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I really don’t like the current American “we’re divided, we’re polarized” narrative for so many reasons, not least of which it largely isn’t true. To wit, 72% of us believe eliminating health disparities is a urgent or a high priority; 83% support requiring background checks for private and gun show sales; 93% of Americans believe it is important for our leaders to focus on things that bring people together and, actually, the list goes on. So I’m calling BS on the whole narrative or at least on the idea that we’re all divided all the time.
But be present, accept what is, I get it, divides exist: red-blue; liberal-conservative; rich-poor; white-non-white; elite-non-elite; capitalist-socialist; I don’t know. But is anyone who ascribes to this narrative believing that it’s getting better? Are we any less divided in these ways today than we were four years ago? If not, perhaps it’s because there is a more foundational division at play: the one between those of us who think in terms of ourselves and those of us who think in terms beyond ourselves.
In America today there are and have been those who of us who vote “single issue” and those of us who consider a range of issues when we vote. There are elected officials who make clear by their actions that they are in politics for their own personal gratification and there are elected officials who make clear by their actions that they are in politics for what they can do for others. There are Americans who don’t care about the suffering of others (and, more specifically, others who are not like them) and there are Americans who work tirelessly to assuage the suffering of others. There are those of us who want to wall ourselves off from others and those of us who value cultural diversity and prefer bridges and connections.
But that’s just me so back to you and how I might badger you because it’s my newsletter and you’re here for something.
Underneath these broad generalities, of course, are individual humans with various individual beliefs, conscious and not so conscious. You know if we are talking about beliefs, I am perking all the way up. And as someone who identifies with the think-beyond side of this divide, here are some beliefs I found undergirding this position:
American citizenship is a gift, not a right.
My American citizenship comes with responsibilities.
I cannot be at peace until we are all at peace.
No man (let’s actually say person) is an island.
We are all connected.
America has a unique and powerful role to play on the world stage.
But that’s just me so back to you and how I might badger you because it’s my newsletter and you’re here for something. First, for practice, whenever you feel like it, just listen to what beliefs sound like. They are declarative sentences. They are statements to which one can typically respond with a “true”or “false.” (“I-don’t-knows” count, too.) Next, ask your Self which side of this divide you are on. Now, follow that with looking for what beliefs you have that lie under your position. Maybe you share some of mine but, even better, maybe you have some different ones that you’ll share with all of us in the comments below. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Of course, conversing politically at the level of belief — particularly with those who are on other sides of any divide we might be on — is what conscious politics practitioners do so this practice will serve you in the immediate term. And changing beliefs is how we change experience. But there is more about this framing — that perhaps America is divided between those who think in terms of themselves and those who think beyond themselves — that has new consciousness written all over it.
To be sure, anything in the range of interconnectedness, bridge-building, coalition-building, diversity-cultivating is one hundred percent new-consciousness. It’s all embedded in the concept we belong to the planet, not the planet to us which says we humans have the same basic nature as Nature and interconnectedness is how Nature operates thus, it’s how we operate.
And if, indeed, there is a great divide that we would like to reduce or even eliminate, we have to think, talk, and act far beyond the divide. Ooh, ooh! Yes, Steven? Does that mean intention-setting? Why yes, yes it does. So get cranking on your version of what our world looks like when we are more united than divided. Intentions matter, people.
And let’s remember, also, as we approach our fellow humans on the other side of any divide, to be compassionate. If, like me, you see your Self firmly on the think-beyond side of this particular divide, realize that most of what fuels anyone on the other side includes having different information. We all believe what we believe based on the information we have so maybe they need some information you can provide. Psychologically, people who don’t see much beyond their own self-interests often live with a great deal of fear and insecurity. They don’t trust too many people. Realize the degree of vulnerability it would take for them to think about crossing this divide. As we invite them to do so, realize that changing beliefs can be hard so let’s make it as easy as we can.
By helping others to believe differently, we can make “connect to something greater than yourself” cool again and reduce this divide down to irrelevance.
NOTE: Don’t forget our friendly Like, Comment, and Share algorithms. They crave your attention.
NOTE: I began and committed to this piece before the presidential election was called yesterday morning. The results of the election across the board has me processing a multitude of thoughts, feelings, opinions, and attitudes on a range of issues. No surprise. If there’s anything on your mind that you’d like to see addressed in these pages, lay it on me.
Maybe This Is Our American Divide
Love it! I was definitely interested to see what today's article would say about yesterday's news but I'll wait for next week. In the meantime, I love this article for it's new consciousness perspective on "the divide". In discussing the election results and celebrations yesterday with our kids, we both mentioned your exact point about how people who think and behave differently from ourselves are not "bad" people but driven by fear and insecurity. I wonder how that sat with our 7 and 9 year olds but they seemed to at least think about it.
I believe that Black Lives Matter. I believe in a united country. I believe in love and the collective good. Now it's time for more intentions, more relief flooded tears, and some much deserved peace after a roller coast four years.
As always, thanks for enlightening and reinforcing how I feel and strive to live my life, Steven. xo
Hi Steven, Thank you for this! YES! We all need to LOOK at BOTH sides of this. The way I see it we all (or at least most of us) want the same things. Good schools for our children, affordable and excellent healthcare, affordable and safe housing, low crime and to live in a safe place where honest men can prosper, learn and grow.
Most of us have the same goals only with a different vision as to how to achieve those goals. THAT is where the division is occurring.
From my viewpoint it comes down to the original agreements that we had when this amazing country first started. The agreements that caused this country to flourish and prosper in the first place. The agreements that we made then that many of us feel have been violated. Sort of like purchasing a ticket on a bus in NYC headed to California that suddenly changes course mid-way down to Florida without the consent of the passengers.
Any relationship begins with agreements. Relationships with yourself, with family, with business partners, group members, etc. When those agreements are violated chaos ensues every time. Look at anytime you have had a problem with another. Think back to what agreements were violated and you will find the cause for the upset.
Right now we have a situation where many of our leaders in this country have been violating the original Constitutional agreements for a long-long-long time on BOTH sides of this situation. (Read "Secret Empires" to understand how) The news media has been trying to cover it up but it has been getting out through the many other channels. Light is shinning into areas that have never been seen before.
A similar situation occurred in the 1400s when the Gutenberg printing press disseminated Martin Luther’s first hand observations about the Catholic Church’s agreement violations with their loyal followers who joined the Church base on those agreements. Revolutions all over the western world occurred during that time because of the new open communication through the print media that had never existed before.
For too many years those who own our news media have been able to control our thoughts via radio, newspapers and TV and our school systems. When the internet was discovered, once again new communication channels open up shinning light on agreement violations that we were not aware of before. Many of us still want to believe that those that have controlled us in the past have had our best interests in mind. Others are starting to doubt that and the media is fueling the fire on both sides with an incredible amount of false information.
It has been said “know the truth and the truth will set you free”. It is my hope that at some point, the truth will come out and we the American people will be able to move forward together with agreements that suit us all.