quasi-religious zealotry that hasn't been seen in America for more than a century

...yes it has.

It's just changed sides. That's what I mean when I say that both sides believe they are under attack. If you actually talk to a liberal in your family, they probably don't want you to die. They don't want to burn your church to the ground, they don't want to murder your babies or take your guns away. They don't want to silence you and take away your right to vote. Right-wing media may lead you to believe that's what the Left stands for, but they only cover the "quasi-religious zealotry."

From the other side of the great divide: Conservatives want to institute a Christian theocracy, force women to be baby factories, and post sentinels with fully automatic weapons at the doors of every school. They want to silence the Left, and take away their right to vote. (I would argue there's a bit more meat on that particular bone.) Left-wing media may lead you to believe that's what the Right stands for, but they only cover the "quasi-religious zealotry."

This is why we all need to talk to people who disagree with us politically. When the echo chambers that our media resources have become, it's more important now than ever to find out how the Liberal/Conservative sitting next to you sees things. Chances are quite high that it's nothing at all like we've all been led to believe.

The polarization will not stop on its own. It will take conversations between people.

I made this exact same argument on r/politics, got downvoted and berated over it, so I deleted it. I'm hoping my message reaches more open minds here.

I'm not a Democrat or a Republican. I don't think either party represents The People anymore, and both put party before country. I believe The People can do better, if we could all just learn to listen.