When I was growing up, my parents firmly taught me to not judge someone until I've walked a mile in their shoes, love thy neighbor, all that good stuff. Having said that, I've reached a point in my life where I am fiercely judging people just based on the fact that they support Donald Trump.

I was in the grocery store last weekend and walked past a gentleman wearing a Trump beanie, and I instantly felt hatred filling up my heart. I stared at him for 10-15 seconds, loathing him more with each passing second. All of these emotions, all because he's wearing a Donald Trump hat? I've always considered myself to be an open-minded, relatively level-headed person. These are not sentiments I should be feeling just based on someone's political affiliations... But then, about 15 minutes later--and I absolutely swear this is true--an extremely decrepit-looking old woman on oxygen, wearing a sweatshirt that only said TRUMP in bold letters, started screaming "THIS N****R IS TRYING TO ROB ME!" in the middle of the store, as a young black man was browsing for hot dog buns in her proximity. She was quickly bum rushed by store staff and escorted out. I considered heaving my La Croix box at her.

I live in a small town in the mountains, our county is about as cookie-cutter as it gets. Occurrences like these used to be non-existent, now I hear about them happening more and more. We're living in the most advanced society in the history of the world, yet prejudice and ignorance is only growing and expanding.

I know feeling this way is wrong, hating someone just because they think differently than I do--that's pure ignorance, right? But, we think so oppositely on issues that will affect not only our country, but the future of our planet--how do I not hate this person?

I believe that their beliefs will destroy our education system, our economy, and our environment. How can I not have some disdain for these people?

I know the wise answer is that we need to try to make peace with our enemies, find a common ground, and move forward--but that is something that is FAR easier said that done. What do we do? How do we come together and figure out what the fuck is actually right and wrong?

Apologies for this being long-winded, just had some things on my mind and figured this would be the best place to voice them.