Wednesday,
May 28, 2014
Recently, I
enjoyed a trip to visit my family in Iowa.
In addition to the perks associated with this type of journey, I also received
many an insight regarding the importance of relationships, conversation and the
acceptance necessary for people to speak their mind safely. I had wonderful conversations with family
members as well as people sitting next to me on the flights of which I was a
part. In several cases the conversation
surprisingly turned “political”. And many times, it was revealed that our
“party” affiliations were in opposition…yet our concerns were similar…the
issues we saw as needing attention were the same…and the space held for
listening to one another was jointly reciprocated. It was eye-opening not only for me…but for
the other participants as well. There
was a connection made at a “unity” level that allowed each to hear and share –
seemingly without fear. These
conversations were primarily between women but I had a similar conversation
with my dad.
Through the
gift of these interactions, it became evident to me that when we talked “party”,
we began to point fingers, defend positions and attack. There was an underlying and bubbling anger…and
a need to make ourselves “right”…and the other, “wrong”. When we talked about our concerns, we found
that we agreed. There was a shared nodding
of the heads…and in listening to the views of those from various parts of the
country…there was an expansion in an understanding of the issue. I found that differing perspectives really
are necessary, if we are to get the “big picture” in order to create solutions.
It is
apparent to me that we as a nation have become unconsciously taken hostage by a
belief that we only have 2 choices (and the choices have become, in many ways, extreme). Therefore, we have to choose one or the other
– neither of which has all the answers.
Through these conversations, I found that there is a huge “Middle” that
remains silent and unrepresented. We
remain unrepresented because the two extremes controlling party decisions have
nothing in common (while those in the “Middle” seem to find much in common).
We complain
about our representation but we vote for the same people. We want something different but we give our
permission to the same philosophies…because we don’t know what else to do. How do we shift something so stuck in the old
ways?
We the People need to send a message. We need INDEPENDENT THINKERS; People loyal to
finding solutions rather than a “party”; People focused on working together
rather than the selfish battling for “power”; People willing to give voice to
the “Middle”… where solutions are possible.
So what can
we do? It occurs to me that perhaps one
small step which may lead to something bigger – and in the least, it may begin
to send a message that we want INDEPENDENT THINKERS, not “party puppets” – is to
begin registering en masse as
Independents or “not-affiliated” (or some similar choice). The number in this category is already on the
rise but why not make it a mission? Why
not make it a part of a proactive movement to affect change? Why not take our attention and power away
from political parties and place it on the issues, multi-perspective based
solutions and those who are willing to THINK INDEPENDENTLY?
This doesn’t
mean we can’t vote for anyone party-affiliated…but it does mean that we start
to demand…and send the message…that parties must begin appealing to the majority “middle”
rather than forcing a nation to choose between extremes – or risk extinction.
Many of us
may already be registered INDEPENDENT…or perhaps we’ve been silently protesting
by not registering at all. I sense that
a mass movement to register INDEPENDENT may be one small way for the “Middle”
to begin demanding the attention it deserves.
Solutions are not found in the extremes - though these perspectives
should not be ignored. Agreement and
creative answers are found in the “Middle”…and it’s time for the “Middle” to
make itself known.
In Love with
the Essence of America,
Karrie
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