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Citizens of the Republic,
Partisanship. Division. Bitterness and Strife. For two decades we have watched our country sup of this poisoned chalice – until at last we awoke from our feverish dreams to the present – reality– our land is now more divided than at any other point in its modern history.
How did it come to this? When did sibling turn against sibling? Parent against child? Neighbor against neighbor? When did hate, become stronger than love?
Did it begin when we defriended a close friend or family member over a difference of opinion? Preferring like Narcissus, to only see ourselves in their reflection?
Did it begin when we wouldn’t date someone who disagreed with our point of view? Preferring to wear our political preferences, as well as our dating profiles, on our sleeve?
Did it begin when we wouldn’t hire someone who didn’t share our values?
Did it begin when we fired someone, upon discovering the same?
Did it begin when we moved? Moved to communities of like-minded citizens, so that we would not have to put up with those who disagreed with us.
So that we, could be surrounded by those whose preferences we preferred – Never challenged, never questioned, never expected to test our own constructs against the weight of someone else’s views?
Did it begin when we brought politics into the classroom?
Did it begin when we simply started denigrating, devaluing, and dismissing those with whom we disagreed? Preferring to crush dissent as opposed to valuing freedom of speech.
Did it begin when we started to only watch, listen to, or read those mediums which concurred with our constructs? Preferring to receive our news from only those sources which confirmed our preconceptions?
Did it begin when we concocted ideological purity tests to determine whether someone was welcome at the table? Preferring conformity and uniformity over individuality and originality.
Did it begin when we misplaced the art of compromise and forgot how to meet in the middle? Preferring gridlock over moderate gains – Defining success in negotiation as getting 99% of what we want to the exclusion of the other side?
Did it begin when we started to fight fire with fire? Preferring to punish our fellow Americans as opposed to holding out the olive branch of peace?
Did it begin when our politics polarized? As ‘We the People,’ began to elect only those who played a zero-sum game?
It is hard to say when it began, but surely, somewhere along this path – we lost our way.
For if you treat someone, for long enough, as the enemy, and the other. If you dismiss them. Devalue them. Deride then.
How can you be surprised, at the end of the day, when they turn into the very monster that you fear?
So where do we go from here? Shall we look to the marbled edifices of Washington for our salvation?
No, we cannot… For no matter how ornate the roof if the walls are crumbling the house will not stand.
Congress is an expression, of “We the People,” It is the tip of the iceberg.
We are the problem. But that should be an empowering statement, for if we are the problem…we are also the solution.
For democracy begins at home.
It begins with small steps. Small steps back to health.
It begins with open hearts and open minds.
It begins with putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
It begins with reconciliation over revenge.
It begins with extending the hand of friendship to those with whom we might have – diverging opinions.
It begins with going out on a date and being open to someone’s else’s perspective. You might not end up marrying them at the end of the day…But your preconceptions might be changed by the experience.
It begins with depoliticizing the office. For why should a litmus test on values define the competence of a worker?
It begins by traveling. Traveling to parts of this great land – where people hold opposing views – and being open, whilst you visit them – to understanding their way of life.
It begins with emphasizing education over indoctrination.
It begins by creating communities, where differences of opinion are not simply denigrated, devalued, and dismissed.
But by creating gardens where myriads of blooms are enticed to grow.
It begins not by crushing dissent, but by providing an open-air forum for it.
It begins with seeking out sources that disagree with us to test the validity of our own opinions.
It begins with valuing individuality and originality over lockstep conformity and uniformity.
It begins with the art of compromise. With seeking out the middle ground.
It begins with dousing water over the flames. For only when a fire has run its course, can new life proliferate.
It begins with not viewing everything as all or nothing.
It begins with the American people, taking their respective political parties to marriage counseling – for if the parents are fighting, and cannot get along – it is the child – the Republic, which suffers.
It begins by flipping the magnets, and reminding ourselves – that opposites are stronger – when they come together –
Citizens of the Republic,
Our fellow Americans – are not the enemy. They are not the other.
They are your friends. Your neighbors. Your family. – and yes, they are that uncle who brings up divisive politics at the most inopportune moment at the family reunion, they are that boss who unprofessionally preaches to a captive team meeting on a Friday afternoon, they are that professor who cannot divide their politics from your paper –
But they are also your fellow Americans – and if they have fallen from the path – then it up to you to set the example. It is up to you to set the standard –
Not only within your own communities but for our elected representatives as well – for as the will of the people goes, so does their Congress.
This is James David Miller. Signing Off.
Relinquishing the stage but not the field. Be well, be safe, stay strong, and keep the faith America.
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