By John Lindstrom
Publisher
Posted: July 12, 2019 2:47 PM

Like any politician, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell is active on social media, especially on Facebook. And it is through her Facebook page she has informed her constituents, friends and folks just browsing on her congressional activities, on reaching the new normal in her life without her husband, congressional legend former U.S. Rep. John Dingell, and her worries.

And those worries often focus on divisiveness. Not the general concept of divisiveness that is discussed and written about and speculated on in a general philosophical sense. But political divisiveness as it affects friendships and families.

In many ways, Ms. Dingell (D-Dearborn) uses her Facebook page as anyone else might. She makes ample use of Peanuts and Winnie the Pooh cartoons to wish people happy days. Of course, her page is festooned with photographs. There is the occasional video, for example of Ms. Dingell doing a little shimmy while singing "Yankee Doodle Dandy" on July 4.

She also uses the page to help in her journey through grief. This also is not new. Sen. Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth) will still write moving letters on Facebook to his young granddaughter who died. This week, Ms. Dingell posted a photograph of Mr. Dingell's grave at Arlington National Cemetery and how at first, this past Monday, which would have been Mr. Dingell's 93rd birthday, the cemetery was for a time closed due to flooding. But she felt she had to be there, and later that day the cemetery was opened and she was able to spend time with him.

And on that page she also expresses the pain of watching friendships possibly being shattered because of political animosity that exists not just in government but among friends and families.

In June, Ms. Dingell wrote of a breakfast group she had been part of for some 20 years, a group that has been an anchor for her. The members could disagree, sometimes strongly, on issues, but always, she said, respectfully.

Things have changed, she said. "I went today, and it was just plain uncomfortable and by the time I left most of those at the entire bagel place had become involved for or against I don't even know what." A friend, "someone I deeply respect," had come angry about Democrats, about the talk of impeachment, about guns, about other issues, she said.

"Others at separate tables then expressed opinions responding, one wanting me to support impeachment, others concerned about prescription drugs, others saying I was doing right thing. A third person, someone I know as a veteran, came over to tell me in no uncertain terms, using very harsh names and words what he thinks of Democrats, its leaders and how we keep America from being great. By now everyone present had become involved and aware and I know many felt very uncomfortable. I sure did." Though the friends still at her table, all Republicans, she said, urged her not to be bothered, Ms. Dingell said she was all day.

Once the breakfast group was to talk about sports, families, books, neighbors and, yes, politics, but now, "I told my friends this was why it had become difficult to meet them.....a simple gathering place is becoming one more place that divides."

It is not the only post where she has expressed those worries. Worries so many people have raised about splits in their own families or in their neighborhoods.

Mr. Dingell was a red-blooded Democrat, but had many Republican friends and praised them. Ms. Dingell started life as a Republican, had worked for former U.S. Sen. Robert Griffin, a Republican from Michigan, and then switched parties. The vicious divide between the two parties existing now is something one hopes politicians will grow out of eventually.

But the split happening in families and among friends: Could that prove to be the more serious split in the end, one that is harder to heal, one that causes greater lasting damage to us all? Should we, like Ms. Dingell, worry more about that split?