Bridging the Divide: An offer to the path forward in 2021

If you tuned in to the news today it was clear that we were a nation in protest. On mass people took to the streets and were peacefully protesting against a national holiday that represents the belief of a lie and which upholds the very notion of Terra Nullius. Rather than be divided, is this an opportunity for us to toil our rational minds, bring the circle in and rediscover our shared bonds. Easier said than done though! To bridge the divide requires an acknowledgement that routed in the nations legacy is racial injustice and that legacy of racial injustice is a legacy that must be confronted and addressed in public policy in public conversation and in board rooms. What it’s given us is a deeper economic divide, health and education disparity, what its given us is a fissure in our politic. We will not heal the divide by hoping or pretending that it goes away we will not heal the divide by simple discussion or conversations it’s going to require actions to address the deep seeded disparities that exist in health, in economics and education. In the US the people voted for a different direction they unseated an incumbent president the vote represents a referendum on the direction of the country, they want a different tone, a different measure of conversation, different policies, the enforcement of civil rights laws the recognition that poor people need to be lifted up, recognition that health disparities economic disparities have to be confronted head on and addressed in a substantive and meaningful way. Shifting the centre of gravity on the divide will take leadership in the corporate sector among political leaders among all leaders. A substantive shift in what we are doing as a nation and that opportunities and access has to be available to all. Conversation leading to action needs to happen. We might begin, for the year ahead each and everyone one of us should endeavour to reach out to a new friend a new ally get to know someone you don’t know we need to cross cultural boundaries and need to commit to educate ourselves far better why the difficulties are so present. Its not going to be an easy road to end the divide. That doesn’t mean that we will not have differences of opinion and policy and approach but it does mean that our politics cannot be a zero sum game it can not be a win at all costs mentality and the legacy that this nation has - has to be addressed.