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I was catching up on the news last night—and by that I mean that I was idly scrolling through Facebook while I was avoiding other important things in my life—when I came across an article that started my stomach on all sorts of flips and tumbles that were gymnastic quality, I’m sure.

My first thought? Oh, f*ck.

But then I sat back for a moment and I reconsidered my first reaction.

I try my best to be an open-minded person. I’m strong-willed, opinionated and not shy about expressing my opinions, but I like to think that I remain open to discussion surrounding tough topics. I try to hold space for the in between, the middle, the gray, because really—that’s where the change will happen. That’s where the magic of human connection and possibility is held, the middle ground.

So, as I sat on my bed holding my phone, I opened that article with a fresh perspective.

I was thinking to myself that if Donald Trump was holding a rally, perhaps I should go. Maybe I should be open to the possibility of the middle ground. If we lose that wiliness to connect, where will we be? Where will democracy be?

I won’t go so far as to say that I’m as open-minded as thinking I could change my mind and vote for the man, but I do think that I can see the humanness in the people in his crowd, and try to meet them halfway.

So I read the article, and you know what? Nearly everyone I know, including myself, are not invited to join Mr. Trump while he is visiting our fine city. It’s not a rally, it’s a fundraiser. Fine. The lowest ticket price appears to be $1000.00. Not fine. And it’s an invitation-only event, with the location and time only released once the donor has RSVP’ed.

What about those of us lesser mortals, Mr. Trump? Will there be a rally for us common folk? As of yet, that information has yet to be decided or released.

I find myself disappointed, once again, in the man who is now our Republican Nominee for President of the United States.

Here I was, ready and willing to try to walk across the aisle because I wanted to be assured that the people over there were still normal, everyday, humans just putting one foot in front of the other each day in the best way that they know how to do. I honestly have no idea what I would have done, or if I would have even gone—but now I don’t even have the option of going if I wanted to.

Both Democratic and Republican parties hold these high ticket fundraisers and if you ask me, that is a loss for democracy right there. Who will hear the voices that are lost in the quest for campaign funds?

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Author: Molly Murphy

Image: DonkeyHotey/Flickr

Editor: Caitlin Oriel