An alternative to the divisive political brew
I’m scared.
As a nation, we’d rather fight each other than listen to each other. If we elect the presidential candidate I don’t support, it feels like my world will shatter. If we elect the candidate I do support, I fear many others will see that as dismal news.
Our current political polarization reminds me of the time I was about to open my own independent writing business. To gain insight, I met with an independent writer with a few years of success under his belt. He told me a true story of presenting his work to executives in a corporate conference room. One executive said, “Here’s what I think of this work.” He then crumpled the work into a ball and threw it in the writer’s face. Today, Democrats and Republicans are crumpling up and trashing the other side’s ideas, reputation and record.
Cruising down this road of disrespect, disdain and distrust, I’m the frightened boy in short pants peeking out the back-seat window crying, “Are we there yet?” Yeah, we are.
But we’re not done. We’re still driving toward Election Day. How will we treat each other between now and then and into the next four years? Welcome to America’s Bar & Grill (outdoor seating only).
May I serve you more toxic divisive political brew, or would you prefer our multiflavored, warm, uniting stew?
Will we choose the calm required to seek common solutions or choose the drama that will incite more divisions?
Driving by a local church last week, I saw a sign that read something like, “What was God telling us when He gave us one mouth that closes and two ears that never do?”
Part of my job, and part of yours, is to listen with open ears to people we disagree with. Only when two people on opposite mountains describe their views can both of them find the passageway they can travel to reach common ground. Only when the terrain is well explored do we see that while we’re on different peaks, we stand on the same ground.
How do we move toward unity, civility and progress? We find and follow the path of the facts. Are you old enough to remember the TV show “Dragnet” and its main character, Sgt. Friday? Remember how Friday would advise crime witnesses to provide “just the facts”?
Can you and I acknowledge that we need respectful conversations to discuss solutions that will benefit us all? On the Sunday I wrote this, the church’s Bible reading came from 1 Corinthians. The passage included the words, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ ... so that there should be no division in the body but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”
Fast forward to the day after the election — Nov. 4. If the Republicans feel the results grant them carte blanche, America loses. If the Democrats feel the election results grant them carte blanche, America loses. We need both parties, all parties, to feel heard, to accept the results and to have an administration that will work for all the people’s best interests. Rather than grind and gnaw at our differences, we might try giving more attention and resources to policies and beliefs we can agree on. Don’t we all want law and order? A more just society? Basic health care? Livable wages? Equal respect?
There is something you and I can do that’s even more important than voting — that’s to not undervalue what we can do for ourselves in our daily lives. You and I can quickly improve our society and nation with little daily things like showing more kindness, looking out for each other, doing good works, treating others fairly and pouring more fuel on the eternal fire of hope.
Swirling around us is this highly contagious pandemic of hate, negativity and hopelessness, yet we have the proven and effective vaccine. This pandemic dies if we mask up with love, good will and hope. Yes, I’m scared. But I’m with Nelson Mandela. He said, “The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”