Like so many others, I am frustrated and disheartened with the turn our great country has taken of late.  Once upon a time people could agree to disagree and walk away from a free exchange of ideas and, more often than not, remain civilized toward one another. 

Perhaps, you too, can remember when corporations, schools, and yes, even religious organizations took up the stance that “diversity” is good.  Teams started to play a bigger role in corporate settings, promoting the idea that team members bring with them their differing cultures, ideologies, personal and professional experience, educational focus, or lack thereof, and a variety of other characteristics and perspectives.  All of these differences were intended to solve problems, innovate, and bring about better results than any one person could accomplish.  Diversity was not based on race.  Diversity was not about making “quotas” to meet affirmative action goals.  It was so much broader in scope and, from my personal experience, yielded amazing results. 

I learned more about myself and how narrow my singular perspective was at the beginning of a team work project relative to what it was at the end of the project.  In college, even though I initially hated working in teams (because I did not want to trust MY grade on the anticipated lack of effort by a team member), our assignments were usually among the best in the class.  I experienced this phenomenon repeatedly until my reluctance disappeared.  Admittedly, there were teams that just did not work.  However, more often than not, the team concept and environment brought out the best in each of us because it was challenging. 

Through each of these team experiences, my ability to view issues, small and large, became less uncomfortable, less emotionally challenging, and much more rewarding.  I found myself actively striving to not only see another’s perspective, but also to really understand the basis of our differing perspectives.  Most importantly, this led me to challenge my own long-held beliefs and biases, and to conscientiously ask open-ended questions to illicit not only a free flow of ideas, but also to broaden my understanding.     

Over the past three and half decades, asking questions became natural.  It was not a conscientious pursuit.  It was just me.  Without noticing it outright, my “catch phrase” became, “Let me ask you a question.”  It is funny because it took several friends, co-workers, and family members to bring it to my attention.  Funny thing is… some of them were saying it in a mocking manner as if it were a flaw.  They were right; I do use that phrase… daily.  I own it with a sense of pride.  It will take a lot more than mocking my “questioning” habit to cause me distress. 

This brings me back to where I started with my current frustration.  I shared these recollections to contrast with what I see today in the workplace, in the schools, in houses of faith, in children’s’ clubs and extracurricular activities and pretty much everywhere I look.  Social media has only exacerbated this shift from embracing diversity in its truest sense.  Today, if someone speaks of diversity, then they must be referring to race, ethnicity, gender preferences, etc., and it must CERTAINLY be aimed toward a person or group of people with disparaging intent.  This, of course, validates the “victim” culture that is so readily embraced nowadays.  Hmmm, should I use the word “nowadays” or change it to a more socially acceptable word.  I wonder how many readers will view such a word as Redneck, Hick, Hillbilly, or some other term that creates a negative stereotype.  Forget it.  I do not care.  Nowadays is a fine word.

 My point is that we no longer encourage or embrace differences.  We are ascribed to a “box” and are expected to stay within it.  Sometimes, we are in boxes within boxes.  If you are White, you are instantly placed in a White Privilege box and, probably a Racist box—or more specifically a White Supremacist-Nationalist-Racist box.  If you are Christian, you get to go into another box.  If you are Black, you get a Victim box, a Reparations box, a Likely-to-be-a Criminal box, and a Cannot-Survive-Without-Welfare box.  Oh, and if you are Muslim, you must absolutely be placed in the Probably-a-Terrorist box.  On and on it goes.  No doubt, someone will blast me for daring to use these “boxes” and throw me into the Destroy-Her box.  I do not know about you, but I am disgusted by these boxes, labels, and stereotypes beyond which we should have evolved.  Where, when, and why did our current state of division get started, or more accurately, get brought back from times of hate and ignorance? 

Since this is my post, I get to give my opinion.  I track it to ever-increasing ideological differences that refuse to tolerate that which disagrees with whichever narrative a person associates.  The media encourages intolerance.   

At the extreme ends of the ideology spectrum, you have the Far-Right wanting no government control and the Far-Left wanting full government control (Fascism, Communism, etc.) ; both of which I view as dangerously nonsensical.  Once upon a time, there really was a middle ground.  That appears to no longer be the case.  In our current two-party political environment, the right side of the spectrum is dumped in the REPUBLICAN box and the left side is dumped in the DEMOCRAT box.  You MUST be in one box or the other and you MUST unquestioningly accept the point of view of that box in its entirety.

Sadly, the argument about other political parties such as the independents, green party, etc. is moot when it comes to actually affecting an election.  So, let us take a brief look at the two sides.

 The Democrat box promotes expanding government, creating and maintaining dependency by perpetuating victimhood, misogyny, and the destruction of nuclear families in exchange for promising wealth redistribution, increased entitlements, and a utopian society that views every person as part of a collective regardless of individual contribution or lack of thereof.  Disagreement is met with viciousness intent on total shame and destruction of the party who dares to question their superior knowledge of what is good for the “people” over whom “they” govern.  Overall, addressing and implementing social issues takes priority over ensuring that the economy can sustain such implementations.  Among the most popular issues supported include: government health care for all; abortion through birth; social security; gay marriage; increasing welfare; removing immigration barriers; legalizing drugs; increasing business regulations; raising taxes (disproportionately targeting the wealthy); and reducing military.

 The Republican box promotes de-regulation, accountability, limiting government, providing opportunities for individual and group success, creating jobs rather than increasing dependency, focusing on the Nation first, then providing assistance outside of the Nation.  They promote freedom of speech and invite respectful debate.  It is okay to disagree and it is okay to actually compromise.  Protecting the rights of the “governed” is paramount.  Overall, addressing and focusing on economic issues make possible the implementation of impactful social issues.  Among the most popular issues supported, include  reducing business regulation and labor laws; lowering taxes; strengthening the military; managing immigration; reducing and restructuring welfare programs and government provided health care; protecting the nuclear family; restricting abortion and gay marriage; and supporting law enforcement.

Of course, these descriptions of the two sides are not exhaustive and are subject to debate…, which is okay.  You have probably figured out in which box I reside.  To ensure that there is no confusion—I am a Conservative Libertarian.  I have been verbally assaulted, mocked, shamed, and disparaged because I am in the Republican box.  This only makes me more determined to fight against the Democrat box’s narrative that people are weak-minded, weak-willed, and need government to think for them and provide for them. 

I believe in being held accountable for my choices and actions.  I am entitled to no more than I have contributed.  I choose the issues and causes that I want to support with MY hard-earned income.  I do not believe in the redistribution of wealth.  I believe that taxes and tax policies have run amuck.  I believe that forcing me or any group of taxpayers to pay for something that another group wants is a misallocation of tax dollars.  I believe that my tax dollars should be spent wisely and that those doing the spending must be held accountable.  I believe that some taxes should be optional contributions rather than being mandated by government.  I believe that corruption should be investigated and, when confirmed, prosecuted.  I believe that “no one is above the law” and, just as importantly, “no one is below the law.”

I do support gay marriage and I support abortion as a last resort, but I do not think that government should be involved in either issue.  I do believe that there is a need for social programs to help our country’s most vulnerable citizens, but I also believe that many of those programs are abused and the vulnerable suffer.  I respect law enforcement, the military, and border control.  I do believe that we have a duty to protect American citizens before non-citizens.  I do not own a gun, but I will protect the right for others to own guns.  I am not racist.  I am not xenophobic.  I am grateful and proud to be an American and will do what I can to protect the rights granted through the Constitution and other founding documents.  I have read the Constitution and encourage others to do so as well.  I believe that elected politicians in the Federal and State governments should have defined term limits and should not have the ability to determine their own salary increases. 

Why do you suppose that I decided to share all of this with you?  I believe that I have the RIGHT to have my beliefs and that you have the RIGHT to have your beliefs.  I share this with you to end as this post began:

“Like so many others, I am frustrated and disheartened with the turn our great country has taken of late.  Once upon a time people could agree to disagree and walk away from a free exchange of ideas and, more often than not, remain civilized toward one another.” 

Let us be the disrupters of the vitriolic hate being spewed across the ideology spectrum.  Let us break free of the boxes that we have been put in and that we have put others in.  Let us break down the hateful stereotype boxes and conscientiously strive to avoid ALL of those boxes in the future.  Together we can save our country by embracing our differences and solving the real problems that affect our fellow citizens.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.  If you feel compelled to share it with others, then I will take that as a compliment and thank you in advance.