Why we choose to remain divided

I have spent more time on Twitter lately. I have been curious, as a political consultant and crisis management/communications professional, as to the general discourse out there amongst our fellow humans. Leaders, followers, business magnates, technology gurus, political community...everyone. I don't see everything, because my "filter" on Twitter disallows rampant cursing, threats to lives, etc. I just don't want that garbage in my head.

I am hoping you realize that it is a decision - a choice - to be divided. You can disagree, but it's a choice that is made every day. Further, the amount of energy that is consumed by the state of being fueled by anger is not insignificant. To be clear, it's a choice to allow other voices to influence your every day thoughts and decisions. Why would you ever sign up for that class?

When the horror of September 11th, 2001 unfolded before our very eyes, as we all experienced terror, confusion, loss of life, trauma - was anyone - I mean anyone - looking around for who was black, who was white, who was gay, who was straight, who was Christian, who was atheist? The obvious answer here is no. We immediately connected through the most basic - our shared humanity. Trying to save our own lives, and reaching out to other souls to help save them too. If we were facing death, we gripped on to others to face this tragedy together.

Why have we collectively decided that we will see each other as simply humans, only when faced with a common enemy? Only when faced with tragedy? Unless faced with imminent death, we would rather notice and repel from that which is different or unknown?

Dr. Seuss wrote a book called "The Sneetches". If you would entertain me for the sake of your own enlightenment, please do, and read the following excerpts from his book for children - adults, please pay attention:

"The Plain-Belly Sneetches had non upon thars. Those stars weren't so big. They were really so small. You might think such a thing wouldn't matter at all...When the Star-Belly Sneetches had frankfurter roasts...Or picnics or parties or marshmallow toasts, they never invited the Plain-Belly Sneetches. But, because they had stars, all the Star-Belly Sneetches would brag - 'We're the best kind of Sneetch on the beaches'. With their snoots in the air, they would sniff and they'd snort. 'We'll have nothing to do with the plain-belly sort!' And whenever they met some, when they were out walking, they'd hike right on past them without even talking".

"When the Star-Belly children went out to play ball, could a Plain-Belly child get in the game? Not at all. You could only play if your bellies had stars. And the Plain-Belly children had none upon thars".

"...Then ONE day, it seems, while the Plain-Belly Sneetches were moping and doping alone on the beaches, just sitting there wishing their bellies had stars...a Stranger zipped up in the strangest of cars!"

"My friends", he announced in a voice clear and keen, "My name is Sylvester McMonkey McBean. I've heard of your troubles. I've heard you're unhappy. But I can fix that. I'm the Fix - It - Up - Chappie. I've come here to help you, I have what you need. And my prices are low. And I work at great speed. And my work is one hundred percent guaranteed!"

"Then quickly Sylvester McMonkey McBean put together a very peculiar machine. And, he said, 'You want stars like a Star-Belly Sneetch? My friends, you can have them for three dollars each' ...The thing really worked! When the Plain-Belly Sneetches popped out (of the machine) they had stars! They actually did. They had stars upon thars!"

"Then they yelled at the ones who had stars at the start, 'We're exactly like you! You can't tell us apart! We're all just the same, now you snooty old smarties! And now, we can go to your frankfurter parties!"

"Good grief!" groaned the ones who had stars at the first. 'We're still the best Sneetches and they are the worst. But how in the world will we know,' they all frowned, 'If which kind is what, or the other way round?"

The story continues, as Sylvester monetizes the division, he charges the original Star Belly Sneetches even more to remove their original stars, and Sylvester gets rich...all of the Sneetches, regardless of status, continue to pay this guy to remove stars, replace stars, and eventually, everyone ends up...exactly the same. The final paragraph of the story is:

"But McBean was quite wrong, I'm happy to say, that the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day. The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches and no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches. That day, all the Sneetches forgot about stars and whether they had one, or not, upon thars."

So Dr. Seuss illustrates quite clearly how ridiculous and dangerous this division actually is for humankind. He leans on our history, of one group conquering or marginalizing another group. He leans on the fact that we all buy into whatever narrative allows one race, culture, religion to overtake others. How we pass generational dysfunction and beliefs on to the next.

We are divided because we have chosen to be divided. Every single day we wake, we have a choice. Who will we be in this world? How do our perceptions (that we have chosen) affect our behavior, our treatment of others? Our ability to lead by example and encouragement versus marginalizing and demeaning.

My fellow humans, would you be willing to throw yourself headfirst into evolving? Headfirst into abandoning fear and pre-conceived, learned biases to open yourself up to new ideas, new cultures, new ways of thinking? For collectively, we are stronger than one person, one notion, one idea.

There is too much need in this world. The needs of many should far outweigh our tightly-held, often misinformed, ideas. Be willing to UNLEARN what you "KNOW"...and begin to question everything. For when the towers fall, you will not wonder which Sneetch is better, and which is worse. You won't.