In a time of political unrest and unruly mudslinging, I think it’s time we return to the timeless lessons taught by our girl J.K. Rowling.

Although the billion-dollar industry she created became popular for its intriguing stories and her idolized writing style, what the world often overlooks are the lessons we learned from Harry Potter; the reasons we keep going back to reread those wrinkled pages and mothers continue to read the books to their growing children every night. The Harry Potter series delved deep into the topics of good versus evil, love, and the right of every individual to have their own beliefs.

As of now, our nation is in a state of disagreement and partial turmoil as the next presidential election quickly approaches. As candidates and their supporters take hits from rivals on personal matters (and throw it back out), their family, friends, and the people they are aiming to lead are getting hit in the crossfire.

So before you go post another status calling out a possible president or before you get in a fight with a close friend over who they’re supporting, it’s time we turn back the pages and reevaluate how we conduct ourselves during this election season.

1. The Idea of Good versus Evil

As Harry got older and faced Voldemort more regularly, Dumbledore took him under his wing to teach him what he needed to know about Voldemort and his past, as well as all those who were there to support him along the way. After Harry began to get older and more hormonal (let’s be honest, Order of the Phoenix dragged on with all of his pubescent whining), Harry told Dumbledore his worries that he too was evil like Voldemort, and that maybe he wouldn’t be the best to fight him. Dumbledore then explained to him how there is both good and bad in each of us, and that being purely evil or purely good isn’t very likely. The same goes for the election now. Neither candidate is purely evil or purely good. To believe so is a hit to that person’s individual character which we, as an audience to media portrayal, know little about. Voldemort was a damaged little boy who had been neglected and abused and he had no one to help guide him. Few knew of his true background or what led him to the life he lived. Snape was a Death Eater because that’s what young men his age coming out of Slytherin did. He realized the error in his ways and helped Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. Peter Pettigrew was a rat of a human (literally) who betrayed his best friends for the Dark Lord because he was a coward. A person’s actions and beliefs may differ from yours, but that does not mean that they themselves are either purely good or purely evil. We are all humans who need to treat others, even if they have no idea what’s being said, with respect.

2. We Must Fight For Something, Not Against Someone

Again, dipping into the Order of the Phoenix, we see that the students of Dumbledore’s Army are coming together to learn more about defending themselves against the Dark Arts. Ultimately, they come together to prepare to fight against Voldemort. In the last scene of the movie, after everyone realizes that Voldemort has actually risen, Harry is walking with his friends to the train and says that they all have something that Voldemort doesn’t: “Something worth fighting for.” In this election, rather than fighting against a specific candidate through posts on Facebook or anger-driven debates with acquaintances, friends, or family, instead focus on what you’d like to fight for. Think of a cause that you value and focus on supporting it, fighting for it, discussing it civilly. Supporting a specific cause rather than bashing a specific person will have a longer lasting effect. It will focus on the good you hope for, rather than dismay you feel towards a candidate who will not be relevant forever. Pick your cause and fight for it.

3. Everyone Is Entitled to their Own Opinion and Rights

Throughout the series, conflict arises regularly as characters disagree. Hermione thinks Ron and Harry should stop disobeying rules and study more; Neville feels he should be courageous and stand up for himself; every Death Eater ever thinks that Voldemort is the hottest thing since butterbeer; Harry thinks no one is standing by him and he always has to face Voldemort alone. While this list is very basic, all of it is relevant opinions that caused conflict throughout the series. And while characters were pitted against each other on different sides of the great Battle of Hogwarts, they were entitled to believe what they wanted. Not every person will have the same beliefs and values as you. That is a fact of life. We are all humans who live in the United States of America, and we all have the freedom to choose what to believe and how to believe it. So next time someone doesn’t have the same political opinion as you or they don’t worship the same god or love the same person, you should probably agree to disagree, accept it, and move on. Because no matter how much you try to persuade argue with them or belittle and demean them, chances are they will still believe the same thing and be mad at you on top of it. Respecting how other people feel is crucial in this election. We should celebrate the fact that we all think differently and that the country we live in allows us to carry out our beliefs. Next time you get into a political discussion, go in with an open mind. Even if you completely disagree, you may learn something new.

4. Love Conquers All

This is the greatest lesson you could learn from not just Harry Potter, but anywhere. We as humans are gifted with the ability to love. Love is what supported Harry through every battle, cheered him up during every bad day, and kept him alive both times Voldemort tried to kill him. So despite all the words that will be spewed this election and the feelings that will be hurt and the anger that will be experienced, we must remember to love each other through it all. And I don’t mean we have to love each person as we do our parents or closest friends. I’m saying we need to show each other respect and courtesy. After all, we are all Americans, and no matter who gets elected, we are all in this together.