My sister and brother are liberals, though they do not resemble each other in the stripes of their liberalism. In the past, my sister and I have both shed tears at the seeming lack of understanding between the two ideologies.

That two people raised by the same parents can be so far apart is probably emblematic of how the nation can be so divided.

However, I think Coturnix is shallow in his (mis)understanding of America’s political landscape. I have said this in comments directly to him, so I do not feel as if I’m saying it behind his back here.

I retain a simple, perhaps foolish, faith that there are lots of liberals out there who aren’t like this; that the political side of the internet just brings out the worst people and the worst in people. Certainly, there are conservatives in comment sections as well who embarrass me with their vituperation and lack of grace. And professional writers do rather have to be pointed instead of measured in their statements, I suppose.

But the reality is I come from liberals and work in a liberal field, and there are very few who do not let jaw-dropping prejudice drop from their lips on occasion. Even the best of them make unguarded comments that they can’t possibly have turned around in their head to see what it would sound like being received instead of delivered. It is hard not to treat them as bright adolescents, frankly.

If someone knows of a series similar to mine from the other perspective, of a liberal trying to actually understand conservatives, I would very much like to read that and begin to interact with that person.