Red or blue? Conservative or Liberal? Republican or Democrat?

America is plagued by polarization, as political tension permeates many conversations, interactions and relationships. According to a study done by Pew Research Center, 79% of Americans would describe the political system with negative words, the most common one being divisive. But one’s political affiliations do not define them as a human; society needs to stop identifying people as only Republicans or Democrats to heal this partisan divide.

This type of polarization is nothing new, but continues to worsen as the divide between parties grows. When the country is being pulled apart by opposing groups, no progress can be made. America stays stuck in an endless cycle of debates and fights, never addressing true issues.

People stay stuck in their own echo chambers. Children grow up to resent anybody who thinks differently than them. And the marketplace of ideas is closed, as nobody is open to counterperspective.

While I will not reveal my own political beliefs, I can confidently say that they are not extreme towards any one side. This is because of my upbringing–my father was raised in a small conservative town, my mother grew up in a liberal city, and I frequently visit my great-aunt who lives in a town called Wingo, Kentucky. I’m sure you can decide what politicians are supported down there.

But being exposed to this political spectrum has made me more understanding of everybody, despite who or what they align themselves with. As a child, my parents never shared their opinions on politics with me because they wanted to give me the opportunity to develop my own views. This gifted me the freedom of empathy, as I had no internal biases against particular groups and could thus get to know everybody equally.

The empathy that my parents instilled in me prevents me from judging others based on their political affiliations; rather, I look at their true character to determine who they are as a person.

I have relatives on both sides of the political spectrum who I disagree with for their unyielding views, but that does not cause me to love them any less.

My great-aunt is the most generous, strong person I know. She taught me how to ride a horse, effectively shop in boutiques and make the best sweet tea. Even though I am not completely aligned with her political beliefs, my undying love for her will remain constant and I would not change a thing about her.

If I shunned people based on their affiliations, I would be depriving myself of the greatest experiences and relationships of my life. We can’t begin to create a better America until we stop polarizing ourselves based on red or blue, Republican or Democrat.

Only when we end polarization and come together can we begin to realize the American dream–everybody should be accepted and have a place to share their ideas. With this ideology, the possibilities for our country are endless. Because when two sides come together and make a whole, improvement for the world is inevitable.