Bifurcated Society

If you have to check the dictionary for its definition, you may be half of the problem.

Today, we have two societies in America. One that keeps up with things social, culturally, technologically, artistically, and spiritually. That covers all subject matters or is intended to. The other society, dwells in the mind and emotions mostly. They do not check the facts. They seem to dwell on the past and how that affects the present. Mostly absent is future. What will come tomorrow, the day after and the decade after that? 

One portion of our society deals with the whole of our existence, not just part of it. Oh, we have specialties represented within the whole, but even that is folded into the whole to determine how the whole is better or worse because of it. What does it tell us? What will happen if various key points are altered? What will the future be like, and do we need to take corrective action?

The other portion of society doesn’t worry about that. They remain fixated on what is life for them and their family and friends. They little curiosity on how the vast majority of others in this world live and if it is suitable.

Care of others. Empathy. Working not for self but for others. One segment of society does this automatically. The other doesn’t get it at all.

And that’s what America has become in a nutshell.

My opinion, of course, but still, is this how we want to be remembered? Is this the nation we love or loved and still want it to be better.  You know, the Preamble of the US Constitution declares “to form a more perfect union” is the purpose of the US Constitution. It is not perfect – not at the beginning, or now, or any time in between. It is a nation striving for a better, more perfect union. It is a job never complete. It is what we must do all the time.

I think we are better people than two warring camps struggling to be heard. I think we are all in this together to build a more perfect union. We cannot do that while tearing each other down. We cannot do that while ignoring facts.

We are much. We can do much. We have already done much. We are strivers and doers. Each of us has a contribution to make to the whole. That makes each of us more. Your striving makes you more whole. Your working outside of yourself for the betterment of others builds your character. It adds value to you. And to all of us.

This is the United states, not the Divided states. We each have a heritage of which we are proud. But we also know that it is only a small part of the whole of our nation. We should be proud of all the parts; not just one.

Differentness is enrichment. It makes our food taste better. It enhances our art, design and social context. It makes us better and more adaptable. From that we invent and innovate. From that we do more with what is at hand.

Each of us is at hand. Each of us have a role to play. For the good of all. Not for the good of me, or just you, or your ‘kind.’ For the good of all of us together.

As one, we are more.

Let’s get to work.

November 23, 2020