The Great Divide

While there’s differing types of abuse, the commonality seems to be that once started, it’s hard to contain, or flee from. There is of course, one other commonality, and that’s the physical results of the very word. Abuse is destructive by nature. It affects everyone to some degree. Like a whirlwind, abuse first engulfs and then tears apart relationships, leaving devastation. Few manage to rebuild to the extent before the ill wind blew in, the scars for many are far too deep.

To be divisive, intentionally divisive, by way of creating doubt, or to create fear, is to separate people into opposing factions for ones own personal agenda. By way of misinformation, by outright lie or by half truth, the result is the same. Intentional or not, the result is obtained through a subtle, cruel form of abuse.

From a pure political perspective, this divisiveness is nothing new. When a politician campaigns for an elected office, that campaign is designed to split the electorate into two camps, with hopefully the majority sitting around his campfire. The political process by nature is divisive. We, for the most part understand this, and are accepting of unfulfilled campaign promises and the nagging feeling that we were lied to as voters usually dissipates soon after the outcome. Point being, that we survive our elections and move on with little harm done.

With that said, there’s a horrifying new trend afoot that transcends ‘politics as usual’ that in it’s essence, is completely abusive and divisive politically, socially, culturally, religiously and as a result, it threatens to quickly become regional.

Consider recent headlines:

Congressional Witch Hunt Needed
Obama’s Going to Send Your Children to Political “Re-Education Camps
17 House members are socialists
Perry says Texas can leave the union if it wants to
Hope, Change, Socialism: Collect the Entire Trading Card Set
As Coleman’s hope dims, pursuit of seat questioned

Unfortunately, I suspect too many people attribute this new divisiveness to politics as usual, and are accepting of it. Certainly, our mainstream media is, using selected quotes as headlines to garner readers, but I have yet to see an article in a National paper or a news segment calling for facts, or holding one accountable for their words. The fact that our mainstream media views all this as a form of entertainment is disturbing. Disturbing in the sense that not holding those accountable for their words will lead to a great divide in this Nation. A divide that will make McCarthyism look innocent.

Last week I wrote about the responsibility that comes with free speech. Without that responsibility or the ability of our media to truthfully call for accountability, a foundation has been built across the web, across the Nation, between political parties, between religions, between cultures that is abusive to the American people.

We are truly learning to be intolerant and hateful in our beliefs and soon it will reflect in our actions. The resulting destruction will impact everyone and leave nothing to be proud of behind.

There is cause to be concerned!