Across the Great Divide

Have heard a lot of comments this week about working across the aisle.  Watching Senator McCain’s memorial coverage, many spoke of service to country, dismissing rhetoric and respecting differences for the common good. This was the America I was familiar with, Americans standing proud together, no matter who was standing next to you. We were stepping across the great divide.

I grew up in an America where it was important to respect our politicians. Didn’t question direction so much as tried to figure out what your part was supposed to be. If your guy was in office, that was great. With the other guy in, still speak your mind, but your job is to listen and respect that other guy. The bottom line, although a bit naive these days, was to work together to find solutions. 

Now, admittedly, a lot of folks in politics messed that up with the Vietnam War. American soldiers ended up doing the ugly work while many politicians worked hard to save face. Adding fuel to fire, President Nixon royally screwed the pooch with his dog-faced lies about not being a crook. Selfless service became a dangerous forethought and was quickly abandoned in the halls of Washington.

A plethora of socially-mandated programs were instituted, designed to further subjugate a lower class. Taxes were raised to pay for these programs, but a healthy percentage went to winter vacations in Telluride. Democrats learned how to look out for themselves, too. By the time we trickled down economics to create a wall down the middle, all hell had broken loose. Party politics was the standing rule in Washington. The great divide grew and each new campaign brought slurs and attacks designed to further alienate ourselves from each other. These days, we sling mud before there is even an issue to discuss. We seem to have traveled far from the America that once was, now it’s difficult to find an honest player.

Look, no one is thinking all this is new territory. From the early days of our country, we have fought hard and talked tough defending what we believe in. Some of those fights and some of that talk has been downright dirty. Makes today’s nasty moves in the halls of congress and the steps of the capitol seem tame by comparison. 

There’s a fascinating scene in that Cohen Brothers movie, O Brother Where Art Thou. Townsfolk run sleazy Homer Stokes out of town on a rail. Wasn’t remarkable because Stokes was indeed sleazy and hell bent on saying anything to get himself elected. It was because the people stood together to rid the town of corruption. Of course, Pappy O’Daniel was about as equally sleazy, but he did take pains to redeem himself. 

So, in today’s political climate what are we doing to redeem our own selves? Washington politics doesn’t have an aisle so much as a mosh pit and there is no music to the ears. Just a bit too ugly to listen to anymore and we should really think about turning the dial. Or at least turning the dial back.

I have many friends who are Republicans and I don’t hold it against them. Same for Democrats, I feel sorry that they aren’t able to further their causes either. The truth is, I have disdain for any and all partisan politics. Even more disdain for the partisan people who ascribe to whatever short attention-span politics they believe in. Americans, politician or otherwise, must extend a hand to any and all for the advancement of the common good. Hold out an olive branch to those who believe differently than you do, but still deserve a voice. If we don’t stand together, we will surely fall for anything.

Reaching across the great divide means everything when one is trying to make things work fairly for all. Negotiation and compromise can go a long way in solving problems, especially when the differences are huge. Compromising can heal old wounds by showing a willingness to play fair, following rules, and respecting differences. Negotiating from a position of power until your adversary has to kiss your ring is dangerous. Compromising without showing your true hand until you’ve burned the other guy is juvenile.

Let’s try to remember one thing. We are all in this together. As a pretty significant American document states, all men are created equal. Run Homer Stokes out of town on a rail and keep a close eye on Pappy O’Daniel. Try to reach across the great divide, but reach out and listen to opposing viewpoints, too. Don’t be afraid to reach down to where the less fortunate need assistance. Above all, definitely reach beyond insulting politics and get back to an America that shows a little more respect for its citizens.