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no"><picture><source srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/format:webp/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/format:webp/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/format:webp/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/format:webp/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/format:webp/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/format:webp/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" type="image/webp"/><source data-testid="og" srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/0*U95EqG1U-PrM8sK3 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px"/><img alt="A silhouette of a group of friends watching the sun rise." class="bh mt nz c" width="700" height="467" loading="eager"/></picture></div></div><figcaption class="oa ff ob nm nn oc od bf b bg z du">Photo by <a class="af oe" href="https://unsplash.com/@iamchang?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Chang Duong</a> on <a class="af oe" href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="a01b" class="pw-post-body-paragraph of og hd oh b hx oi oj ok ia ol om on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa gw bk">It was hours before the results of the recent presidential election were out.</p><p id="e9e1" class="pw-post-body-paragraph of og hd oh b hx oi oj ok ia ol om on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa gw bk"><strong class="oh he">Someone that I have known for years had picked me up from work.</strong></p><p id="678f" class="pw-post-body-paragraph of og hd oh b hx oi oj ok ia ol om on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa gw bk">During the drive, we discussed the usual stuff, the upcoming holidays, family, writing, etc. I’m not sure how we ended up talking about politics. It wasn’t a heavy conversation, as I try not to go down that rabbit hole when I don’t know what another’s thought process might be. (I was burned that way once, never again!)</p><p id="a477" class="pw-post-body-paragraph of og hd oh b hx oi oj ok ia ol om on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa gw bk">My friend casually mentioned that he was unsure about sharing his voting preference with me as he did not want me to look at him differently. <em class="pb">Note: I did not ask.</em> But as soon as he said it, I knew. And I must say, I was disappointed. He defended himself by stating that after researching and following the candidates, he believed the person he voted for had policies he agreed with. And that was his approach in previous elections.</p><p id="4921" class="pw-post-body-paragraph of og hd oh b hx oi oj ok ia ol om on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa gw bk">In turn, I expressed that he had the right to vote for whom he wanted. But the opposing candidate made me fearful in many ways. I told him I did not expect him to see certain things from my point of view because we exist on different sides of the same coin. And what affects me one way may not affect him the same.</p></div></div></div></div></section></div></div></article></div><div class="l"></div><footer class="pc pd pe pf gv ab q pg jb c"><div class="l ae"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><div class="ab cp ph"><div class="ab q ll"><div class="pi l"><span class="l pj pk pl e d"><div class="ab q ll lm"><div class="pw-multi-vote-icon fj gt ln lo lp"><span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at" data-testid="footerClapButton" rel="noopener follow" href="/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Fvote%2Fmiddle-pause%2F576024727b42&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fmiddle-pause%2Fcan-friendship-survive-politics-576024727b42&user=Sharon%27s+Writerly+Musings&userId=c155aad6b87b&source=---footer_actions--576024727b42---------------------clap_footer-----------"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><div class="lq ao lr ls lt lu am lv lw lx lp"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" 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