Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Healing the Blue/Red Divide


It is said that the sun sets on all empires ... and that the end comes when a country is stretched beyond her means militarily and imperialistically ... is heavily in debt ... and resorts to reckless printing of money for the sake of staying afloat. However the last straw is almost always the nation’s own infighting. This is where we find ourselves today. The infighting pollutes our souls. As we fight so we hasten our decline.

Yes, our opinions vary. Yes, these discussions may be difficult. Yet wars of words, name calling, and statements that “they hate America” will be our demise.

We can debate issues such as abortion, welfare, gun control, Covid injections, immigration or simply whether it is appropriate to say Happy Holidays. Be mindful that these are Blue/Red distractions ... and far too many of us have bought into these concepts. The crux of all things and the most important matter of the day is who our government represents - the People or the corporations?

To transform American society will be a mighty and formidable task. 

How do we get there?

Charting a course for a large nation with a population of hundreds of millions is fraught with difficulty. There will be no easy solutions. There will be divergent views, antagonistic ones even. How to communicate as a majority will be paramount. This process may be the most difficult work we must do. Tolerance of other’s views is the one essential we need to bring to the discussion. Can we learn to accept that we will disagree with one another and keep a respectful dialogue going? Can we as a people become more value-oriented and more focused on the greater good of our society?

It will require action. Standing up. Speaking out. Civil disobedience. It may be necessary to “take it to the streets.” We the People must be ready to do our part to insure that our politicians hear us and become one of us again.

Never has there been a march on Washington, D.C. to demand higher wages for CEOs, bailout banks, larger tax deductions for corporations and the rich, more foreign weapons sales or build mass surveillance. None of these are directly beneficial to the larger population of the United States.

Government will be the last place where change will show up. Democrats and Republicans are not and will not be leading the way. They will only respond to overwhelming pressure. The first and only place that meaningful change will show up is within our own hearts - then in our immediate circles - and then our communities. Only then might our politicians reflect who we are.

We need positive, solution-based discussions. We need to listen more than talk.

The catalyst for such changes can only be supplied by the will of an informed and activist collectivism. It will require unity. Solidarity. With the awareness of the oneness of all people ... and kindness as a common denominator.

Are these ideas Pollyanna-ish?

Yes, absolutely.

And this is the dialogue we need to have.


Are we capable?


“If each person swept in front of their own door soon the entire street would be clean.”  
--Chinese proverb


16 comments:

  1. You said, it won't be the government. We, you, me, us is where this change will begin.

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  2. Our politicians arguing with one another is pathetic. Teaching their constituents to argue is tragic. Real leaders would never teach such things.

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  3. Government is absolutely not the answer. The divisiveness is designed to create victims. A nation of victims creates a powerless citizenry. Which serves government, not us! If one buys into victimhood, one’s sense of powerlessness makes you look to others such as government to solve your problems and take care of you. What’s happening now is the antithesis of the promise of America. Time to take back our power!

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  4. As we consider the importance of "tolerance" for those with whom we disagree... it would be helpful to emphasize acceptance with no condescension or arrogance. Coming into alignment, based upon shared core values, is a naive desire well worth pursuing! How we choose to engage makes all the difference when transformation is thee desired outcome. Here's a quote from Longfellow worth pondering: “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”

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  5. I agree AND I don’t know how to resolve within myself the banning of books, the control of the real history of the US, the oppression of people of color, the conservative fear of LGBTQ people and it’s consequences and the government deciding whether a woman can have an abortion in their state. This does not feel like it necessarily comes from corporations but from a mindset based on religious beliefs and how to better separate religion from government. This is my dilemma and I am certainly willing to hear their points of view, however, I don’t think laws should be put into place because of their religious views or fear that our history will make white people uncomfortable. We should feel uncomfortable. And I also understand your point that while I grapple with these issues, the government keeps us busy fighting with each other, so we don’t notice what is really going on. Anyhow, it made me think of this quote by Robert Kennedy: “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

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  6. 10 years ago I knew no one’s politics. I didn’t care. What changed? 10 years ago corporate influence in politics was not front and center. (I’m not naive) What changed? 10 years ago I never realized some friends and family were hateful and intolerant. What changed? 10 years ago education and diversity of thought were good. What changed? I know, it must be me…and I could go on…

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  7. My fear is that we are headed towards civil war. I hold firm with my wish to see greater harmony. Thank you for your piece.

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  8. Peace Love Kindness Compassion and Kumbaya will be the only way.

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  9. In order for these divisions to be healed, politicians and MSM need to stop the continual blame game which requires a raising of consciousness and maturity. I can't imagine this happening without a miracle, and similarly with the ceasing of the people watching and listening to MSM. Most are addicted to the drama of it all!

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  10. Cousin Harry HamburgerDecember 14, 2022 at 10:42 AM

    Blue v. Red reminds me of an ant experiment with red and black ants. They tend to live apart and avoid contact and conflict with each other. One can put some red and black ants in a jar and they do just fine unless they are agitated by shaking the jar. Then in this agitated state they proceed to go to war and slaughter each other. As long as corporate/government (by definition Fascism), gets the various groups in America fighting with each other through media and the internet, they can control the country for their own particular nefarious purposes. One believes what they are presented with, and independent thought and opinions really don’t exist anymore.

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  11. Nothing wrong with being a little idealistic as long as time and effort is spent working towards change for the good……that is to say if “common good” still possible.

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  12. The revolution will not be televised. It will be nurtured in the hearts and minds of every one of us. Be the society you wish to live in.

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  13. Thank you for this piece. It is true, the origins of division were constructed not so that anyone can have freedom of speech and feel free to live and speak for what they believe, rather division is created by the "powers that be " to keep us distracted and at each other's throats so we don't see and stay unaware of the damage that's being done to the world, and in turn, all of us. I believe that if everyone who engages in the blue/red division were to wake up and have a clear vision of the wicked systems that they are enabling by buying into the hate and propaganda that is being fed to all of us, there would be a revolution today. The question, I suppose, is how do we wake people up? As we see all the time, people tend to get offended and very defensive when they are told their wrong. We all need to push our pride out of the way of our evolution and progression and we need to unify in solidarity. Thank you for being brave and speaking the truth, in a world where truth is rare and courage even rarer.

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  14. The system is rigged to create conflict. It's a very, very simple and very old tactic - divide and conquer, bla, bla, bla... BUT, - How do we get out from under this MASSIVE totalitarian, corporate takeover thats happening around us at warp speed??? - We need Very concrete strategies and tactics - enough talk. Enough words. What more is there really to say?! Do we really need any more info on whats happening around us??? There is really nothing more that words can accomplish. We NEED to take action. NOW! - question is - how and where? I believe some things we can do is to: Get off social media asap. Get involved locally. Take a stand where you can. Start with yourself. Are you really all that you proclaim? Are you legit? are you strong in your convictions? After that - TALK to your neighbor - regardless of their views. Challenge them with love. And let yourself Be challenged.
    Please add more suggestions!!! and...
    Merry Fucking Xmas!!!!!!!! ;D

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