Hate By Association

Have you ever experienced a relationship of some kind that has dissolved and you are expected to hate someone just because your friend or family member hates someone? 
Yep, me too.  It is one of the dumbest things I have had to experience.  I have always treated people the way I want to be treated and occasionally treated them the way they DID treat me. 
I have recently been put on that situation.  You are either team A or team B.  If you don't publically hate team A, I will hate you because I am team B.  What? Why?
How about I am not on either team?  Maybe I am team AB or maybe I am team C.  See how crazy this is?
Let's take a classic friendly rivalry, Cubs vs Card.   The people who live between St Louis and Chicago are expected to pledge their loyalty to one of the two teams.  No you can not chose any other team you are team Cubs or Team Cards.  If you do not pledge your loyalty, then you are the enemy.  Simply not true for me.  I have been a long time Cards fan but when the Cubbies made it further in playoffs, then you cheer them on.  Just the way I work. 
Recently, I accepted a position on a board and was put in this place again.  No teams in my mind,  yet there are definate teams in the minds of others. 
One of the best compliments I have ever been given came from a parent at a board meeting while fighting for an overnight trip approval for the scholastic bowl team eho was headed to state conpetition.  The parent said, I have a student that really likes her and one not so much.  But she treats them both the same.  She holds them both to the same standard.  One is a starter for her and the other gets little playing time.   But she makes both feel equally valuable. 
That has stuck with me for many years.  Is there really a better complement?  Not for me.
So I have thought a lot about that since joining this board.  I am team AB.  That is all of us.  And actually I would say team ABC.  Team C being the people who are part time and don't know either team captain. 
This also happens in families.  Especially, during a divorce or death or lately, politics.  Families divide,  hate spills over, greed surfaces, and those in the wake are expected to pick a team.  AND of you don't completely agree with me I will hate you too. 
In the age of social media that spills over into blocking, unfriending, etc of people you love and care for. 
Recently I had to testify in a court case.  I temporarily unfriended some people and explained why I did.  I then requested thwm back after testimony, only to find they have now blocked me.  How silly is that?  Worst part?  They are family.
Now, while all of these situations have different emotions tied to them from me, I can handle them.  What prople in all these situations do not think about is the wake of hurt and heartache.  Those causght in the wake are children, life-long friendships, family members, neighbors, etc.  How completely unfair is it to them?
While I am sad about the hurt I see around me, I can do nothing to fix it. 
It all seems dumb to me, because I know the ultimate hurt and heartache. 
So on this Mother's Day wekend please be kind.   Extend an olive branch to try to mend a relationship.