Us and Them

13 Sep

In stating the obvious- our country is divided, and that division is growing more and more rapidly.

In my article Patriot Act, I touched on the growing number of American flags on display throughout my state (and likely throughout the country), and my discomfort about it. I continue to explore this aversion I have to what I once perceived to be a symbol of unity and freedom.

 As a country, it has always been common to see our flag proudly displayed during holidays such as the Fourth of July and Memorial Day. After 9/11, flags could be found almost everywhere you looked as a way of saying to the world “We are strong and we are united.” Unless of course, you were/are a Muslim- then odds are, even if you were born here, you likely no longer felt welcome, and were at a high risk of being targeted. Not unlike how Asian-Americans have been increasingly victimized since the Covid epidemic began. You don’t have to be guilty- you just have to be associated with those who are perceived to be. 

Not being white will greatly increase your odds of being profiled- but not only is that stating the obvious, it has unfortunately, always been the case.

Now when I see our flag (sadly, to me) it’s become synonymous with the Confederate flag. It’s being shoved down our throats as a symbol of the far right and their intention of “Taking back this country.” Straight, white, conservatives see their country slipping away, and frankly, it’s scaring the shit out of them. They are not only ready for a fight; they are looking forward to a fight.

To no one’s surprise, I am a liberal- though that does not mean I agree with all liberal ideology. I am however, all for the concept of wokeness, which is facing major backlash these days. Wokeness is defined as the quality of being alert to and concerned about social injustice and discrimination, which sounds pretty damn necessary to me. Yet, I am also a firm believer that any ideal taken to the extreme has the potential to do more harm than good. When that happens, we tend to get eerily close to those we oppose the most, so we must consider that possibility as well.

Nonetheless, what the January 6th, 2021 insurrection showed us is that things are likely to get worse before they have a chance of getting better. It seems as though the day of reckoning is looming, and I’m not excited for it in the least- I’m dreading it. That isn’t to say I don’t think it’s necessary. We’ve reached a point where it’s no longer about two sides that differ in opinion as to what is best for the country. It’s escalated to a point of pure disdain for the other party and an intense feeling that their ideals are without a doubt, destroying our country. 

One side wants control in the name of Democracy, and the other wants control in the name of making America great again. However, it’s not just the views of the two main parties that differ- it’s their reality; so yes, it’s apparent that things are bound to come to a head. But I have to say, being excited about it and looking forward to it, is not an outlook I can espouse.

I had a stepdad who fought in Vietnam, and afterwards, he was never the same- emotionally or psychologically. People go to war all the time and suffer the same fate, or worse- if they are fortunate enough to survive at all. Much like the Civil War, this will be a war fought not only on our own soil, but between us and those with different ideologies/opinions.

I have to wonder if the people who are so stoked for this to come to a head (like the guy I saw the other day whose bumper sticker read FEAR MORE IN 2024) have considered the implications of what they want so badly, on a deeper level. Are they ready to kill their own family and friends? Children? If it comes to that, will they then rejoice in the fact that they “won”? Or have they no idea what it will do to them, and what the long-term ramifications will be? What is the true cost of this perception of the MAGA mentality? All the money and power in the world won’t bring those people back, and you can’t un ring that bell psychologically, so be careful what you wish for.

That said, there remain two notions that battle within my own mind: freedom isn’t free, but also- you can’t save people from themselves. In other words, we must act if the cost of remaining still is too high; but if the war begins in our own mind, violence is futile, as it can only be won from within.