredible spirit of community. As we head into the final weeks of this election season, let’s remember that far more important than our choice at the ballot box is how we choose to treat one another.
I firmly believe that history will not characterize this period in American life by who wins an election, but whether we allowed our political differences to permanently divide us from one another. In Door County, let’s set an example by being a community that rises above the divisiveness, one that holds onto the ties that bind us and forever remains a place where all are welcome.
This column originally appeared in the Peninsula Pulse on September 12, 2024.
Bicoy Philanthropic Advisors 