The past couple of weeks have brought out illustrations of what is seriously going wrong with the values of our country. Some call it polarization. That is a true label, but I would go even further and say that polarization is based on the refusal to tolerate any diversity of thought. Each side of the political spectrum is becoming hyper focused on getting its folks to think and believe the same, and not accept different ways of thinking or analyzing issues and events at the center of their attention.
Here is example number one. It has become clear that a significant group of people in the left wing are insisting that the only way to establish a health care system that best serves the American people is to create “Medicare for all” which must include the elimination of all private health insurance. There is refusal to even consider how the private health insurance held by so many American workers through their employers is their preference. Democratic candidates who even start to question the best solution or combination are being condemned as too conservative and not worthy of the nomination for president. There are other issues starting to fall into the same mud hole – how to handle creating more education opportunities for those at the bottom of our economy and the best way to handle serious environmental/climate change issues are just two examples. These are all serious issues that need diverse thought in order to find the best solutions. The left, however, is becoming too obstinate placing the necessity to think alike in order to be accepted in place of diversity of thought.
This is an undermining of the best definition of “liberalism,” which is “open mindedness.”
The right’s obstinance was demonstrated by their embracing of Trump’s change to the celebration of American Independence Day – July 4th. Yes, it is understandable that some folks would enjoy and appreciate honoring the American military, yet it is also very understandable why so many people would question the manner in which Trump decided to do this – at a large public expense with funds taken from original intended uses. However the real exposure of the right wing’s true problem, which is dedication to a personal figure (Trump) as opposed to support of true American values is through postings and comments in social media.
Trump made ignorant historical comments that many news organizations reported and/or put in a satiric manner. Yes, sometimes Trump makes a correct decision (correct left wingers?), but Trump supporters illustrated their own narrow mind set by either trying to explain his remarks as actually true, or by saying he was really referring to something else, or by simply stating their dedication to the president they admire, refusing to acknowledge the truth of the following: his constant lying, his constant misstatement of historic facts, his constantly proven immorality, his stating of policy position through narcissistic praise of himself. A large chunk of Trump supporters have become simple demagogic followers. Being dedicated to Trump has become more important to them than standing for true American and moral values.
Why do I see this lesson coming from July 4th? Not really because of the celebration in Washington, DC. No, I have been researching the heroic life of my great uncle Richard. Part of his heroism came in World War II while serving in the 48thEngineer Combat Battalion. I found a book written about the history of this battalion during the war, and here is what I read in the prologue of the book on July 4th: “An outfit isn’t a machine…It’s a group of 600 individual personalities who are thinking 600 different ways towards getting the job done. It’s the 600 ways of thinking that makes an outfit good.”
Wow, imagine the worthiness of an army battalion being judged not by the single mindedness of its members, but of its diversity of thought! This battalion was cited by President Roosevelt for the excellence of its performance during a very difficult and critical section of its campaign in Italy. The book shows the diversity of the soldiers and their approaches to solving the issues confronting them.
Our country needs to reject mental obstinance and embrace the diversity of individuals and their thoughts, fulfilling the basic American value exemplified by an army battalion in World War II. Then we are true Americans.
The Jewish Observer 