Former Sioux Falls mayor Knobe: Losing friends over political disagreements is painful, but I can’t remain silent

I lost two friends today.

I’m mourning the loss.

They didn’t physically die. It was death by politics. Two friendships which began almost 45 years ago, gone.

I started a morning breakfast group. All guys. All involved with government at some level. We talked about much more than politics, but politics and government were our shared experiences. 

All of us were conservative in the old definition. The disagreements were sincere but not intense.

That changed in 2016.

One of the group was a very strong supporter of the new president. I think all of the group voted for him, except me. I opted for the independent. 

As the new president took control of the party and the country, I became concerned about his style, his words, his actions. At least two of the group were very strong supporters of him. One leaned towards him. One was mostly silent. 

The conversations grew intense. I kept hearing about the deep state, fake news, etc. It was obvious the cult, which used to be the Republican Party, was taking control of at least one and maybe two members. Breakfast wasn’t fun anymore. 

After I retired in March 2017, I left town for my boating adventure. I missed Sioux Falls, but not the tension of the Saturday breakfasts.

Not sure exactly what happened but at one breakfast, the tension got so thick I sent an email to the strong Trump supporter explaining my discomfort.

Today, I had coffee with one the group. When I asked about the Saturday breakfasts, I was told I was no longer welcome. The two staunch conservatives(make that now cult members), blackballed me. 

The harsh political environment has caused the loss of what used to be respected and cherished friends.

When I left the Republican Party, I knew that didn’t sit well with them. When we talked politics, it was clear they had gone further right, while I became more moderate.

I didn’t like the tone and words being used by national and state Republican leaders. When I expressed my thoughts or asked questions about theirs, things got tense.

It is sad to lose friends. Death by politics hurts.

Rick Knobe is a former mayor of Sioux Falls and a longtime radio talk show host who is now retired but remains active and involved in his community and state as an independent political observer and commentator. His columns appear regularly on The South Dakota Standard.

Photo: public domain, wikimedia commons

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