Let’s You and Him Fight

7/27/2016

The Lay of the Land

By Lyn Messersmith

Let’s You and Him Fight

            No wait, I want a piece of the action too. What is it we are supposed to put on our protest signs? Do I need to bring my gun, or just a bunch of friends to help holler? Should we lie down in the street, block the highway, or set fire to some cars and bust windows? The grocery store over there is where I shop, but the owner is probably rich, so let’s put him out of business.

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            How many civil wars do we have to have in this country anyway? Let’s see, there were those Indian battles, and then we went up against the Brits; never mind that we were mostly Brits too. And then there was the North/South deal, which was racial but also had a lot to do with money and territory. The Johnson County skirmish was about sheep and cattle, also money, property rights, and territory, but that’s generally the bottom line in any war.

Some of us are old enough to recall the sixties, and Rosa Parks. Now it’s a quarrel over whose lives matter, and the growing consensus that law enforcement is our worst enemy. Oh, and let’s not leave out pipelines, climate change, the dirty dogs in the coal industry, wind energy, and Wall Street.

            Did you notice a common theme in all this besides money, property rights, and territory?  Every instance pits Americans against Americans—basically civil war. It’s really true that those who refuse to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. You have to wonder when the Man Upstairs will decide we aren’t worth the bother, but maybe He’s still pondering the paradox—how communities that come together to raise funds for someone whose house blew away, or who has cancer, can suddenly turn into a nest of bitter back-biters. I’m pretty sure Facebook is involved here, but the good side of that coin is when it gets the word out about the fund raiser or asks for prayers.

When we get our teeth into a cause we refuse to acknowledge that there are very few absolutes, or consider any possibility of unintended consequences. The neighbor whom you criticize publicly for being on the opposite side of an issue is the one who brought his grass rig to your fire, and pulled your wife’s car out of the ditch. Your kids and his are buddies. Can you really afford to alienate him?

            Those who remember the sixties may also recall a comedienne who began her routines by saying, “Can we talk?” If the hot heads and cool heads sat down for a real conversation (which involves each participant listening while the opposition speaks, instead of interrupting or planning what to say when it’s their turn) it might surprise everyone to find that each side wants pretty much the same thing. But how can we be expected to have an honest discussion when the politicians and talking heads who seem to be our role models never let anyone finish a sentence? 

            Malcom Ford said, "Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” Educating oneself about all aspects of controversial issues is risky because we might find that facts don’t support our particular point of view. Sadly, educating ourselves takes more effort than most of us are willing to invest. Research involves study, listening to opposing views and then checking facts before forming an opinion, rather than absorbing and promoting what’s put forth by people with whom we already agree.

“There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”  Herbert Spencer

            Americans need to ask themselves one question. Am I part of the problem, or part of the solution?