Regaining Strength in Our Country


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   “Mysteries of human nature... line many, many shelves... but we could find the answers if... we only knew ourselves.”

The United States of America is no longer United, it is divided. It seems like people are wearing glasses with lenses that only filter in people's differences. The mindset of “if you’re not like me than you are not welcome. These thoughts and behaviors have been seen and heard on both sides of Liberal and Conservative. Things do not have to be this way; having this mindset only weakens and divides us. The Strength of our country can be regained through listening, becoming non-judgmental, and seeing our differences as strengths.

In the article "Why listening to people we disagree with can expand our world views" Anna talks about how in the 2020 Presidential election she had conversations she normally would not have gotten the chance to have with her father's caregiver. The caregiver was on the different side of political standpoint as she was. Anna says, "While her reasoning didn't convince me to change my vote, I came to understand how my life led me to on my beliefs on who should be president, and her life led to hers." The conversations while not changing her opinion gave better inside as to why someone would lean on one way or the other. Sometimes it is easier or more convenient to simply believe that someone is stupid, evil, mean, and all the other ugly things people are saying about each other because of differing beliefs based on which side of politics one is on. These negative beliefs are not true; all people are human, who have had different life experiences. Ben Burroughs, a WW2 Veteran and poet wrote “if you don't like a person... you do not know him well... perhaps if you would try enough... your doubts and fears would quell... for I've found with few exceptions... as I trod along life's pike... though we move in different circles... underneath we're all alike.” If everyone starts to actively listen to one another, it will make a difference. Even if minds are not changed, that is ok, at least we will start seeing one another as human again.

"We can so easily view people, events and the world around us through a veil of preconceived snap judgements. Maybe you have an opinion about someone and you ‘put them in a box’, as the saying goes. ‘She’s a hippy’, ‘he’s arrogant’, ‘she’s smart’, ‘he’s weird’ – but if we hold onto these mental labels, thinking we ‘know’ someone through these judgements, you know what happens? We never truly meet them again." Having a judgmental mindset will not get positive results. People are rarely seen for the sum of their parts and only as some of their parts. Even within families, this is seen. No one wants to lose the relationship with their children and grandchildren because of their preference in who they voted for. All people see it is red or blue and not threw to the beautiful colors of each other's souls and personalities. If a non-judgmental mindset is practiced, families can stay intact and communities will be rebuilt.

The U.S.A. has more problems with it than one can count. How are we going to solve all these problems when this divided? If one is working on a broken-down car but only has a wrench and a screwdriver, with only the knowledge of how to fix one part, it cannot be fixed. People have different toolboxes and knowledge. If everyone was forced to be only Liberal or only Conservative, then it would be like making someone work on a car with only a wrench and a screwdriver. However, if mindsets are changed and the potential in having all this diversity in belief is seen. Then together, "we the people", can solve the problems the U.S.A. is facing or at least get on the right track. 


The saying, "well it's not that easy", has been said more times than one can count and they are right but for the wrong reason. Changing one’s mindset and working on oneself first is far from easy. It takes time, mistakes, and a great effort for a mindset to change from judgmental to non-judgmental, from reacting to listening, from seeing our differences as negatives to seeing our differences as strengths. But “we the people” all have the capability to do so!


Each person may be part of the problem, but each person can be part of the solution. The biggest difference one can make is within oneself. The ocean is vast, but one drop causes a ripple; it makes a difference. People often romanticize a great battle where one side concurs to save our country, but no one wants to hear that the greatest battle to take place is within oneself first. Kindness for others threw listening, becoming non-judgmental, and seeing our differences as strengths can ripple through our country, making it a stronger and safer place for all. 

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