Everywhere I look… I see what my husband and I call the great divide. You know, the great depression but in today’s society it’s the great divide. It seems that there are no blurred lines… just hate against hate, judgements, and almost no respect. Families are being torn apart with opinions being thrust upon one another and no real, open and judgement free dialogue to help repair them.
I am not that old, pushing my forties and, in my lifetime, to date, this is a time like no other. Yes, undoubtedly, we have some craziness going on so far in 2020. We have Covid and the GLOBAL PANDEMIC with over 20 mil worldwide cases. The Black Lives Matter Movement and white supremacists feeling like what, it is okay somehow to be filled with rage and hate for another human being for no other reason than that person’s melanin is stronger and more protective than the other half of the population with less. We had killer hornets sweep the headlines. School and business closures around the world. We had city to city riots. We are looking at an economic crisis. And to top it off, a pretty serious toilet paper shortage that lead to some pretty amazing memes if I might say so.
Despite all of this crazy, one would hope that as humans we would rise up and come together. In some cases, we really have. I have personally witnessed power outages that have my neighbors coming together with one generator powering 4 different houses and coffee runs to Starbucks for the masses. Yeah, I know…pretty damn lucky to have the neighbors I have. I have had friends and loved ones reach out just to say, ‘I love you’ and to check in. And I have seen such great support with this blog as I started it in the midst of all this.
But I hate to say it, I have also seen really and truly the worst in people as well. I have seen such headstrong, unwavering opinions that regardless of scientific proof or gut-wrenching stories of sorrow, those opinions only become louder, more demanding, and less open to conversation.
I, in some cases, even fit into this category. I have family who have differing opinions politically and to be quite honest it has caused a rift, and even a little bit of respect has shifted. There have been so many instances where I found myself dumbfounded and in literal shock by some of the social media posts of my peeps. And the simple fact that I call them my peeps is what is mind boggling to me. How do ‘my peeps’ say and think some of these things and still say that they love me and my family. I have found that I take it personally almost and find myself hurt in the process. I shouldn’t, I know. I am doing the same things that I despise in others. I find a complete lack of patience, I just can’t with some people. It is odd, I have patience with people who are not that close to me and just want to have an open conversation about the state of the union. But when it comes to someone I love and care for, I simply have none. Maybe because I am tied to them or because I internalize it as though they are in some way a reflection of me. I am a big believer in ‘you are the exact median of those you surround yourself with’. And unfortunately, my surroundings seem to be getting smaller and smaller by the day.
Why is it though, that it doesn’t seem like this was the case a couple of years ago? I will be honest; I am mostly aligned with the Democratic party but do have some Republican views. In fact, I have even voted Republican before. I have participated in 5 Presidential Elections and witnessed 10, and I have never felt the sticky icky feeling and downright DIVIDE that is present today. I mean in fifty years I don’t think we have seen extremists come out of the woodwork and in the streets so openly and proudly. Race is against race. Blue lives verses black lives and why this is controversial is beyond me. I know some great cops who I love and respect. I would never say Blue Lives don’t matter; I whole heartedly think they do. But I do proudly say Black Lives Matter because the back community and even in my own home those lives are at risk and affected every day by something they cannot change, the color of their skin. Wearing a mask verses having to wear a mask is somehow taking away your freedom and refuse to do so even when it is a simple gesture you can do for your fellow man to help protect them. If it is all in vain then what is the harm? If it actually does safe a life, isn’t is by far and away worth it?
This Great Divide (and in my personal opinion, the Great Divider) has torn our country apart. Side against side and somehow making it religion against religion and freedom against freedom. Every other presidential election I have witnessed was always both sides, One Nation and Freedom for ALL. I know, as a member of today’s society, I too am at fault. I know the shit storm we are in plays a role too. And I know with all that is going on people want to feel like they are controlling something at least. But, if you are religious, why not let God lead? Why not simply put aside hate and fear and show love and grace instead? I am going to start with me and call those peeps of mine and remind them I love them and remind myself politics are just politics; it is and always should be simply about love. I am going to start with me, and my family, walking in love, because that really is the only thing, I can control these days. And I refuse to let this Great Divide do any more damage than what has already been done.
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