84% of us reject extreme political views, but we've been silenced by the loudest 16%. It's time to reclaim our voices—not to win debates, but to restore sanity, nuance, and genuine dialogue to our culture.

I think it's about time to take back our country from extreme absolutism. Or is it absolute extremism?

37% of Americans call themselves politically "moderate," a slight majority over those on the left or right.

But the loudest and most polarizing voices come from the minority: 9% Very Conservative and 7% Very Liberal (which includes or overlaps with the 6% of the public identifying as Progressive).

That means 84% of us don't hold such extreme views and may be interested in more open dialogue.

But we're staying quiet.

We're busy "doing life," honoring the nuances of being human, not wanting to get attacked, not knowing who we can trust to talk openly to, preserving our peace, and unable to get behind soundbites because we know that life is far too complex to boil down to a few talking points.

For every strong opinion we hear, there's a little niggling, "But what about _____?"

But we don't speak up.

According to Starts With Us, 87% of Americans are tired of how politically and culturally divided we are.

But Who Can Compete with the Extreme Absolutists?

The ones who parrot the same lines repeatedly, using strategies to shame or rile up the more easily swayed? The ones who fight against the "other side." Or cancel people who won't go along with their ideology?

The ones who drive up media ratings and make media companies money.

It's hard to compete.

I've talked to many people who try to engage in conversations with people with more extreme views, and they say it's exhausting and futile.

"Extremists think 'communication' means agreeing with them."
– Leo Rosten

So What If We Stop Competing?

What if we stop convincing or debating?

What if we stop paying attention to the extremists (on the left, the right, or anywhere else)?

And we stand together as proud moderates?

Some will say that we must speak out, or we'll be on the wrong side of history. Or that we have to stand up for something (which means we have to come to "their side" and speak out) or we're part of the problem. That we're causing harm.

But aren't we standing for something?

Aren't we standing for really important things? Like...

Sanity, reason, curiosity, open-mindedness, getting closer to the truth, honoring of many viewpoints, respectful communication, courage, critical thinking, compassion and care for other peoples' experiences, and balanced discussions.

We're standing for something so important and critical at this time in our history that we may be the ones who have the power to change humanity's future positively.

What if it's our time to rise?

But We Must Resist the Drama

It's like watching a car accident—we can't stand to look, but we can't pull ourselves away.

It's so easy to become addicted to the lies, the extreme views, and the craziness. To read and watch in horror.

Our hearts beat faster because we're so enraged or shocked.

A part of us may like being enraged—energy courses through our body and gives us a jolt of adrenaline.

But it also contributes to stress, steals our joy and time, and feeds the extremism.

It's also easy to become addicted to beliefs and opinions that align with ours.

We feel comfortable when we read or watch something we agree with. Our brains give us a dopamine hit, which makes us feel satisfied and safe because we're not disrupting the status quo.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with watching and reading the news.

If we consume many sources and consider different perspectives, we increase our chances of piecing together the bits into something that gets closer to something we might call "the truth."

But some sources are on the edge of fiction—propaganda machines, lie repeaters, dogma spewers, conspiracy spreaders, provocateurs, and manipulators of our minds.

And we can choose not to give them our attention.

Neither the individuals, nor the companies, nor the parties, nor the politicians.

We can stop.

Let's Not Allow Them to Suppress Our Voices

We can choose to talk or listen only to those who can hold nuanced perspectives, are willing to talk across party lines, and are interested in sincere dialectical conversations where no ideas, questions, or opinions are shamed or too offensive.

While we may have strong opinions and even lean more toward left, right, libertarian, or conspiracy, we Moderates tend to dance rather than plant ourselves.

We're open to new ideas.

We have new ideas.

And when we suppress our ideas, falsify our preferences to fit in, and go along with others because it's "easier," we suffer.

And the world suffers.

We cause stress within us because we are MEANT to express ourselves.

We're meant to have our own unique way of seeing things.

And the world loses out if we don't share it.

When we suppress ourselves and others' voices, we lose the thread of what the fabric of humanity is meant to be: a diverse tapestry with all colors, ideas, opinions, perspectives, values, and more.

Where none are objectively right or wrong.

Yes, there are collectively right and wrong ideas. Where we, together, decide what we want for our society.

But individually, it's time to bring our own uniqueness to the table and come together to explore diverse ideas.

Each of us has a piece of the puzzle, and if we don't speak our truth (even if it changes the next moment or with new information), problems may not be solved.

"There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle."
– Deepak Chopra

This means that even the most objectionable things must be discussed because each idea we reject may contain a nugget of truth.

Each person has had their own lived experiences that have led them to think the way they think.

And when we seek to understand, we just might be enlightened.

I say anyone willing to listen is worthy of being heard.

It's Time to Give the Middle a Mic

Your voice matters. Your nuanced perspective matters. Your willingness to hold multiple truths at once matters.

The extremes have had the microphone for too long. They've made us believe that complexity is weakness, that nuance is fence-sitting, that changing our minds means we were wrong.

But you know better.

You know that the messy middle—where most of us actually live—is where real solutions are found. Where genuine human connection happens. Where we can disagree without demonizing, question without canceling, and evolve without abandoning our values.

The world needs your voice. Not louder. Just honest.

This is one of the topics I'll explore here and on my ELATE podcast—how reclaiming your authentic voice is an act of personal healing AND cultural transformation.

Because your wholeness is the world's healing.

If this struck a chord with you, please share and tell me what you think in the comments!

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