Very few people at the eclipse yesterday had any kind of political statement on them and none that I saw were in your face about it. An eclipse in isn't a political event, yet millions of people on this continent took time off work, kids out of school and drove many miles to see it.
In Tennessee undoubtedly quite a few people were concealed carry. However, I also saw no one in fear of those who were. While a heard the band in the band-shell play a Christian song, that was only one among many secular and or patriotic tunes.
While this was a temporary community with a singular non-political, and mostly non-religious event. Given the bent of news for the last few months, I really did wonder what would happen in those regards.
Kids
Children at the eclipse were like behaving like old-fashioned neighbors. Given there seemed to be an abundance of viewing glasses and a few pin-hole boxes there were no squabbles. They shared snacks, stories of home and pointed out oddities as the event proceeded.
Neighbors
I found one other person who shared August 21st as his birthday, like me. He was only one blanket away. Did we discuss religion or politics? No, didn't even need to hint at them, only discussed our great fortune in the weather and hoping to have a nice long view of the eclipse without getting burnt. We were glad to be near the center-line for maximum viewing and had free parking in a large city or county park.
Eyes On
How many people have more than an Eyes On relationship with their neighbors? I know 3 of the 4 closest to let them know if we'll be out of town and what friends are coming over to check while we're out. One is a well known Christian rocker. I'm pretty sure looking me up on-line shows things that aren't religiously or politically in agreement with my neighbors.
Communities
In a real physical community, not everyone has the same belief. We used to have an obvious axiom to deal with this "Never discuss Religion or Politics at the dinner table."
Virtual communities often have built in tests spoken or not for new members. These have evolved over time to protect sanity. However, politics is starting to creep into the oddest non-political places. I have a Make feed in another social group and they've posted a few climate articles that had nothing to do with actually making weather gear. If that keeps up, I'll likely unplug but then that will drift that groups bias toward more climate concerned folk. So where to non-climate biased folk go for Make-like topics?
Trolling
This sort of political nudge posting by a popular person in a non-political group used to be considered trolling. While this is more subtle than most it seems a way to have some sort of community "purity" test. The less-subtle trolls would start with comments that were known to be offensive or bothersome to the community at large and invariably draw some or more into a heated debate with few rational points.
Polarity
As for Religion & Policitcs I have seen very few if any discussions actually change anyone's mind. Those that seemed to cause a shift were very light and gentle and not nearly polarizing.
Centering the Pendulum
The Dao has a fascinating concept that the more extreme a situation is, the more violent will be its return to a harmonious state. Using power to take things away from their natural harmonious existences is the mark of a poor leader whose legacy won't last.
Harmonious Non-extreme
Indeed, in the Dao, if you want your work to last, don't worry about a legacy, instead help others find a better working harmony. The more external forces are applied, the less stable will be the system when the force is inevitably removed.
Let your neighbors have their views. One does not need to always associated with those of a similar view nor convert those who don't. The loudest voice does not always win. The strongest storm cannot last.
Does anyone else have Good Anarchy at the Eclipse stories?