Divisions

Out the window snow is falling; streets are covered, so too, parking lots. Trees and shrubs are laced and all seems peaceful. But then the news comes on…

How many ways can a society be divided? Why is that so? Are my thoughts more valuable or consequential than yours? Or is it the reverse? What makes any one idea more worthy than another?

Have and have nots. Smart and stupid. Educated or ignorant. Active or dull. These are opposites. Life is rarely so in the realm of thinking.

To govern a people or not. Ordered or not ordered. Organizing thoughts weave together to build an ideology of sorts. In America we have the political parties with fringe parties scattered about. In the main the ideologies are conservative, liberal and the in-betweens, or centrist. The conservatives preach individual freedom and minimal government intervention. Liberals teach collaboration and cooperation in bringing order and well-being to the whole of society. Centrists borrow some from both conservatives and liberals to blend and balance the two. I’d hazard a guess that generally conservatives are 30% of the public thought, while liberals are close to an equal 30% of the public’s sentiments. That leaves about 40%, or a plurality, of Americans pretty much in the middle.

Some would argue that centrists can’t make up their minds whether they are liberal or conservative, but I would argue that centrists are logical, compromising, and practical. They get things done. They help opposite views remain in the discussion while governance continues in the main. As I stated, practical.

In each of these three political divides, extremists reside. They push and pull the boundaries of their ideologies. They allow themselves to get heated and riled. They are motivated to offset extremists of the ‘other side.’ Rhetoric may excite action and reaction, physical behavior that is indistinguishable from physical fighting. Riots may be near. Tipping points in such matters are often quite delicate until…

The US Constitution is a powerful document that lays out the basics of our government. Through time we the people have codified the words into operating principles and laws. The interpretation of those actions are not perfect but practical for their age. Through more time the interpretations are refined and re-codified. We work our way through these changes. We find points of agreement, settlement of divisions at least temporarily.

But what makes divisions turn ugly and violent?

Many answers are possible. However, loss of behavioral control unleashes violence regardless of ideology. A free society is free to think and speak its ideas. Manners and good sense keep discussions logical, peaceful, intellectually challenging. Violence is not in the picture unless – unless what?

A society that includes a well-trained military always has its veterans who are not under sworn duty at the time. Their service is in the past, but their memory of training and behavior may be near the surface. Riled enough they may hearken back to their military training and take up arms.

This is not a well-ordered militia. This is a mob. This is well-meaning people who have lost control. They can damage the peace. They can upset order.

When words are replaced by unruly action, a riot results. Perhaps even an insurrection?

Divisions are normal. Insurrections are not. They happen when trust in government institutions has been lost for some. They seek restoration of power to support their viewpoint. Adopting power methods, however, usurps someone else’s power. A reaction to that action is birthed.

America’s social norms include rigorous discussion and debate. We define the arguments as best we can and then put the issue to a vote. Majority approval of the issue sets the consensus. And then we move on.

Those among us who cannot abide by this process have forgotten what democracy is and what it does. It is a constant resettling of the common agreements among us. And then we move on.

Yes, I am a centrist. I think there needs to be a balance between two polar opposite views. There is wisdom in each. Both are worthy of their logic and value. But order and progress requires agreement of sorts, of compromise. And then moving on. Always moving on.

Time passes. People come and go. Things come and go. In an ocean of change we survive by settling on what works and is good for most. We protect the weak. We support the needy. We seek the common good and maintain order to serve it.

That is what the Constitution pronounces. Let the institutions of government do their work. Get involved in that doing. Keep the work transparent. And trust in the process.

Divisions, yes; violence, no.

January 19, 2021