Knowing what divides us can lead to unity
First, the (really) good news: Today’s world has spectacular potential for improvement. And getting to a vastly better life (for all living things) is quite straightforward.
The bad news: Humanity’s greatest roadblock is itself. Consider religious intolerance, systemic racism, international conflicts, environmental decline, ruinous health care costs, dysfunctional taxation, stalled immigration reform, domestic terrorism — just a sampling of our own country’s always-burning social/political wreckage.
Central to such self-inflicted tragedies, rampant divisiveness continues to fuel the flames. A better future, therefore, depends mainly on each of us recognizing just how severely this polarization weakens our lives, communities, country and planet. Such awareness calls for a keener sense of what really divides us.
In 1776 in Philadelphia, an assembly of forward-thinking colonists completed and signed America’s Declaration of Independence, arguably marking the birth of our country.
Aside from divorcing Britain, no words in this monumental document have ever been more significant than “all men are created equal.” Yet, how many of these “Founding Fathers” — all white men of privilege and power, most slave owners or sympathetic to slavery — offered this soaring proclamation of equivalence to anyone but fellow white males?
As years passed, and despite our founders’ many good intentions, America’s affluent white patriarchy only tightened its control. This ruling class, despite countless truly admirable policies, has always ensured itself the best deal — typically at massive cost to the whole, and typically with devastating effect for society’s marginalized.
Fast-forward to today. After nearly 250 years of public policy by America’s (mostly white male) “elites,” the richest one-tenth of 1 percent now owns as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent combined; the world’s eight richest individuals own as much as Earth’s poorest 4 billion!
Imagine if America weren’t forever beset by social and political divisiveness. Might we pause to consider the insane gulf between rich and poor? Might we unite to replace our extractive, exclusive, money-strangled “democracy” — perhaps with a guarantee of true “of the people, by the people, for the people” government?
America’s (and the world’s) puppeteers understand that a more tolerant, unified population is far more difficult to manipulate and plunder than a divided one. Likewise, a less distracted electorate would quickly rally to end the culture of money and influence that controls our country — and immensely favors the well-to-do.
For these reasons, powerful interests aggressively promote policies intended to deepen our disagreements. Meanwhile, many of us swallow this toxic bait — even though inclusive, “greater good” policies would benefit everyone — not least today’s champions of divisiveness.
Humankind can absolutely continue engaging in today’s and tomorrow’s (and yesterday’s) division-fueled, society-crushing, life-reducing firestorms.
Instead, take a moment to imagine a better life for yourself and family, your community, nation and the entire world. (Dream big; our potential for improvement is enormous!)
Amazingly, the route to such a future — the only route — isn’t complicated. By recognizing how fully our divisive attitudes and policies block the secure, prosperous, healthy world that each of us wants, space opens for cooperation and fairness. Then simply return to America’s founding documents: the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. From daily routines, to teaching our children, to participating in democracy, insist on options that honor these inclusive guidelines. Especially insist on them when voting.
Whether one’s focus of advancement is personal, family, all humanity or some combination thereof, we do best via the consistent advancement of everyone. Thus, with little more than a shift in attitude, anyone can help untether the world’s fantastic potential.
Come on, America — let’s cut the divisiveness that enslaves us! Instead, by unifying around our nation’s original creed, the life we now only dream of can quickly begin to take shape.
Fryberger is an architect living in Ketchum, Idaho.