More alike than not

I’m sitting here at my keyboard, reflecting on this important day: the 4th of July; Independence Day. I am humbled by the reality that I am standing on the shoulders of many generations of men and women who fought the good fight; the fight for freedom; the fight for liberty. I say a silent prayer of thanks and unfurl my flag which flies proudly over the entrance of my home here on the South Platte River.

Thankful? Yes. Troubled? Absolutely. I am deeply disturbed by the divisions in America; divisions that have ended friendships, torn families apart, created chaos in the political landscape of this country, and generated distrust amongst us.

I fly my flag quite frequently, and most recently I was asked, “How come you’re flying a flag? I thought you were a liberal?” I was momentarily stunned before answering, “because I’m an American and this flag means something to me — it means the hope of a more inclusive world, a more accepting world, a hope that the dream which includes the notable phrase, ‘All men are created equal,’ (and presumptively women as well) can be brought to fruition.”

Film producer, George Nolfi (with credits in Ocean’s Twelve, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Banker, and others) was in northeast Colorado this past month interviewing people for an upcoming movie that he is working on. Subsequent to completing his interviews in this area, he is headed to inner city New York (Alexandria OcasioCortez’s House District to be precise) to interview folk there as well. It is his contention that as Americans, we are all much more alike in values and practices than we are different.

During my lengthy interview with him, he postulated that about 80% of people share many similar ideals and values, and that it is the extremes on both ends of the political spectrum that have hijacked our national conversation and are whipping the waters of commonality into a frothy bay of almost unnavigable waves. It is hard to argue that point, I believe, and it is my assumption that indeed, as Americans, as HUMAN BEINGS, we share many more common values and beliefs than we have irreconcilable differences.

Nolfi posed this question in the interview: “What do you think can be done to change the current divisiveness?” I love questions like this, because I don’t think they are purely “academic,” nor do I believe that they are rhetorical. I believe that there are tangible things that could be done that would begin to mend the rip in the tapestry that is America.

Perhaps the most important task that could be accomplished is if we all could began to focus with intentionality on our commonalities. What is it that we can all get behind? It is my contention that we all want basic freedoms, we want the freedom to worship (or not) as we see fit, we want economic opportunities, we want a strong national defense, we want clean water, we want clean air, we want affordable housing and health care, we want quality education for our children, we want our veterans to receive the best possible health and mental health care there is, we want the American Dream of striving fulfilled to be available and accessible for everyone regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.

This list is by no means exhaustive, and more could be added. These values/beliefs are almost universally accepted, and I wonder what it would look like if instead of pushing the envelope to the left or the right, we simply began to think in terms of a “Venn” diagram that illustrates the huge areas of overlapping experiences and values.

We are paying a huge price for extremism right now, and I’m not just referencing the extreme right. I believe that the left also pays a price for failing to capture and promote our unity. On some things we will probably never agree, and that’s okay. It is diversity of thought that leads to creative growth and change, and our two-party system is predicated upon that reality, but disagreements don’t have to become radicalized. You can be a great American and be opposed to abortion, and you can be a great American and support the Pro-choice movement.

I grow extremely weary of “one-issue” folk that predicate their judgment relative to others on one particular issue — guns, abortion, policing, marijuana, Biden, Trump, etc. We can do better I believe.

This afternoon I’m breaking bread and celebrating Independence Day with several people on nearly opposite ends of the political spectrum. We will grill some brats and burgers, eat a few baked beans and chips, and share an incredible strawberry-rhubarb pie as we watch the sun set low in the western sky and watch that sky come alive with an explosion of fireworks.

And isn’t that really how it should be?

I am deeply disturbed by the divisions in America; divisions that have ended friendships, torn families apart, created chaos in the political landscape of this country, and generated distrust amongst us.