The Grey Republic: A Look at What Divides Us

Within our modern society there is very little that we can classify as cut and dry, non-negotiable, agreed upon by everyone, black and white.  Most of us have never met a person that we agreed with on each and every issue.  As such we all have a few options when it comes to social interaction…  Sure, you could carefully structure your life so that you only spent time with a few select people. (where’s the fun in that?) You could of course choose to opt-out of people all together, an option being popularized by hermits everywhere. Or you could simply refrain from ever taking a position on anything.  Generally speaking though, at some point in our lives, we all must come to terms with the realization that part of what makes us unique is that every single member of our species is different, both internally and externally.

So how is any progress ever made?  Well, through one of our greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses.  Despite our differences, we naturally group with like-minded people.  It really is as simple as that, and yet another thing that makes the human race unique.  We see the results of this phenomenon around us literally every day from the moment we enter grade school to the day we die.  Despite it’s petty nature, our cliquey nature has yielded some impressive results over the years, from the golf foursome to Bill Gates not getting picked in dodge ball, only to build a computer and found Microsoft. (or was that bad?)  Our country first started breathing when a small group of people decided that there was enough common ground to break off from the most powerful and tyrannical nation on earth, in order to create their own, more perfect, union.

The difficulty is that the very same phenomena, if left unchecked, can cause serious problems as our country matures.  Within an established society, this “group with like-minded people” habit slowly starts to morph into permanent cultural and ideological divides.  The reason for this is diversity.  Don’t get me wrong, diversity is a great thing, a GREAT thing.  The problem comes into play when we let our diversity and our tendency to group with like-minded people get out of control.  We essentially let our diversity divide us. People stop worrying about the non-negotiables; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and start focusing on what divides them, which in turn breeds a sense of separation and indignation directed at those across the divide.

We see this everywhere, and its only encouraged by the media which is portraying politicians as “blasting” their opponents left and right. (pun intended)  I’m not here to name names, Olbermann, or point fingers, Limbaugh, but you know it’s true.  We are conditioned to have zero respect for the “enemy”, which only serves to widen the divides.  This is a slow process, a disease, which is helping to bring an extremely advanced democracy to its knees on a massive scale.

For example, how many have read this post and wondered which way this blog “slants”?  It makes sense that we naturally prefer to read things we agree with, because it is easier to agree.  And lets be honest, most folks (including me) love to get a pat on the back now and again.  Some more than others… again, no names, Janeane Garofalo.  But in order to move forward as a whole, as a country, we must let go of the team mentality, this us vs. them thing.

So what is the answer?  This much I know: No one will ever agree with everyone on every issue, therefore it is essential to discuss and understand a position from every represented side in order to establish a mutual respect.  Not that it wont be a heated process, (if you are as passionate as I am, a very heated process) but in the end, a well-thought out argument/opinion/idea should foster a respect born out of common sense.  Once a mutual respect is found, a natural focus on what we have in common will evolve into compromise, while what divides us slips into the background.

If we never get back to the basics and try to understand each other, we will never respect each other; if we never respect each other we have no hope for any compromise.  Understanding, Respect, Compromise,  only in that order.

So, to that end, for every issue that cannot be considered cut and dry or black and white, there is the Grey Republic, putting what divides us under the light of independent thought and common sense.