Blog Post #36: Bridging the Divide in Troubled Times
If the last few years have taught us anything, it should have taught us the damage that can be done by a divided nation. We are not red and blue states. We are the United States of America, even though many of us seem to have forgotten this. As Lincoln pointed out during the Civil War, a divided house cannot stand. Do we need to go through another Civil War to learn this lesson? I hope not
I would appeal to all of you to get control of your feelings and emotions. We are all in the same boat, and even though we may not agree with or even like many of our fellow crewmates, we need to put these differences aside and focus on the things that we can agree on. We all want good jobs that pay well, are good, and have affordable healthcare. We all want an educational system that prepares our children for the future and provides a healthy environment for them to grow up in and raise their children in, and a secure retirement for seniors. These are just some of the things that we agree on. There are many more.
In general, we agree on much more than we disagree on. We should focus on these things and how to achieve them and retain them, rather than focusing on our differences. Working out our differences will take a very long time, but if we start focusing on what we agree on, we can start rowing the boat; we’re all in the same direction. Divided, we cannot achieve the goals that we share. Together we can. Connect with others even though you may not agree with them. Communicate with them. Most of us in this country are spending way too much time in echo chambers. Try to understand why those we disagree with see things the way they do, and again, focus on the things that we can agree on. Be flexible. Don't isolate. We do not need any more walls or silos in this country. Don't take your feelings and frustration out on others, especially those who don't agree with you and whom you may dislike. Find other ways to vent your anger and unhappiness. Think before you speak. And realize that your fate, our fate, is a common one. We can heal the wounds of the past. Be patient with yourself and with others.
Ron Breazeale PhD
