Our history is riddled with examples of America unifying behind a common enemy. Today, the electorate's polarizing nature suggests that we have seen the enemy… and it is us. It appears our ability to compromise has been replaced by an unparalleled level of hostility.
The conflict seems more fundamental than left vs. right or Democrat vs. Republican. We are struggling to define who we are. It would be short-sighted to direct our anger at such extremism toward one person. Trump is a product of Obama and the Presidents that preceded him. I know many people who do not feel represented by either party.
Our country's problem is not simply Trump or radical Islam or CNN. It is that we have lost our ability to listen to alternate points of view, to compromise and reconcile. As the edges of our debates are so sharp, we find it necessary to approach every discussion with weaponized arguments. Not here, not today, and not in this post.
I am reaching out to all Americans to suggest that we must talk to one another. We need to have rational debates void of the venom that is corrupting us. This is especially true with our loved ones and coworkers, who we can alienate quickly. There are families practically breaking apart at the seams.
America is strong when we know why we are asked to sacrifice. As a response to Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt set forth aggressive goals for the nation: to produce 185,000 aircraft, 120,000 tanks and 55,000 anti-aircraft guns. He asked Americans to contribute; he raised taxes, sold war bonds and imposed commodity rations.
In 1944, the U.S. produced more planes than Japan did during the entire war. By the end of World War II, more than half of the world’s industrial production occurred in the United States. The Japanese had the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. The U.S. had GM, Chrysler, Packard and the American people. Japan never had a chance.
Our politicians are failing to find common ground. Those fueling the fire on social media (with only one narrow point of view) should be ashamed of themselves. Is this the America anyone wants?
We can do great things when we are united. I believe we can have the greatest economy supported by a free market, and still have reasonable regulations that keep our banking and other systems in check. I believe we can have moderate taxation levels, while still feeding the hungry and housing the homeless. We are a generous and responsible nation, and finding compromise is possible. But it will start with reaching for something inside ourselves and being willing to recognize another point of view.
For more, visit the Optimize Blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment