I don't want to live in a Christian nation. I don't believe my gay friends and colleagues are second-class citizens at best or subhuman at worst. I think racial, gender, and religious minorities are mistreated and want to take steps to address that. We are harming the environment in myriad ways, and we need to take steps to address that as well. Wealth inequality is a barrier to a healthy society. Democracy is a good idea, compromise is essential, and majority opinions should not be casually cast aside.

But if you are a conservative, and most especially a Donald Trump supporter, you disagree with me on all those points.

Yes, you do. Objectively.

You can write as long an article as you like, but you and yours clearly don't listen to, love, or respect me and mine. And it's been that way for decades. The only difference now is that it's more out in the open.

You don't think calling people Nazis (or Communists or Satanists or...) is anything new, do you? It's been going on as long as I can remember, but always aimed at me. Are you old enough to know that declaring the opposition evil has been standard practice among conservatives and Republicans for decades? Surely you know about Rush Limbaugh, Jerry Falwell, Pat Buchanan, Newt Gingrich, and the rest?

So why start complaining about it now that what has gone around is coming around?

I'm not just offended. You want to take away my right not to live under Christian rule. You want to take rights away from people I believe deserve them. You are content to stand by and watch the Earth wallow in pollution as it burns.

Those are objective truths, publicly stated, written in party platforms, and codified into law.

So you can come up with however many reasons you like for American polarization. But it's a waste of typing. I don't want to be polarized, but what the hell choice do I have?

It's not about questions of policy that can be debated. What is the role of government? Let's debate! When is the cutoff date for abortion? Let's try to work it out - but honestly, without stacking the courts. Thousands of issues, from foreign policy to filling potholes, are all subjects for the political process. No sweat. We can agree to disagree, and nobody is a monster.

But polarization is pretty much the point of right-wing politics. Wedge issues, Newt Gingrich's action words, pastors pounding pulpits decrying homosexuality, and all the rest. Division on the basis of religion, the most fundamental of identity politics.

To all appearances, you and yours hate me and mine. Your religious and political leaders have long declared us monsters.

To hear them tell it, I've been one my whole life.

So what did you think was going to happen in return?