By Sheila Orysiek
SAN DIEGO — The Framers of the U.S. Constitution wanted to create a national government to strengthen the unity of the disparate States so that foreign entities looking at us would see a united face – the United States. Diversity may supply the building blocks, but it is not diversity that makes us strong – it is unity.
However, when the image is reversed and the Framers looked inward they thought the opposite was true. What we call political differences and/or political parties, they called “Faction.” At first they were dismayed as the country began to split along political lines such as the formation of parties in support of John Adams and those who supported Thomas Jefferson. But upon further discussion, they realized that differences – factions – were not only inevitable but could also be a source of strength. Faction was the best guarantee that no one point of view would rise to despotic eminence. It is a balancing act – but because human beings have a problem with achieving and maintaining balance, that is also its weakness.
We are always tempted to weight the scale to our own benefit whether it be economic advantage, personal power, or political ideology. We have difficulty allowing room for other “factions.” While most of us would hesitate to starve out the opposition, or otherwise do physical harm – we often do not hesitate to gleefully denigrate, demean and ridicule other opinions – which can do even more harm.
Language is an important part of the environment in which politics is played out. The “loyal opposition” has become the “enemy.” (CBS News, Nov.1, 2010) This implies that those who disagree with us don’t do so because of a differing view, but because they are evil and/or stupid. After an election or whatever political debate is being decided – we need to live, work and play in the same space with those we have just labeled “enemy,” “stupid,” or “evil” and the use of such words makes this increasingly unlikely.
The center aisle has become a canyon dividing families, long term friendships and produces ludicrous behavior such as the time a lady sitting next to me at a luncheon noticed that I was wearing a necklace with a bronze elephant on it. To me, it was a harmless (who can hate elephants?) piece of costume jewelry – to her, it represented the symbol of an enemy. She told me that she could not take a chance of becoming tainted – and thus she had to change her seat. If one American can’t bear to sit beside and break bread with another American simply because of the possibility of a differing political opinion – then we are surely in trouble. (I also have a necklace with a sea gull and another with an owl – I wonder what she would have thought of that?)
It has become a never ending war abetted by a divisive and pervasive media. The opposition is not to be opposed but to be slain without mercy. This includes personal attack and ridiculing personal appearance – all considered as fair game. People who in person are delightful to know, on their Face Book page become raging intolerant ideologues. The excuse that “the others do it” is a school yard canard. Is it not a basic precept of Judaism – as well as other religions/beliefs to “let the healing begin with me?”
Identifying the problem is easy. But what is the solution? Has history ever found one? Must all political systems end in chaos? Is winning an election worth any price? If America is truly exceptional – then a solution will have to be found. It cannot be mandated or enacted as a law. It must come from within each of us; we are either part of the problem or part of the solution.
We must each make a choice. Is the person sitting next to me the loyal opposition or an enemy? And, let the healing begin with me.
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Orysiek is a freelance writer who specializes in arts and literature. She may be contacted at sheila.orysiek@sdjewishworld.com. Any comments in the space below should include the writer’s full name and city and state of residence, or city and country for non-U.S. residents.