My best friend is a conversative Republican. I love talking with him and his wife because the two of them engage with me and listen rather than mindlessly agree with me. I am a Democrat but I fairly centrist one and I find that I have more in common with him and his wife then so many leftists on this site. My father is a Democrat but he thinks the left is a problem and thinks the Republicans need to exist. My mother's parents were basically Marxists but she's never been in lockstep with the left.

So much of this site is filled with echo chambers where to merely argue that you want to treat Republicans or conservaitves like human beings has gotten me called a MAGA extremist, pointing out the flaws in the Democratc Party strategy in the historical record has gotten me called anti-democratic and to argue that if a comedian says something offensive you don't have to watch him has gotten be called a transphobe. I get out of my echo chamber as much as I can and I support those who do. I'd praise you for saying this but I have a feeling I'd be missing the point of this article if I did. I feel your pain by the way and I hope you are braver than I am. And when the inevitable bigots start posting on this article, you won't mute them. It's tempting believe me and sometimes its easier than trying to debate them but don't give up the fight.