In an “Either” “Or” World, We All Lose

In the past few years, the seemingly long dead racial divide has come back to the forefront of the news. Part of the re-ignited tensions may have been sparked by the rash of shooting deaths of African-Americans by white police officers. But many believe that the issue flared up when America finally broke with tradition and elected an African-American president.

The election of President Obama also seemed to help set-off another division in the country between conservatives and liberals. It has gotten to the point that people seem to choose to identify themselves as belonging to one party or the other. There is a lack of unity at so many levels it seems as if the nation no longer understands the concept of united states.

Along with the conservative or liberal label, there are a variety of other ways that people have found to create separation. Though many of these sub-texts are often lumped under the Republican or Democrat labels, there is a deeper issue at the heart of it. At what point does the mass shooting of innocent people become a political matter?

When children are killed by armed, unstable young men while attending school or concert goers are shot down while enjoying music, there becomes a need to find real solutions, not just fight over gun rights. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans would rather try shouting each other down and slinging cruel remarks via social media sites rather than stop and really consider the consequences of allowing the average person to own a dangerous weapon.

Other issues that draw conflict are working to find ways to reduce poverty, homelessness and drug overdoses. Too often, the two sides spend time pointing fingers rather than looking for answers for the victims caught in the middle.

Environmental problems and trying to preserve nature are also other areas that draw debate and animosity from the two camps. The most recent election has done nothing but exacerbate the fighting between the political sides. President Trump may in fact be taking actions to improve the economy and the job market, but this is overshadowed by the warring that he tends to encourage with his own condescending remarks via social media and his bully-type tactics when addressing those who oppose his views.

Many universities seem to be encouraging this divide by pushing so-called liberal ideals and policies among the impressionable student body. The country can’t move forward until we learn to stop seeing each other as either a fellow conservative or a fellow liberal. The “either” “or” mentality is preventing citizens and leaders to work together to find real solutions and unity.

If we could all simply drop labels and stop looking for differences, we could possibly start to see the actual problems and find ways to work toward common goals. We need to elect leaders who can cross lines and put aside party politics if we are ever to have hope of remaining the United States where diversity was celebrated, not feared.