As a lifelong Democrat, and someone who has self-identified as a liberal Christian my entire life, I have been both confused and concerned by the political polarization that has developed over the past few years. So much so that I reached out to Barbara a few months ago. I wanted to better understand why her church was so vocal, specifically, on the polarizing issues of race and gender identity. I made it clear that I didn't want to be canceled or shunned by my community for having an opinion.

The belief that it's all a "conservative white Christian" agenda is a dangerously irresponsible, unsubstantiated assertion. Many of my relatives are immigrants. Latin and Asian immigrants are statistically very Christian. Other immigrant populations skew Muslim, but are traditionally religious nonetheless. Voting African American communities typically skew religious as well.

It seems obvious to me that forcing narratives around gender identity and decriminalization of crime is alienating traditionally liberal demographics. As a result, we are dangerously at risk of losing hard-fought ground – reproductive rights not the least of them.

Barbara's noble intentions of creating a more tolerant world have somewhere veered off the road into a more extreme form of " virtuous leftism" that is doing more to drive traditionally liberal voters to the right. Sadly, she is not uncommon.

I fear the oncoming "red wave" and what that means for the future of society. However, I don't blame white conservative Christians. I blame the ideologues on both sides who continue to force people to choose a side - and choose a side they will.

James Butler

Wyndmoor