Berkley Center

The lights go down, the curtains go up, and the music begins. It’s the 2012 presidential campaign, and––if you’re a Republican––it’s playing out just like Disney’s The Lion King. Obama, this story’s Scar, has turned America into a wasteland and wants to take money from the hard-working Americans to feed those lazy hyenas on the welfare system. Hopefully we’ll get our happily-ever-after ending and Romney will take back the Pride Lands.

Now let’s flip that story around, à la Monsters, Inc. The Republicans can’t let go of the old ways, even when those ways are failing. Fortunately, there are some scrappy, intelligent, and caring Democrats to discover a brighter future––a place where laughter is more powerful than screams. After some dramatic fight scenes and touching moments, these Democrats will turn America around and, once again, everyone will live happily-ever-after.

Think I’m being a little bit overdramatic? Take a quick peek at your Facebook feed.

I’m a Republican woman who has grown up in a very conservative, Christian community. I know people who have actually compared Obama to the anti-Christ. On the other hand, I worked in Des Moines, IA, last summer and met people who truly believed that all Republicans hate women and beat up homosexuals on a regular basis. Both views are equally ridiculous. The key word here? Equally.

If we ever want to overcome the beast that is extreme partisanship we have to accept that neither side of the aisle is perfect. The 2012 Presidential campaign is not a Hollywood movie about the ultimate battle between good and evil. Republicans are not superheroes; Democrats are not super-villains, and vice versa.

Instead, we should try and find the common ground. Democrats and Republicans both want a strong America. It’s okay to disagree about how to accomplish that goal, but it’s not okay to demonize those with different political views. Let’s leave the over-the-top dramatics for Hollywood.