Chronicle Editorial

Long Division
     There’s a saying that goes, “to conquer, first they must divide.” To an extent, whoever said it, said something true. And whether or not there is a “they,” or if “they” is meant to be an enemy or a friend, the fact remains that the easiest way to gain influence is to divide. We are humans after all.
     From an early age, especially in America, we are taught that we can be any one and do any thing. We are taught that what makes us great is our individualism, who we are on the inside and what we do when no one is looking. We are encouraged to be the very best of ourselves and others.
     Biologists and psychologists have done enough brain dissection and analysis to prove that the human brain functions on recognizing patterns. We learn to read because we remember what a set of particular letters sounds like. We understand facial expressions because we make them ourselves when we fell certain ways. We see the world around us, and know things because we recognize them. But for every one of your experiences, for every pattern you recognize and every way of life you live, there are 300 million others, each feeling, understanding and recognizing something different than you.
     But we are human. Our first primal instinct is to know that we are different from someone. They have different hair than us, they have different skin than us, they speak differently, and sound differently. It’s not because we need to make enemies, but it’s how humans are not walking vegetables. It’s how our brain works… and it’s been commandeered to weaken us.
     It’s been a week since the election and fire within us rage on. Every side of this infinitely sided dice has anger, regret, resentment, fear, happiness, hope and excitement on it. Whether you are democrat, republican, libertarian, green, sandwich or bagel, there are harsh feelings towards every one of us, and these emotions — these opinions — have been hijacked by mainstream media, Facebook and political pundits.
     Your function to see differences has been used to assume things that aren’t true about the other side. Your ability to recognize the most complex of patterns has been used against you to think that all white, Midwesterners are racist, to believe that protestors in major cities are jobless and all received participation trophies in soccer, that a lot of white families are uneducated, that liberals want socialism and that conservatives want extreme, crony capitalism.
     It’s not true. They are all assumptions that someone else in the world recognized, and convinced us of.
     This election is more about the president of the united states. This election was about realizing that we have a lot more problems among ourselves, than we do with foreign nations. This election isn’t about unifying under one man. This election is about unifying together.
     We have all said some things, harsh, brash things about people, based on the color of their skin, and where they live.
     It is our invitation to all, to holster your words and your opinions, and give the other side a chance. The change we are looking for, a government for the people, by the people, shall never come while we divide.
     Put down your fighting words and listen. Entertain the notion that you don’t know how everything works, and that you might have the wrong assumption, or that you know someone’s story, because you don’t. As journalists, our livelihoods are made asking you, readers, what your story is.
     To conquer first they must divide, and divide they have. We have all used the amazing thing that makes us able to live fulfilling lives, for something to separate ourselves and harm others. Conquer your beliefs. Lower your guards for several minutes, and we will have already made ourselves the better for it.