Sitting back and relaxing,
watching a football game with a friend.
I don't care about the game, or the sport,
much less either of the teams,..
but my friend is an ardent fan of one team playing.

As a casual observer I notice
discrepancies in how the game is being officiated.
When I point out a problem that favors the other team
my friend considers me a confidant sharing in their frustration.
When I point out an issue that favors their team
I am considered an enemy 
who secretly favors the opposing team,
but is too insecure (or crafty) to admit it.

During the entire game my friend tries repeatedly, 
in various ways, 
to make me take the sport personally; 
as if my life depended on it. 
I don't allow it to happen, 
which confuses them, 
and makes them a little distrustful.

They never stop treating me 
as though I am rooting for the opposing team,
making the image of me conform to their understanding,
and they take that personally.

Children have no boundaries.

As we grow up we learn to place barriers and obstacles around ourselves strategically. Those barriers and obstacles become our boundary; the outward expression of our identity.

Our society has an auto immune disease that reflexively attacks anyone’s boundaries. This disease was born in politics and its spread has been amplified by social media.