Wedge Issues and Division

How do we see ourselves politically? Somehow we want to categorize each other in the most extreme ways. Why? Over the last few decades out view of the world is communicates by and to us in extreme ways, Vietnam, Cold War, War in Iraq I, War on Terrorism and Iraq II. Both sides of the polarization have been epitomized by extremes of demagoguery and like metal filings we have gravitated to the poles.

I find it amazing, when I step back and look objectively, that neither pole is as correct as they think and neither pole is as wrong as they see each other.

I was wondering aloud with my wife if it makes any difference to the extreme conservatives if a person is moderate, liberal, socialistic, and communistic if they are all considered extreme threats by those more conservative. I wonder if extreme liberals care if a person is either moderate, conservative, fascist before they call them wingnuts or "Big Business" thugs. All Tea Party folks are not the dangerous extremists they are made out to be but some are definitely a threat to society as are some left wing radicals.

Somehow we need to see our country as a United place not in thought necessarily but in purpose and that purpose is “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” lest we learn that “divided we fall.” Perhaps we all need to give a little for the common good and stop name calling in the darkness of blind hatred and blind faith in those who are too selfish to understand we are not all the same and not all that different.

We all need to listen and read better and discover more than one point of view on every issue. We all need to better at understanding that there is more than one issue that is important in our lives. Common sense and knowledge are two different things and both are more effective when both are used. Education and experience provide only part of being right with energy and courage also being necessary for the common good.

Common good is not a dirty word and neither is social justice and while there is a "dog eat dog" does describe some aspects of life we are not cannibals. While it is true the victor gets the spoils at times it's a hallow victory when the spoils discontent and hate.