The
list of controversial policies are endless and these are troubling and anxious
times. Controversy by design is
divisive and maintains a sense of instability with the general population and
is used by those in positions of influence for the primary purpose of keeping
their opposition in a state of flux. Controversy can be effective when used
appropriately to distract your competition in a business environment or
athletic competition from focus and create an opportunistic environment in
which you can flourish. We have
lived through troubling and anxious times before but through those eras we had
faith in the leadership of those in positions of influence, leadership that
would guide us with intention to come out the other side having grown stronger
and more determined to make the world a better place. We had faith in the institutions in
which they served that the historical significance set out before them would
provide guidance and direction for an agreeable outcome.
The
traditional media, social media, bloggers, writers, editorialists and
journalists remind us daily on the division in not only the USA but also the
world. Power and influence
are no longer being used to create opportunity for the greater good. Certain elected
officials are now using power and influence for their personal gain and to
exert control over those who elected them. Power and influence most recently was used to destroy a
procedure in one of our most prominent legislative institutions ever created,
our United States Senate. Them and
we are words now used in our modern age to cast blame and divide us, yet
forgetting that ultimately there is only we to consider. We are the world in which we all have
to live collectively or perish at the expense of our division. Ultimately it is impossible to separate
us, we only have one planet and as a result of instantaneous communication and
satellite imagery this planet is getting smaller every day. We have arrived at a place in history
where our desire for power and influence has overreached our ability to extend
our hand to anyone who possesses the slightest differences or opinions. The use
of diplomacy and dialogue have been cast aside and replaced with antagonistic
actions and a lack of adult communication.
Wars
were once fought to maintain stability and provide freedoms but now they are
instigated to provide personal gains and control for the benefit of the power
players at the top while the general masses die as a result of their desire for
control and wealth. A few weeks
ago my pastor during his message to our congregation said: “We are safer when
we are friends with our neighbors as opposed to fearing our neighbors and
considering them our enemies”.
These words may seem to be an over simplification in an effort to apply
them to the complexities of the world in which we live, but if we are unable to
find friendship with our neighbors be it next door or half way around the world
then chances are they will become our enemies.
The
future of our existence and the very foundation of the democracy we have
existed on for the past 238 years is being crippled by leaders who are no
longer looking forward to our future and position in the world but instead are
obsessed with policies of the past.
Never in our history have those in leadership been so obsessed with
eliminating progress made by previous administrations. Change and evolution are obvious and
adjustments must be made to policies.
Leaders are required to evolve on positions if they are to remain
relevant and effective for the constituencies they serve despite the fact that
change is an uncomfortable process for most people. However, erasing our history destroys the foundation on
which we build our future.
Dialogue
is the answer and it takes both sides to engage for dialogue to be effective
otherwise the result is finger pointing and name calling, a technique used by
schoolyard bullies who have no position on anything other than a desire for
power and control. Is this
America’s current state of affairs…..?
