Are we really so divided? I'm not so sure

There is a popular and strongly held belief running through American society these days that we are a nation divided, a people torn asunder.

To a certain degree it’s certainly true. I have lamented that condition in this very space numerous times that we are a nation of grievance and retaliation. And when you look at national politics, that notion certainly rings true, especially during a presidential election year.

I have entered into plenty of wailing and gnashing of teeth regarding our nation’s internal conflicts, and I was in despair about how we are apparently being driven even further apart in the wake of the election. But then I got to thinking: Are we really THAT divided?

Cable TV news and ratings-based “journalism,” along with special interest social media and internet sites, are designed to tear us apart and get us fighting. Such conflict drives ratings and brings money into the hands of big media corporations. After all, if we weren’t tuning in daily, even hourly, to see who supports our side and how we can punish the other side, the coffers of the social media partisan networks would suffer, wouldn’t they?

Think about it. I believe there is much more in life that unites us than divides us. We love our communities, our state and our nation. We gather in worship. We root for common teams, mostly, and when we disagree, it’s all in fun. We love our families and share photos of kids and grandkids. We support our schools and attend myriad school events – in droves. We find common interests and hobbies. We share ideas.

We cuss and discuss the weather, stupid TV commercials, movies, our jobs, cars, current events, books we’ve read, good hunting or fishing spots, raising kids, what people are wearing “these days” and so much more.

Yes, we may disagree on politics, and we should. The last thing we want to be in a representative democracy are apathetic sheep, letting officials in Washington or even Cheyenne run over us. We should listen, read, react and write. We need to pay attention and let elected leaders know what we think.

But even when we disagree, we need not rage at each other. And for the most part, we don’t. I constantly find myself among friends and family members I disagree with politically, but I still love and enjoy them.

Now maybe I’m taking a Pollyanna view, given that we live in generally homogenous Wyoming, but I simply believe that there is more in life that binds us than divides us.

What I believe truly fans the flames of division are the parasitic social media, internet and cable TV sites that not only want discord but create it. They strive to enrage and foster a desire to punish the other side, and it’s simply not healthy.

Now, I could suggest that we all take a timeout from such sites, but I realize that’s unrealistic, though I know a few people who have tuned out and unplugged. But what I would suggest is that we simply think about what’s truly important in our lives: our loved ones, our friends, our communities of faith and our love of this great nation. Put these things first, even as we hold leaders accountable, and we will be far better off psychologically, our anxiety reduced.

Special interest sites feed off the emotional, divisive strife to drive ratings. It’s like the original series Star Trek episode where an entity (the Star Trek word for any sentient being that can enter a starship as a special effects light display) gets the Enterprise crew and the Klingons fighting until they figure out what’s happening and drastically change their behavior, which sends the entity scurrying away into outer space. (Yes, it was rather silly.)

Maybe we can send the special interest sites scurrying. Wishful thinking.

Are there serious problems facing us and the world? There absolutely are – and we should work to solve them. But constantly stewing and raging at each other will only lead to greater anguish. And that’s no way to live.

The road to reconciliation begins at home, with each other, not on a screen. We simply have too much going for us in this country to feel bad all the time. I choose to feel good.