For many, this past week has been a upsetting time; a time filled with anger, fear, and sadness. For another many, this week has been a time of excitement and joy. We live in a country filled with a variety of political beliefs and have been granted the beautiful gift of freedom, which allows us the freedom to believe what we, the people, want to believe.

Over the past few months, I have noticed a disheartening trend. I have seen a vast amount people tearing others based on their political views. If I had to guess, I would say 90% of the tearing down I have seen, occurs on social media. A person will post something they believe to be true to them and another person will insult that person and their beliefs in response. This is extremely unhealthy and creates a realm of negativity.The person posting, typically, is aiming their post for other like-minded people; not for the opposing view point.

According to SmallBizTrends.com, social media was created in 1997, on a platform called Six Degrees. I was 5 years old when that was created and do not remember a world before social media. With social media, it is so easy to say anything you want because there is a disconnection. It is easy to be inconsiderate when you are not directly looking at that person when you are saying hash words. There is a blue screen of separation that has given people the power to throw words at one another and not realize the actual power of them.

Next time you feel the nerve to lump all people in a category: "All you dumb liberals", "All those racist Republicans," Reconsider. When you post a status like that, you are making false claims about an individual because you do not know what every person in a given group thinks and believes in. A Republican can be pro-life and a Democrat can want restrictions on welfare. There are no rules on what you are supposed to believe in. Do not make others feel guilty bases on their beliefs.

You do not have to agree with someone you love. You may get irritated but that is okay. I am sick of the hatred. I am sick of feeling that my family is ashamed of me because my political views are different from them. I am a Democrat. I am liberal. I am an American and I will listen to you regardless of your political views, your gender, your race, your religion, and other indicator.