In about a week, I will be sworn in as a US citizen in the courthouse in downtown Lexington. This is the culmination of a 13 yearlong journey.
I should be excited because after all I get to be a citizen of a great nation with endless opportunities. Like an orphan, I should be happy that I have wealthy parents who are going to adopt me.
Unlike the orphan though, I have been able to observe my prospective parents for a number of years and what I see troubles me.
It’s not the economy; it’s not even terrorism, race relationships or gender politics. It is the unwillingness of those in power to understand each other, try to see things the other person’s way. It is almost a total aversion to finding the middle ground.
The political landscape is as contentious as it’s ever been. Liberal can’t stand conservative. Republicans are at the throat of Democrats. Either you are with us or against us. Whatever the other person believes in is bad for the country. And on and on it goes.
The political process in this country has been turned into a zero sum game. And so at one point or the other, the country is swung to extremes – right or left.
Like a couple on the verge of divorce, the other cannot do anything right.
I am reminded of the movie “War of the Roses” starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. In what was akin to a divorce death match, we watched the tragedy of 2 people who refused to find a middle ground.
At the moment, I look at the US and can help but think, “Oh God, I am being adopted by the Roses!”
Whatever happened to finding a compromise? Respecting the other point of view? Working together for the good of the country. Sometimes neither the conservative nor liberal view is right. Sometimes, it’s just common sense! However because the political process is seen as a zero-sum game, party affiliations, ambition, power lust and ideology is trumping common sense increasingly!
The malignancy is spreading to the news media, radio talk show hosts even the common American. For the last few months, I have been asking friends and co-workers which party I should vote for after my naturalization. Ask a Democrat and Republican this question simultaneously, stand back and watch them transformed into Gladiators!
The sad bit is, I have grown to love my adoptive parents-to-be. In the time I’ve known them, they have given me a lot of opportunities to make a lot of my life. I’ll love to give back to them but at this rate, I wonder if there will be any recipients.
In most biological systems, the normal is in the middle and the control mechanisms (under healthy conditions) always force the system back to the middle. Disease results when the system escapes the control mechanism and swings to one or the other extreme.
Maybe we need to learn from nature. Maybe what is needed is a third middle-of the –road party that can keep things in focus by forcing the Republicans and Democrats to the middle. Maybe Congress shouldn’t vote on major issues but the people in referenda. Maybe Senators shouldn’t stay in Washington that long. Whatever the case I pray reason wins at the end of the day.
Come Friday, I’ll don my suit and tie and drive to the courthouse to get sworn in. I hope I don’t get home to find my adoptive parents swinging from the chandelier!
God save the USA!