The Great Divide. Does it Have to Be “Us vs. Them”? [Opinion]

Democrats vs. Republicans

Rich vs. Poor

Heck, even Bennys vs. Locals

One of the things that drives me nuts, particularly about politics is how it always seems to devolve into "us vs. them" rhetoric.

"They want to take away your rights".

"They want to raise your taxes".

"If it wasn't for their policies, we wouldn't be in this situation".

Obviously I could go on and on with the examples. But it goes way beyond politics. Many groups talk about how, "you don't know what it's like to be us". And they are absolutely right.

I don't know what it's like to be you. You don't know what it's like to be me. I don't know what it's like to be my next door neighbor, and vice versa.

But I think it's gotten out of hand by becoming a rallying cry, "they don't understand us. They want to harm us". Why do we have to keep pointing that out and leaving it at that? Why can't we take it one more step and look at it more like, "I don't know what it's like to be you, please help me understand". Or, "I disagree with your stand on this issue. Can you explain to me why you feel that way about it, and hear my side as well?".

As long as the culture of "us vs. them" keeps circulating, it'll just make it more and more difficult to truly understand each other and get past our differences to try to achieve some actual progress.

Well, at least as Dennis Miller would say, "...that's just my opinion, I could be wrong".

The preceding piece represents the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the position of WOBM or Townsquare Media.