With so many things happening in the world today, we've decided to put a pause on the mortgage talk for a second and give our focus to issues that have been weighing heavy on our hearts and minds. Here at Wilkes Mortgage Group, we want to do our part by sending a message of hope, assurance, and unity to our readers.

Between living through a lingering pandemic, enduring the pain of Ukrainians and Russians on the brink of war, rising gas prices, and an increasingly more difficult economy, it can be really easy to pick a side during troubling times like this. It's become customary to blame the government, the parliaments, the democratic institutions, the parties for everything that's done and deemed unjust, unfair, or just plain wrong in the eyes of individuals. This is where the division begins as people start to feel feelings from disagreement to anger, to fury, and often to hatred.

As human beings, it's natural to want to find a root cause to our problems, this is where the need to place blame comes from. When we start to blame and point fingers, that's when we, as a society, continue to create a divide. Today instead of trying to pick a side, let's try to meet in the middle and unify.

Stop With The Left vs Right.

Over the past few years, the left/right division in the United States only continues to grow, creating more conflict between the American people. The devasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic should've brought us closer together as a nation, but instead, it only created further division between the left and right. Instead of placing so much emphasis on whether liberals or conservatives are right or wrong, to blame or not to blame, let's try to meet in the middle as human beings who care about other human beings.

During times of crisis, politicians will always try to put in their two cents why their approach is the right approach. But what really matters, what really makes an impact during difficult times, is the actions and reactions of civilians and how they come together to help one another. Think about it, during the heat of the pandemic, we all, both liberals and conservatives, came together to show our appreciation for our healthcare heroes. We knew they were in the line of fire. Thousands of Americans came together in acts of kindness to show our appreciation for healthcare workers.

This is why it's so important to forget about who is to blame right now and instead try to meet your friends, family, coworkers, etc., in the middle. How we can make this happen? First, if liberals and conservatives alike step outside their own opinions to try to understand why the other side believes as it does, some sort of mutual understanding can be accomplished. Once a mutual understanding is accomplished, differing opinions can be set to the side and we can start working together on the things we do agree on. 

Think About What Democracy Really Means.

One thing that we as Americans tend to take for granted is the fact that we live in a great democracy. For many countries around the world, democracy is a far-fetched dream. Think of the international conflicts we've witnessed over the past year: political strife and turmoil in Cuba, lack of human rights in China, the start of war nearly overnight between Ukraine and Russia, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. One of the things that make the United States so great is that Americans come from all over the world with one common goal: to live in a free democracy.

With that in mind, think about what democracy means to you and how you as an American citizen can use your privilege to make a difference. Democracy means freedom to speak, think, and act in the way you believe is right. Democracy means government by the people. The textbook definition says democracy is a "government in which the highest power is held by the people and is usually used through representatives."

Democracy comes with responsibility. Responsibility for taking care of democracy and freedom. Responsibility to first fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Citizens must earn their rights and must defend democracy and freedom. Find a way to fight and defend your democracy together with your friends and family. 

We Need To Start At Home.

It always starts at home. The pandemic has changed the ways families spend time together, and this new reality has created a unique set of challenges. Regardless of political opinions, we need to protect our families from division. At the end of the day, most of what your family values have nothing to do with political affiliation. Communication, trust, empathy, support, and safety are all common values you may have and that is the first place we need to start creating unity.

Of all the subjects that families discuss, politics can be among the most polarizing. This topic can turn the most peaceful dinnertime conversation into a heated argument within moments. To put the politics aside, here are four ways to create more unity right at home:

1. Build a circle of trust. Start by discussing how you will communicate as a family. For example, you may set down rules to listen deeply, respect confidentiality, and be honest. This creates an environment free of judgment. Those values help build a circle of trust that can give children the space to share openly and freely with their parents. This allows for everyone to speak with an open mind.  
2. Check-in with everyone regularly. Just because someone isn't speaking up when something is wrong, doesn't always mean they are okay. Be sure to check in with all your family members often and let them know you offer a safe space to speak openly. 
3. Share your stories. It's important to share stories when offering advice or simply just stating how you feel because it allows for a visual understanding of where your reasoning, feelings, and opinions come from. This allows everyone to take a walk in each other's shoes. Understanding where someone is coming from creates mutual respect and allows you to work together regardless of your differing opinions. You don't always have to agree on everything, that's impossible, but you should always try to listen and understand. 
4. Lead with vulnerability. By being vulnerable, you allow your family members to be vulnerable with you.

To conclude, remember that it’s a wonderful thing to have political beliefs. It means you care about the world and that you are not apathetic about important issues. However, our political beliefs do not need to cause a divide with those that we care about. The presence of contradicting political beliefs shouldn't be a reason relationships are compromised or why we can't come together as a country during times of crisis. 

To come together and use our differing opinions for good, we need to translate our political standards into personal action. You’re more likely to influence others by living out your beliefs than by “winning” a political argument. At Wilkes Mortgage Group, we treat our customers, employees, and community like family regardless of political affiliation or opinions because we want to work for unity and a better world for the future.