This election has been an extremely contentious one--and very emotionally charged for people on both sides. It is easy to become entrenched in our own position, putting energy into confirming our beliefs while lumping everyone on the other side into boiled down, simplistic categories. There are lots of reasons we do this and it makes us feel safe from the "other" and secure in our own identities. But there are dangers to this approach and walling others off (either literally or metaphorically) actually makes us more afraid. Shutting others out and labeling entire groups of people isolates us and does not facilitate change. It also suggests that we end up targeting people, instead of larger social problems. We must work for inclusion, engaging those who are different than us, and a willingness to let our own guards down. It is dangerous when we become unable to see ourselves in each other.

For more on this topic: http://ideas.ted.com/why-its-so-tempting-to-build-walls-and-shut-people-out-and-what-to-do-instead/

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