With the United States’ election results being finalized, the age-old debate still continues: can I still be friends with someone who has different political views? While a debate about policy may allow for you to agree to disagree, not agreeing somebody should be treated equitably should definitely be a deal-breaker.
Politics is defined as, “The activities associated with the governance of a country or other area,” by Oxford Dictionary. This subject includes distribution of resources, international relations, tax decisions, and public policy.
Human rights on the other hand is stated to be, “a right that is believed to belong justifiably to every person,” by Oxford Dictionary. The human rights movement fights for the end of racism, LGBT+ discrimination, sexism, segregation, and the oppression of any group.
These two topics are therefore separated by what they provide for civilization. Politics decides how a society functions; human rights decides who gets to function in that society.
In this sense, you can still be friends with people who may disagree with politics. Favoring tax funding for park management over traffic safety is something you can agree-to-disagree on.
You cannot choose, on the other hand, who has the right to be a part of society as everyone has the constitutional and natural right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Not allowing people the same opportunities just because of who they are disgustingly immoral.
However, the two definitely intertwine. For example, requiring citizens to take a literacy test in order to be eligible to vote disproportionately affects those in the lower class because of the lack of educational opportunities provided to them.
Other policies and the USs history with discrimination may also force people into the lower class as well. Practices such as the Jim Crow Laws and redlining intentionally caused groups such as the Black community to have limited opportunities and be unable to gain economically.
So, while the literacy test is not classist or racist at face-value, it purposefully suppresses the votes of specific groups.
Therefore, even if someone may not act racist or LGBT+ phobic or actively advocate for discrimination, by enabling a politician who pushes discriminatory rhetoric and supports policies that purposefully hurt specific groups, that individual is no different from any other racist person.
So yes, it is okay to tolerate someone supporting politicians who do not want to achieve equity. While someone may not be a bad person, they decided a politician preventing people from having basic human rights is not a deal-breaker.