Was there a wall built around us or between us?
In 2016, we were all promised that there was going to be an amazing wall built. A “h-uge” wall if you will;) One that would bring us a sense of security and safety. A wall that would help us Americans, stay unified on our path of progression.
4 years later, as 2020 is coming to a close, I can’t help but think that maybe that wall was slowly being built right in the middle of us all. A wall of separation, a wall built to divide. A wall that has gotten so huge we can’t even see the top anymore, we’re not really sure how to get through or where it even begins or ends. All we have is this stinkin’ wall.
There’s two sides to this wall, and it’s not so much a north and a south side or a good and a bad side. The sides just both exist perfectly and imperfectly. As i’ve been thinking about it, I wanted to share a little insight into how three different groups ended up on opposing sides of this American barrier.
The opposition in our two party system is nothing new. Nothing new to see here folks!! I mean if you want to look up another time of election madness you can look up the 1800 election. I promise, the feelings of dire importance that the survival of our country hinges on this one election, have been felt well, basically since George Washington decided that after his second term, he would be stepping down. And each election brings up those same feelings within the parties, every four years.
In the first group, on one side of the wall, we have our conservatives. They are the defenders individual freedom, a bustling economy, and traditional values. They hold close to people such as Thomas Jefferson and Ronald Reagan. They seek to maintain order within society. I have always found these people to be incredibly resilient, fearless, and consistent.
On the other side, we have our liberals. They are the defenders of equality, human rights, and diversity. They seek to open doors for those that may not have the opportunity to do so by themselves. They hold close to people such as Thurgood Marshall and Franklin D. Roosevelt. I have always found these people to be compassionate, articulate, and curious.
Both of these groups have qualities essential for a functioning, well-balanced society. At times we may feel that one is a roadblock to our progress, that the other is dismissive of things needing to be prioritized, but when both somehow manage to find a way forward together, we find effective ways to combat our worst qualities and create something meaningful.
Within the Christian church, I think there is another group that has been swiftly divided into two by the wall. Which of the three groups I’m gonna talk about for some reason this division has really surprised me and given me lots and lots to think about.
On one side of the wall, we have our Christian believers that don’t care so much about the vessel itself, but care about the fight and protection of religious freedoms. They want to keep issues such as the right to life and free exercise at the top of the priority list. They have a very strong belief that having the ability to spread their truth is of the utmost importance and by sharing they can help lift humanity in the process.
And on the other side, we have our Christian believers who have a strong support for faith in action. They fear that in recent years the church has lost some of its integrity by not condemning certain actions and rhetoric by our country’s leaders. They have a focus on serving the weak and afflicted, searching for the lost among us, and using one’s own power to help those who have none. They would rather the churches reach and popularity take a hit, than forget that it’s biggest mission is to simply love God and your neighbor.
The last group that I want to share some insight about is immigrants. (if you know me personally, you know that my love runs pretty deep for people who come here seeking a better opportunity) Recently, I have been pretty surprised to find out that even within this community there have been very contrasting feelings.
One the first side, we have our immigrants who have experienced socialism, communism, and authoritative rule firsthand. These people have come from countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Vietnam. They have witnessed revolutions and know the terror that comes with trying to live in chaos. They escaped terrible circumstances for the opportunities that are provided by capitalism and a free market. They prioritize law and order because without it, no one can feel safe. They did not come here to watch America slowly become what they had already experienced, they wanted better, they expect better.
And on the other side, we have our immigrants who have been on the receiving end of actions and words aimed directly at them. These people come from countries such as Syria, Mexico, and Haiti. While they too have come here in hopes for a better opportunity, they have struggled feeling safe in a country that has publicly declared it’s distaste towards them. They have encountered acts of racism and while working through the naturalization process have felt a blanket of fear cover their lives. They want America to be the place that they hoped it would, a place for everyone to come, work hard, and have the ability to make something of themselves.
As you can see these divisions among us aren’t doing us any favors. When we take the time to take off our political blinders, we can see that both sides have merit. Both sides have experiences and beliefs that have led them to being on one side of the wall vs the other. Both sides are fighting for meaningful issues that are worth putting their stakes in the ground for. I think though, the best thing that we could focus on now, is how do we remove this wall? Brick by brick? A couple barrels of explosives? I have been guilty of demonizing the other side just as much as the next person. In the heat of the moment, I too, have been swept up in fear, anger, and assumption towards those with opposing views. But ultimately, I know it is a huge disservice to myself and others to hold onto these type of negative thoughts and feelings.
The best thing that we can do right now, is to take a step back. Take a nice big step back away from all the feelings and focus on what others are lacking. Take a step back from the demonization and blame being directed at the opposing side. Take a step back from all the sensational headlines and facebook posts that only add to our heightened emotions. In doing so, we can start to see each other again, like really see each other in ways we haven’t been able to lately. We can start focusing more on the possibilities and less on the failures. We can focus more on improvement and progress and less on shortcomings and roadblocks.We can start seeing that every person has experiences, ideas, and talents that when brought to the table can resolve our differences and shape our country into what it was always meant to be.
