Opinion: We must bridge our political divides. Start here.

Nashville’s Veterans Day parade took place on a gorgeous day with sunny skies and high 60-degree weather. Members of the Armed Forces, veterans, public servants and student bands counted among the marchers Monday morning.
At one point, mounted police passed by the stage holding dignitaries including the city’s mayor, Freddie O’Connell.
Unfortunately, one horse evacuated its bowels right in front of them. I was directly on the other side of Broadway near Ninth Avenue when a stranger wearing a “Don’t Tread on Me” cap made a snarky aside to me about what we just witnessed.
Initially, I smirked at the gentleman and looked away, but then I had an epiphany. I turned around, looked him in the eye and asked him to tell me about himself.
We started a conversation that delved into his family history, his political viewpoints, and his dedication to defending democracy and people’s constitutional rights, not just in words but in action. His father’s World War II service against Nazi Germany weighed heavily on him
I could have simply brushed him off as a stereotype based on his hat. The “Don’t Tread on Me” motto from American colonial times to defy the British Crown has been embraced by anti-big government groups and, these days, conservative and libertarian groups opposed to the Biden-Harris Administration.
After such a polarizing presidential election, it became clear to me that we need more conversations among our fellow citizens to develop a post-Nov. 5 citizenship mindset.
There are citizens who are genuinely afraid of the implications of a new Trump term on reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrants and other underrepresented communities.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, said during the campaign that she believes President-Elect Donald Trump is a fascist, a term also embraced by some former members of his inner circle.
Trump, for his part, uses bullying and name-calling, advances false stories such as about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, and has called his political opponents “the enemy within.”
The perceived difference between whose America is worse fuels fear, loathing and despair.
But a citizenship mindset is the opposite of passive participation. My new cap-wearing friend helped me remember that free citizens need to believe and act like they are free citizens.
They do not have to stop disagreeing, dissenting or protesting. They do not have to accept behaviors that compromise their basic humanity.
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At the same, there are areas where people of good faith can find common ground even if they hold vastly different political viewpoints.
We see it in those moments of bipartisan cooperation in Congress that have yielded laws on infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, and firearms safety.
At the grassroots level, it’s about people building community around each other and defending democracy at the every-day local level.
I live in a Nashville neighborhood with a preponderance of residents who voted for Harris. Several of my neighbors are feeling down.
Over the last several days, I have had conversations with neighbors and friends while walking the dogs, over coffee and at a bar about what researcher and author Brené Brown calls “micro-dosing hope.”
That is, finding hopeful moments to avoid despair by strengthening the bonds with the communities around us. Collectively create mini-expressions of hope could grow into something much bigger than itself.
Of course, Trump supporters are elated and this is a time for celebration, not despair, for them. Beyond the political pundits and influencers, there are ordinary people who made a decision they believe was best for their family.
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Bridging that gap between the Harris and Trump voters is challenging, but it’s more necessary than ever.
In a recent Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter, I wrote: “(E)ven if President-elect Trump was not your preferred candidate, I would encourage my dear readers to remember the power you have as Americans to participate in society freely, enthusiastically and actively regardless of who is in the White House. Advocate for the issues that you care about the most and contribute locally with your time, treasure and talent to efforts that have a direct impact on your life, be it a nonprofit, a school board committee or a neighborhood association board. Even think about running for local or state office.”
I’ll add one: Try to start a conversation with a stranger who may seem to have nothing in common with your world view. You might come away surprised and encouraged.
David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at [email protected] or find him on X at @davidplazas.