Weary? You’re not alone.

Have we reached the ultimate stage of absurdity where some people are held responsible for things that happened before they were born, while other people are not held responsible for what they themselves are doing today? – Thomas Sowell

Where freedom of speech, expression, individual thought and group-think intersect I have grown weary. The divisiveness, the anger, the coming apart instead of coming together is increasingly hard to take. I am constantly catching myself trying to make rational sense out of many positions I see being taken in an irrational upside-down, inside-out world.

Three words come to mind when it comes to the state of our nation...  anger, tribalism and anxiety. Feeling attacked for your own thoughts? You're not alone.

No matter what the subject, disagreement seems to ensue. Whether it comes to peace treaties, societal reforms, protests, riots, capitalism, socialism, safety, constitutional matters, judgeships, whose life matters, you name it. The result is all the same in black and white, with stances being taken with very little gray allowed in the opinions being shared. 

Are you tired of conspiracy theories?

Tired of in with new “politically correct” murals and monuments and out with the old in our cancel culture “new world order”?

Tired of COVID-19 and the wearing of a mask debate?

Tired of Blacks vs. Whites?

Tired of Democrats vs. Republicans?
Trump vs. Biden?

Facts vs. Fiction?

I am sick of the people who are jumping on the bandwagon to spread hatred and start riots, looting and destroying others’ property or calling for or causing injury and death.

Huntington West Virginia’s Marshall University recently suspended a professor who, during a virtual biology class session online, after noting that some supporters of President Donald Trump at an indoor political rally were not wearing face coverings, stated “I’ve become the type of person where I hope they all get it (COVID-19) and die. I’m sorry, but that’s so frustrating – just – I don’t know what else to do. You can’t argue with them, you can’t talk sense with them, uhm, I said to somebody yesterday I hope they all die before the election.” To the professor, I say how about being mature enough to be able to deal with the fact that thankfully everyone doesn’t have that same mind-set? The penalty for disagreement should now be death according to you? Is this how far we have come with an alleged educator spewing such vile rhetoric? I guess not every life matters in your world. I am very grateful for those who have not been affected by indoctrination and are able and willing to look past ideologies in search of unity and fact.

As time passes, we increasingly find ourselves battling the differences between each other, rather than recognizing that there is so much more that we hold in common. The human tendency to want to categorize everything has seemingly spiraled wildly out of control. Even people who essentially agree are often seen being disagreeable and argumentative with one another.

Much of the divisiveness has been fueled through the media sources we turn to for information that have validated that in their media world bubble it's really primarily about identity politics and labels. It's "us versus them." Commentary is less about balance, substance and truth or telling two sides to a story with absolute accuracy. Forget finding any common ground. Value is only seen in certain beliefs quickly invalidating or demeaning those with heightened concerns due to a different perspective. Often it comes down to what amounts to a difference of opinion on perceived intent and motivation from different groups or movements and who is aligned with whom.

Is real support for the First Amendment reserved for when it supports a singular agenda? Attempts at shaming and silencing the opposition is a tactic used instead of learning by listening to views outside what has been described as a safe space or comfort zone. How about coverage, commentary and discussions which might actually result in new insights, knowledge and understanding? I’m done with attempts at erasing historical lessons learned. I am sick of blaming the world for the wrongdoings of a few. 

Personal Responsibility

I look forward to better times ahead where we can feel some level of success in preaching to those outside our own choir in a civil manner complete with respect, trust and with a mutual goal of learning and understanding the viewpoints of others. While, in the end, we may agree to disagree, surely our human journey together can be improved upon.

We must do better.

Joel E. Gordon is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com