Something's Different?

But what?

I've been sitting here, trying to think of what's different about our politics?

Something, something elusive, it's right on the edge of my mind.

Oh, now I know, hatred! Two camps about as far as you can get apart,

It took me awhile to see, but any more division, you'll never find.

It's no longer about policy differences, no, this time it's personal,

the liberals hate the conservatives, the right hates the left.

No polite disagreements, no compassion, and no trying to understand,

this is total war, there can be no survivors--of politeness, we are bereft.

We use words as weapons to blast the other to Kingdom Come.

Ugly, nasty rhetoric, sharpened to a point, to eviscerate each other.

Not really listening, talking past each other--by our worse angels, we are led.

No 'walk a mile in someone else's shoes,' no 'I respect my brother.'

Nothing can or will be solved if we insist upon this line,

And, if I'm honest with myself, I'm no better. What's so obvious to me,

The other person disagrees, vehemently--no common ground to stand upon.

And, nothing will change, if the landscape is so different, each of us sees.