Thinking Out Loud: “I Don’t Do Politics”

October 23, 2026 - 7:00 am

Kevin P. Henry

By Kevin P. Henry for Thinking Out Loud

“I don’t do politics.”

I have heard this sometimes when I bring up the subject of race and social justice, equity, homophobia, immigration, and other hot topics.

I get frustrated because what I hear is: “I would rather avoid this conversation.”

The thing is, one political party is currently fueling hate, discrimination, and bias. The tactic is to demonize liberals, people of color, sexual and gender minorities, and immigrants. And in order to justify oppressing or deporting a segment of the population, they have to depict those people as a threat to our American way of life.

This shouldn’t be about politics; it’s about human decency, moral behavior, compassion, and empathy.

Politics has always affected people’s rights. Long before Donald Trump became president, decisions about segregation, marriage, voting, and immigration determined the fate of many Americans. 

Today, people are being personally attacked for who they are as human beings. Black and brown people are degraded and portrayed as threats, Muslims are treated with suspicion because of their faith, DEI has been attacked and people from the LGBTQ community are accused of indoctrinating children.

Calling these conversations “political” means you can stop listening and allow the cruelty to continue.

No political party deserves a free pass when it encourages cruelty or caters to a racist, hate-fueled segment of the population.

The question is not about right or left. It is about right and wrong. It’s about compassion instead of inhumanity.

Saying “I don’t do politics” may end a discussion.

But it doesn’t end the painful and often dangerous consequences.

I want to encourage people to vote. Washington election officials recommend mailing ballots by Tuesday Oct 27 or else you can drop them in a ballot box up until 8pm on Nov 3. More info is at voteWA.gov.