II. Indivisible

The Empress of the United States of America asks that all Americans resist persistent attempts to divide them.

Polarization has become America’s “Achilles Heel”.

Social media, cable news, news media, and national political parties all benefit from inciting emotions and encouraging division. “If it bleeds, it leads”, is an old newspaper adage. As a nation, we were always glued to our television screens when disasters began to be covered live. Even early websites knew which headlines or message board topics would elicit the most emotional reactions, lead to the most “views”, and eventually bring in the most advertising revenue. Substantial profits often follow attention-grabbing headlines, and emotion-fueled debates – online, on camera, or in print.

The resulting polarization has been used against us in a very damaging way, and those who wish to divide and control us are using this growing division to their advantage.

Politics, race, and economic class distinctions have all been used to separate us.

When it comes to political division, The Empress hopes that we all understand that “Liberal” and “Conservative” are not just political traits, but apply to the ways in which all people deal with life’s issues. Leaning to the “left” or “right” is often ingrained in the human mind. These liberal or conservative tendencies are reflected in the “new, new, new – let’s go for it” brigade and the “wait, wait, wait – let’s think about it first” brigade. We need both sides for balance in a society that functions well.

Most Americans are somewhere in the middle of the endless debates. Most Americans have also changed their minds on issues during their lifetimes, based on experience and acquired knowledge. When the most contentious, polarizing political debates are reduced to their core, both sides are usually just trying to find answers, and protect others, as well as themselves.

Sensitive issues such as abortion, migration, and Covid-19 divide all of us. Abortion – protecting a new life vs. protecting the mother’s rights; migration – protecting fellow humans seeking a better life vs. protecting the people already present from loss of resources; Covid-19 – both sides of the debate believe that the other side is wrong and is falling victim to false narratives, lies, and manipulations. Both sides believe they can end the Coronavirus Pandemic and protect others through either more or less stringent means.

When we turn to less contentious issues and take away the current media “buzzwords”, most human beings agree on most issues pertinent to the functioning of society and the proper treatment of their fellow human beings.

Today, too many Americans enter conversations with those “on the other side” assuming the worst and frequently pre-judge others. Most humans face pain and failure striving to navigate this complicated life. Acceptance of our fellow Americans is a vital element of a strong nation.

“Us vs. them” is a fallacy, and should be limited to sporting competitions and debating societies. We must take it upon ourselves to break free of this polarization. We must resist manipulation and begin to bind our own American team back together.