Schizophrenic America

We are a nation of opposites. A nation that is moving in two opposing directions at the same time.

And we always have been.

We really shouldn’t be surprised by the President’s comments about the murder of Rob Reiner. That’s not an excuse for it though.

We seem to be a nation that is tearing itself apart – finding every possible way to see the enemy in one another. Finding excuses to dehumanize and be cruel to anyone who we disagree with. Who needs enemies when you treat your fellow citizens like trash. And we willingly cheer the loudest, most obnoxious cruel comments directed at those we deem enemies.

We shouldn’t be surprised by comments from the President calling Somali immigrants “garbage.” Again, it’s not an excuse for it. I’m sure there are plenty of response statements that this is not who we are. It may not be what our aspirations are as a nation, but it certainly is a part of who this nation has always been. Again, we are a people moving swiftly in two opposing directions.

I’m currently reading “America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States” by Erika Lee. It’s a disturbing account of this country’s history with immigrants and xenophobia. It started before this country became a country. First it was the Germans, then the Irish and Catholics, then the Chinese and on an on it goes from there. All the while the white residents of the country did what they could to erase the existence and history of the indigenous peoples and Mexicans who resided in the land well before others came. And that’s not even talking about efforts to erase the existence of African Americans who had been brought here by slavery.

As I read this history of xenophobia I am struck by one thing in particular – the groups we discriminate against and try to push out change over time, but the arguments are the exact same. There is a consistency to the arguments. The arguments center of otherness, fear, that the group is taking away jobs of “real” Americans, that they are also at the same time a drain on the public welfare, that they are invading the country, that their culture will taint American culture, that they have different values that conflict with America, etc. If those arguments sound familiar, it’s because they have been well rehearsed throughout our history and are still used today. It’s actually predictable at this point. There is no creativity in xenophobia. Just violence and cruelty wrapped up with lame excuses that have been proved over and over again to be untrue.

We shouldn’t be surprised when we have yet another shooting at a school (this time a University) and the response is the same as it always is – empty rhetoric that uses God with no intention to do a single thing to stop the next shooting.

We should not be surprised at our elected officials efforts to do everything in their power to ensure people lose their health insurance – whether we are talking about ACA subsidies or cuts in medicaid. And we shouldn’t be surprised when the bill comes due with the consequences that will impact everyone.

We have a long history of all of these things. A history of dehumanizing others with violence and cruelty. And in so doing we dehumanize ourselves, becoming vicious animals in human form that has rejected the image and likeness of God in ourselves and others.

And yet, we have another history too. A history that aspires to something different, no matter how we have failed in that endeavor.

You see, we don’t have to be the nation that accepts cruelty and violence, dehumanizing rhetoric from our elected officials, horrible policy and laws, defense of war actions against other nations, and more. We don’t have to put up with gun violence. We don’t have to do any of those things. And I don’t mean that in terms of what our elected officials do or don’t do. Nope.

It starts with each one of us, not them.

It starts with each one of us deciding that such behavior and language is not acceptable and acting on that. It starts when each of us decide that treating other human beings like trash is not acceptable any more. It starts when we Christians decide that faith is about how we live, rather than how right we think we are. It starts when we decide to love our neighbors. It starts when we decide to see the humanity in others and in ourselves – which means we see the limitations and extend grace to one another. It starts when we decide we will not be silent and that we will speak up. It starts when we decide to act, rather than wait for someone else to take the first step. It starts when we decide that we will embody empathy. It starts when we decide it does.

And the beautiful thing about this is that this is also very much a part of our DNA.

It’s this part of America that ended slavery. It’s this part of America that expanded civil rights so that more people’s voices mattered. It’s this part of America that welcomed immigrants with open arms and lived into the “the New Colossus” poem etched into the Statue of Liberty. It’s this part of America that steps up when disaster strikes and people help one another. It’s this part of America that makes a person decide to rush into a burning building to save another person from death while risking their own lives. It’s this part of America that confronted the threat of Nazism and fascism in order to secure freedom for various peoples. It’s this part of America that steps up in communities across the country to overcome hostile legislation, laws, and policies designed to criminalize homelessness and groups of people, stigmatize people, and scapegoat people. It’s this part of America that launched labor unions and civil rights marches. It’s this part of America that sets up free clinics for the un and under insured. It’s this part of America that offers hope for this country.

We are a schizophrenic country – walking, and sometimes sprinting, in two opposing directions at the same time. One direction hurtling towards a Leviathan of cruelty determined to consume us all in chaos and violence. This direction needs us to believe that we are alone and that we have to only focus on ourselves. It is a direction that is based on the ends justify the means, might makes right, and the strong survive. It is a direction based on a lie and ultimately leads to death.

The other direction doesn’t promise false hope. It sees the reality for what it is. But it offers a better life. A life in community. A life in which there is more than enough for everyone. A life that sees each other not as threats, but fellow travelers on this journey of life. A life that sees beyond our own selfishness and greed. A life that is based on a recognition that the ends and the means are equally important, that right relationship matters, and that it is our obligation to care for the marginalized because we have more than enough to go around. A life that knows that the measure of greatness is not based in how much destruction a nation can cause, but rather how life is built up for all.

We stand at a crossroads with two roads going in opposite directions. Each one of us stands at that intersection every day. And we get to choose which road we will travel on.

Choose wisely.