An Eagle Needs Two Wings to Fly

I usually enjoy election season. Voting is like being a soldier in a bloodless revolution every few years. Of course, my chosen candidates don’t always win, but, to me, that’s not really the point. I don’t think patriotism can exist without participation, and voting is the clearest way to actively participate in the process. That sometimes less than fifty percent of eligible voters actually show up at the polls sickens me. So often, those who don’t vote still manage to loudly voice political opinions, without realizing how badly they, themselves, have failed their country by avoiding their electoral responsibility.

I have always loved political discourse. Over the past few years, that sort of intelligent conversation with people who share differing views seems to be less and less possible. Where once we seemed to understand that free speech meant listening to each other rather than yelling at each other, most forums of discourse (including presidential debates) now resemble kindergarten sandbox brawls.

I’m embarrassed by our behavior on the world stage. I am stunned that necessary compromise is often seen as weakness instead of strength, and that growth in understanding is often seen as disloyalty, as if, once formed, opinions should never change or evolve.

One thing that strikes me is the amount of name-calling and disrespect that people hurl at each other over political differences. When I ask proponents of particular ideologies to enumerate their opponents’ reasons for disagreeing with their stances, the answers I hear, invariably, are insults that show no understanding of the issues.

“They don’t agree because they are stupid.”

“They are simply filled with hatred”.

“They are lazy people who want free stuff.”

“They are evil”.

“They just hate America”.

If a person cannot make an argument for their position without name-calling and finger-pointing, how valid can their position possibly be?

If a person doesn’t take the time to understand their opposition’s point of view, how can they effectively represent their own interests, and how evolved can their own stance really be?

It’s impossible to consider American politics without thinking about the political spectrum which we describe as right and left, or more recently and more divisively, as blue and red.

I think all countries function best when there is a balance between the left and the right, and when both sides can compromise and work together. That we have villainized those who try to cross the isle in Washington to do just that is a sign of how sick we have become.

The question is, how did we get to this place of pedantic name-calling, and how can we fix it?

I believe the political spectrum describes natural human traits, all of which are needed for the survival of the community.

Virtually every American has the best interest of their country at heart. We may disagree about what is best for our country, but we all want our country to be the best it can be. We have to use that understanding to treat each other with the respect that has sadly gone out of style.

Imagine a small village in ancient times. Within that village, different people would have different personalities, and would be concerned about different things.

Some folks would be primarily concerned with the safety of the village. They might worry that a neighboring village would invade. They might be concerned that the village would have enough food and fuel for the winter.

These folks, concerned with security and basic resources, would take responsibility to guard the village, and make sure the food storehouses were full and safe.

Other folks wouldn’t find it in their nature to be so worried about safety. Their primary interest might be the general well-being of the population.  They might concern themselves with educating the children, entertaining the community and providing care to the sick and injured. They would be able to effectively minister to the well-being of the community because those security-conscious people kept the community and its resources safe.

The security people, likewise, would understand and appreciate the value that the education, medicine and entertainment brought to the community.

In our modern American society, those concerned with security are likely to identify as Republican, or “Red”, while those concerned with health care, education and general well-being are likely to identify as Democrat, or “Blue”.

In our mythical village, it is clear that neither type of person is evil. It’s clear that the community needs both types of people to thrive.

Here in the US, we have plenty of Blue people, and plenty of Red people. So why aren’t we thriving?

I think there are three specific reasons our precious eagle’s wings are so battered we can’t fly.

1.       Dumbing Down America

There was a time in our nation’s recent history when we really valued education. After Sputnik, the race to the moon was on. We won that race by making quality education a national priority. Arguably, an unintended secondary result was the youth movement of the 1960s. Since then, education has been vilified as “elitist” and “unnecessary”.

2.       Changes in News and Media

Cable news and the 24-hour news cycles has removed all hope for unbiased reporting, and replaced it with news-as-entertainment. This forms the conversations we have at the water cooler and online, without actually informing anyone.

3.       Mixing Religion and Politics

In any country, it’s often the most superstitious, extreme religious sects who want to frame and lead the national conversation. Let’s face it, if you believe that God sends natural disasters, war and illness as a punishment for particular behaviors, you are going to make preventing those behaviors a matter of national security.

While our national conversation has always honored a Higher Power, the hijacking of the Right Wing to serve the agenda of Evangelical Christianity was craftily planned and executed, much to the disappointment of many right wing politicians and moderate Christians.

In 1994, far-right Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, said, “Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.”

 Goldwater’s words seem eerily prophetic today.

We have to respect the belief sets of others. At the same time, suggesting that we should elect officials who will prevent an angry God from punishing our nation makes as much sense as sacrificing a virgin to ensure a good harvest.

We can see how the confluence of these three problems have created the problems we face today.  Perhaps we can blame our unwillingness to fund education, to truly understand world events and to legislate according to the needs of the people rather than the perceived demands of an angry God, on one huge American problem.

What is that huge problem?

It’s greed.

Over the years, the wage gap between the heads of corporations and their lowest-paid workers has increased dramatically. We’re OK with that, because even the poorest of us is trained to admire the wealthy, and to believe that they, too, could one day be a member of that millionaire’s club.

Perhaps, the fundamental reason our national community is so dysfunctional is that we are all working to create wealth for just a few people. It happens that those people own the media, so they get to shape the conversation that keeps us in a place of fear.

We can thwart their efforts.

Turn off the television, and talk with your neighbor. Listen to people who disagree with you. Don’t quote soundbites, discuss issues.

Educate yourself about issues by reading material from many different sources. And yes, I said READ. Don’t watch cable news and believe yourself to be “informed”.

Don’t share inflammatory memes on social media unless you are willing to have polite conversation about your views, and listen to opposing views.

Resist the urge to unfriend people on social media who disagree with you. Perhaps, instead, you could find common ground with them, or learn something from them.

Honor folks with conservative values for their real concern for our safety and security.

Honor folks with liberal values for their real concern for our overall well-being.

We need both the left and the right in order to thrive. Let’s respect each other and work together. If we can learn to do this as average citizens, perhaps our elected leaders might follow our example.

It is possible to be united as a nation, even when our citizens hold diverse beliefs and values. 

Not only is this sort of unity possible, it is absolutely vital. 

Seven Reasons to Wave the Flag this Week

American patriotic holiday celebrations sometimes make me cringe just a little. I am not sure of the purpose of declaring one’s country the “Greatest Nation on Earth.” Why can’t we celebrate the greatness of all nations, and of all cultures, along with our own?

I have pride in my country, just as I am sure most people do. When I say “most people” I mean that people of every country have pride in their country.

I also know that friendly competition is healthy. In sports and in the marketplace vying with competitors creates excellence.

I know, too, that different nations and different cultures have ideals that are different than ours, and in some cases those ideals could be mutually exclusive. That’s why I am grateful for our military in which many of my family members have proudly served.

But I think it is time that we started to see ourselves as citizens of a planet, in addition to being citizens of a country. Instead of asking a Higher Power to bless the USA, why not ask that Higher Power to bless the whole planet?

I would like to see a bit less competition and a bit more cooperation around the globe, at least at the times and in the places where that is possible.

At the same time, there are some things that make the United States of America unique in the world. Here are seven great things about the United States to celebrate on this July Fourth.

1. When suspected of a crime, we are innocent until proven guilty. To Americans this is just common sense. But the presumption of innocence in our system of jurisprudence is fairly unique on the planet, and truly a source of my national pride.
2. We do not have a national religion. I know there are some Americans who are not proud of that fact, but it is one of the founding principles of the United States. And it is a good principle because with it come true religious freedom. The ability to worship how one wants, and if one wants, is a priceless freedom that many world citizens do not enjoy.
3. Our land is vast, beautiful, and rich in biodiversity and resources. Yes, I wish we honored our land a bit better, but we are working on that. It is hard not to see our oceans, our mountains, our flora and fauna and not feel a sense of pride and gratitude.
4. Our culture is defined by its diversity. As much as we struggle with issues of race and diversity, we are unique in that we are all products of the melting pot.  In many countries the citizenry is comprised almost entirely of one race and culture. To be an American is to celebrate a richness of foods, languages and histories while at the same time sharing a singular commonality. We trace our roots and heritage to all parts of the globe, and yet we are all American.
5. We have freedom of speech. Again, this is something that is easy to take for granted. We grew up saying “It’s a free country” as a smart retort to one another. But not every country’s citizens can say that. In fact, in some countries one can be jailed for something one says. Think about that.
6. The American “can-do” attitude really exists.  American ingenuity is real and unique. It’s part of our culture. We have a sense that if we try hard enough and think outside the box we can achieve whatever we want. It is in our culture to believe that anything is possible. This belief that is instilled in each of us is perhaps the greatest American value of all.
7. Our Constitution is a work of art. Checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, and the foresight to protect us from inevitable human nature – our Constitution contains all that and more. The brilliance of our Founding Fathers (though they were certainly products of their time) cannot be understated.

With failed policies, a faltering economy and divided philosophies, many Americans are feeling disappointed, disillusioned and disenfranchised this Independence Day. But there are still a lot of great reasons to wave the flag, and even more reasons to have faith in a great future for our great nation.

Seven Difficult Steps Toward Unity

The word "spectrum" can describe the rainbow of light and color. It can also describe the range of political views. Recently, the American political spectrum has been compressed into only two options: left or right, liberal or conservative.

This compression, this line of demarcation, is absurd and inaccurate. People don't divide this clearly, and issues don't divide this clearly.

I think this angry polarization that divides our nation is artificial. In my mind, its creation comes from a number of sources. It serves neither the country, nor any of the rallying causes. It only serves the power structure that, in turn, serves only the very few.

The sources of our nation's bipolar disorder include the "dumbing down of America." This has been an intentional campaign over the past forty years to make sure that the average American isn't too smart. Why would we want to do that? Again, it serves the political structure that empowers and enriches the very few.

An older and more far-reaching source is simple dualistic thinking. When everything boils down to the eternal battle of good vs. evil, or "for us or against us", it is easy to polarize our national conversation. Dualistic thinking is a true impediment to consensus and cooperation.

Another source is the American news media. Owned by the very few, the media lays the battle lines in clear black-and-white. The under-educated public, already trained in dualistic thinking, eats it up. After all, it's easy, isn't it? Just chose between red or blue, left or right! There are no hard decisions to weigh, and there is nothing to research. Then, an American can proudly say they belong somewhere. The somewhere they belong is no longer on a spectrum, or a continuum. It's on one side of a scale, or the other. The sad fact is, that scale can never, ever balance.

While we are all busy pointing fingers at those on the other side of the scale, blaming them for all the world's evils, the really dangerous forces in the world are able to operate without much interference. Many people see this truth, and long for national unity. The catch is this. Unity will not come without diversity, or in spite of it. Unity can only come through diversity. My elderly aunt used to say that it would be a pretty boring world if we all thought the same way about things. Years later, I see the wisdom in this more clearly than ever before.

My grandmother often quoted Evelyn Beatrice Hall's famous statement; "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." It seems this concept is far less valued by modern Americans than it needs to be.

This July Fourth was bittersweet for me. It is sad that our nation is so angrily divided. In Washington, the "Aisle" is like a mighty river that cannot be crossed. In the media, the extreme voices shout the loudest, and seem to believe they speak for us all.

I'm not sure what it will take to fix this, but I have some ideas.

1. Don't leave the job of education only with the schools. Schools give our kids primary skills and provide free day care, socialization and a sense of basic workplace expectations. It is our job as parents to teach our kids to be critical thinkers, motivated researchers and self-determined decision-makers. To that end, take your kids to the library once in a while. Read with your children. Ask them their opinions, and ask them to back up their opinions by discovering actual facts. If their opinions differ from yours, be pleased. It's called evolution.

2. Remember that people who think and feel differently from you aren't evil. They aren't "bad guys." You and your like-minded friends aren't "good guys." At the end of the day, we all love our kids and we all want what's best for the country, and for the world. We just differ on what we think that "best" actually is.

3. Don't imagine that our country's policies can ever be tailored for your specific beliefs. Compromise is the answer, not the problem.

4. Consider this. Freedom of religion is a basic American right. Legislation dictated by religion isn't.

5. Remember that a leader who changes his or her mind is not necessarily a waffler, or a flip-flopper. When we learn new information, sometimes we change our minds about something. This is called growth. It's a good thing.

6. Don't quote or believe statistics without a legitimate source. Any jerk can create a Facebook meme that uses numbers to make a point. Find out the veracity of those numbers before you become outraged.

7. Here's another thing to consider. Just because a person claims to have a religion does not mean they have a moral center. And just because a person doesn't claim a religion does not mean they don't have a moral center.

So what is it going to take to find national unity? I think we need to honor things like diversity and compromise above hardline adherence to dogma. I think we need to be suspicious of politicians who use fear and anger to motivate us. I think we need to understand we can have basic morals without dictates from a specific religion. I think we need to be critical thinkers, and question everything we read and hear. We need more respect, and less ridicule. We need more facts and less fiction.

I don't think any of this will be quick or easy, but I know it can happen. We just need to be more intelligent than we are angry.