What we need now more than ever is unity. Total unity. We need to recognize it. America seems to be so shattered. Our communities are becoming more and more divided. Why? What's the point? What do we win if "our side" or "our team" is the last one standing? We, the people, have separated ourselves in many ways. Here are a few that we can examine and hopefully begin to change.
Politics
Whether you tune into "the news" or get information filtered down through social media, it is overwhelmingly clear that Americans have divided themselves into mainly two groups: Republican (conservative) and Democrat (liberal). The nasty side effect has been a split nation that has been at each other's throats. The political label that we place on ourselves now seems to serve as a personal qualifier of character. The reality is that these political parties are nothing more than a collection of ideas with their own respective ways of prioritizing and solving particular issues. It's not made to be a standard of character and therefore should not be judged by it. People have lost relationships with family members, friends, and partners over the last US election.
The fix. Space... Give one another space. We must respect the opinions of others and remain open minded enough to listen to ideas beyond our own. We are all learning. Give people the space to make their own choices. You don't have to agree but we don't have to turn our backs on people for having an alternate opinion.
Color
People are doing two things with color - first, they label themselves and secondly- they play the assigned role, either as an extreme victim or they personify illusionary guilt. People are taught hate. They are taught to cling to these imaginary roles. We have modern day people projecting an idea of entitlement because of alleged oppression based on the suffering of other people. And by consequence we have people who take on guilt because of a false sense of responsibility due to the terrible actions of other unconnected people. Collectively these two elements provide fuel for the flames of division and continue to perpetuate a now eradicated cultural norm.
The fix. Anyone playing the role of the victim should understand "personal accountability" and see that their life is in fact in their own hands. There is no one to thank or blame but ones self. The next is getting rid of false guilt. To feel guilty is to take on responsibility for a mistake. If you didn't make the mistake then why would you feel guilty? Why burden your heart because of the horrific missteps of historical people? Let go of both these and really embrace a more even playing field.
Religion
"Hello darkness my old friend." Again, people refuse to give others space to have their own ideas. Humans have this insatiable need to feel right. We cling to our ideas sometimes to the point of absolute insanity. I think in regards to religion, many people hold onto their beliefs out of straight up fear. Fear of death. Fear of being wrong. Fear of hell.
The fix. Respect yourself enough to do your own research, explore your own path, and think for yourself. At the same time, give people the respect to believe what they want to believe (as long as it isn't harmful.) One of the many lessons in life is spiritual growth; not being right.
Money
Often times, we define ourselves and others by material possessions. We burden ourselves with this unnecessary stress. However, success should not be measured by wealth of pocket, but by joy and happiness. The fix. Once you understand that less really is more and that the things you own, you just borrow because you can't take them with you in death. There is no amount of money that will make you a happy or good person. Some of the happiest people in the world are in some of the poorest nations. They understand that it's not your relationship with money or gold that makes you happy, it's your relationships with people that do.
Ego
People have a false sense of "self"- meaning who they think they are. Many people believe they are the person in the mirror. They are their abs, their bodies, their car, their house, their bank accounts, their political party, their job. The fix. Honestly, we have to do away with our egos. We have to look to a higher perspective and understanding of the real self. Not the temporary self. Once we do that, we can see and understand our connection to each other. If you mentally strip away everything that makes us different, then you are left with all the things that make us the same. Commonality is the breeding ground for understanding.
It takes the same amount of energy and mindfulness to build community and unity as it does to divide the masses. It is an individual effort to understand who you are and how we all fit together in this world. It takes little wisdom and education to realize that we are not in competition with anyone and we are responsible for our own lives.
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