With the presidential election approaching, I am increasingly worried about the climate in my dorm during and after election night. I live in a small double room in Holden with a random roommate who outspokenly supports the opposite candidate than I do. How do I navigate interactions with my roommate in the coming weeks when I cannot reconcile with his belief system?
– Politically afflicted
Dear politically afflicted,
First, I ask you to consider what is at stake in keeping your beliefs to yourself. As this election approaches, we all have anxieties and fears about the outcome. It might be possible for you and your roommate to put your anger and judgment away to have a truthful conversation about the foundations of your opposing beliefs, and it may be possible for you to connect and make space for your differences in your room. But, I have found that with this election the ability to emotionally distance oneself to have a discussion is difficult.
While I can discuss politics, I am not willing to participate in a debate in which my opponent believes that all human lives do not have the same value. If this is the case for you as well, I would suggest that you instead have a conversation with your roommate about the boundaries you both follow while in your room.
Make a plan for election night and the period that follows to allow each other the space to experience your emotions without imposing them on one another. For example, maybe you agree to not discuss your reactions to the outcome of the election in your room. Feel free to involve your RA or another appropriate staff member in your discussion if you see your conversation turning ugly. Most of all, I implore you to be kind to your roommate despite your differences, but also to be honest when their comments about their political views cross a personal line. While it is important for Americans to continue to connect across party lines, it is never acceptable to support bigotry, genocide or the infringement of human rights.
