Pick a Side, They Said… So I Picked Sanity

There was a time… not even that long ago… when people could believe wildly different things and still sit at the same damn table.

You believed in God? Cool.

You didn’t? Also cool.

You thought aliens were out there landing in cornfields? Who cares?!

Nobody was foaming at the mouth over it.

Somewhere along the way, though, we decided that belief wasn’t personal anymore… it became a team sport. And not a cute, “Go Astros” kind of sport. No, this is more like full-contact, burn-it-all-down energy where if you’re not on my side, you must be stupid, evil, or both.

How did we get here?

When did we decide that individuality was “woke”?

I distinctly remember being taught that this country was built on a mix of cultures, ideas, and yes… even contradictions. Immigration? That is the foundation. Messy, complicated history? Also part of the deal. Freedom of religion? Kind of a big fucking deal.

We’ve reduced all of that into this exhausting narrative:

Pick a side. Stay in your lane. Hate the other team.

Here’s a radical idea: what if people are allowed to believe whatever they want about God, the universe, or what happens after we die… and we just… don’t lose our shit about it?

What if morality wasn’t gatekept by religion?

You don’t have to be a Christian to be a good person.

You don’t need a label to have a conscience.

You don’t need a political identity to know not to be an asshole!!!

The bar is actually pretty simple:

Don’t hurt people. Don’t take away other people’s rights to exist. Don’t be a raging, judgmental nightmare.

That’s it. That’s the list.

We’ve created this culture where disagreement feels like betrayal. Curiosity is replaced with condemnation. Asking “why do you think that?” has been replaced with “you’re wrong, stupid and I hate you.”

It’s not just one side. It’s both. Each side acts like they’re the final authority on truth.

All it’s doing is making us more divided, more defensive, and more miserable.

And I’m tired.

I’m tired of the noise.

I’m tired of the self-righteousness.

I’m tired of the absolute refusal to just let people exist without turning it into a debate stage.

We don’t need everyone to agree. We never did!!!

We just need to get back to a place where disagreement doesn’t automatically mean disrespect.

Beliefs aren’t weapons.

Being different shouldn’t be treated like a threat… it’s literally what freedom is supposed to look like.

Xoxo, AB 💅💄💋