They don’t like us

I was listening to a Congressman trying to make his point by yelling “ they don’t like us”  and
“They don’t like you”
It really struck a nerve with me for several reasons.
I feel this type of conversation by anybody in any arena is destructive and fans the flame of hate.
When I was a kid growing up both in the neighborhood and in school people always tried to get you on their side by talking trash about the other person and I was never comfortable with that, I want to make up my own mind. I always thought those people to be sheep , sometimes they may have their own bias but I do not want their bias to just become my bias.
When I started working full time I found the same type of tribalism and again if someone tried to get me to join their click by demeaning other people I ran in the other direction.
I do not like the word “ like” in these circumstances, I may not agree with a person because of the way they treat people or treat me or their work ethic or character , or lack of , and I may choose to not hang with that person because of that or put my total trust in them but to just say I do not “ like” them is wrong.
This particular Congressman was saying because I may not agree with him I must not like him and worse he said I do not like 63 million people that may have voted a certain way and even worse he said I do not like all people that live in a particular State or region of the United States, this is all so very wrong and tribal.
I am 62 years old and because of the full time job I held for over three decades I was blessed to know and work with people all throughout this great country and in every State and their were many that I may have vehemently disagreed with in many areas but I still always found common ground and in many cases made friendships for a lifetime.
Grouping any group of people , race, religion, political beliefs, where they may live or what they may believe is the definition of racism and prejudice- Do not be sheep! Think for yourselves and always try to find that common ground- we all want to live our lives and be loved and enjoy our families and friends and we all just visiting this wonderful world and here in the United States we all part of this great experiment of Democracy where people of all beliefs and race can coexist- it is what we make it!