I was thinking about those “politics and religion-free” zones we create? They’re predicated on the notion that talking about politics or religion always leads to arguments, hurt feelings, and broken relationships. I have determined them to be of little value; in fact, I find them to be harmful. 

Conversations about politics and religion are necessary in a diverse community. They are topics to approach with curiosity and an open mind. Being able to discuss these issues makes building a healthy, diverse community based on understanding and respect possible. 

Engaging openly with each other about unfamiliar, uncomfortable or different ideas is a skill 

worth cultivating.  When we deny ourselves exposure to opposing views, we hold ourselves back from personal and collective growth. Politics and religion free zones offer fertile breeding grounds for misinformation and ignorance. 

Why avoid discussing our differences as enthusiastically as we discuss sports, art or any other subject?  Ignorance breeds suspicion, and politics and religion-free zones are filled with people who don’t really know each other. It is healthy to listen to the views of others and to feel comfortable enough to ask questions, to learn new things and gain a deeper understanding of the humans around us. 

If there were ever a time for sharing ideas and understanding each other, it’s now. When we start expressing our hopes, dreams, fears, and insecurities, we will discover that we have more in common with each other than we thought.