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Fuck sectarianism

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by Tara Valencia

Political sectarianism is ripping through America like a contagion. In the country’s largest and most dynamic city, New York, the symptoms are everywhere: families torn apart over politics, friend groups divided, and workplaces stifled by ideological self-censorship. Every election cycle, the dividing lines become even clearer, cutting through our communities, our relationships, and our city. And it’s time to say it bluntly: fuck sectarianism. The solution starts with rejecting this toxic mindset and embracing the true spirit of New York—one that thrives on diversity, resilience, and collective action.

New York has always been a beacon of pluralism, a place where people from all walks of life come together. But even here, political sectarianism has turned neighbors into enemies, fostering suspicion and intolerance. Each side accuses the other of endangering democracy, leading to an “us versus them” mentality that erodes the fabric of our city. The unique mosaic of perspectives that has always been New York’s strength now faces an existential threat.

It’s not as if we disagree any more sharply on policy than in the past. Instead, today’s division is about identity. It’s cultural, it’s personal, and it’s fueled by an ecosystem of political, media, and social networks that profit off anger. As a result, Republicans and Democrats are no longer seen as political opponents but as existential threats to each other’s values and way of life. It’s an issue of emotional investment; we’re too wrapped up in seeing each other as villains to consider that, at the end of the day, we’re all New Yorkers—scrappy, driven, and, above all, resilient.

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The implications for the presidential election are chilling. Candidates, strategists, and media outlets are deliberately stoking these flames, using every conceivable issue—immigration, education, crime—as another reason to turn against one another. This fractured atmosphere doesn’t just threaten our political discourse; it threatens our social stability. It’s a situation where, as one journalist recently noted, “winning” isn’t about policy—it’s about silencing or eliminating the other side entirely. This type of zero-sum mindset is unworthy of New York, and it’s unworthy of America.

But if any city can lead the way out of this mess, it’s New York. New Yorkers know what it means to work side-by-side with people who don’t look, think, or live the same way. The city’s greatest strength has always been its tolerance, its openness, and its stubborn resistance to homogeneity. That’s precisely why we need to reject sectarianism—and reclaim our right to disagree without tearing each other apart.

So how can New York make a difference in this fractured political landscape? First, by refusing to play the game. We need to elect leaders who are willing to bridge divides, not deepen them, and demand that media outlets covering New York reflect the city’s values rather than the sensationalism that keeps us clicking and enraged. Beyond that, we must actively resist the impulse to see our fellow New Yorkers as enemies based on their voting record or political beliefs. Instead of focusing on ideological purity, let’s focus on what we can achieve together, regardless of party lines.

It’s time to end this toxic cycle, starting here in New York. If our city can return to its roots of resilience, pluralism, and tolerance, then it can serve as a model for the nation. Because if we continue down the path of sectarianism, we risk losing everything that makes New York unique. For all our sakes, it’s time to say it loud and clear: fuck sectarianism. Let’s rebuild our community, one conversation, one compromise, and one act of unity at a time.

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