states

Politics In The United States Has Become So De visive Because We Have Become “Infected” With Too Much “Passion” For Our Beliefs​!​

/ Chase Blosser / Leave a comment

This is a response to #the one-word prompt “Infect” by “The Daily Post.”

America is very divided these days when it comes to “#politics,” but that is no surprise to anybody now (unless you #have been under a rock). The political divide #has been going on #for years, and only increasing as it continues. There have been and are many explanations for this, but I won’t mention those here, except for “a Lack of dialog” (straight talking & listening). Some are right and some wrong, and some offer part of the explanation, but it is “a lack of dialog” that makes the most sense.

A lot of the more heard and discussed possible explanations, all offer only a part of how #we as a nation have gotten #so divided as we are now, including “a lack of dialog.” But underlining any and all possible explanations is that deep down we have “#too #much” #passion for #our political #beliefs. For yes, one of the main problems causing our political divide is a “real honest lack” of dialog, there is a little more to it than that.

Businesswoman hands holding white card sign with we care text message

Real dialog or conversation consists of two parts, talking and listening where everyone involved #in the conversation is able to contribute and the other/s being “active listeners.” The problem being is that even when there is an honest attempt at dialog, there is an “interference” preventing the active listening part of the conversation.

The listener/s are paying attention to the one doing the talking, but they are not indeed taking it in to “think/contemplate it. Which that is what talking is all about, sharing and presentation ideas and thoughts to others and everyone involved observing them as well as getting to know each other.

The interference is our passion for our beliefs getting in the way. This would mean we tend to have to much passion for our opinions if they are holding us back from having any consideration or just clear thought over anything that may seem counter to said beliefs. Having passion can be and often is an excellent thing to have, especially when it comes to a firmly held belief about something. It helps to motivate us and advocate for that belief and/or to act on it/them.

What Motivates You?

Yet, at the same time if our passions in anything, not just our beliefs start to hold us back from doing something or they cripple ourselves and society, then any good we get from them will be wade out. Passion like a lot of other things in life requires moderation; a little being good and too much not so good.

If we are going to stand a chance of bringing down the political divide amongst ourselves, then we need more dialog, getting to know each other, and understanding each other’s political views. But in order to have that we need to be aware of just how much passion we each are having for our political views and learn how to moderate that passion, just as we do for our other passions in life.

So what are your thoughts and viewpoints on this subject? Please do share them; all are welcomed and wanted. 

To be “Mighty” and “Great;” What has made the United States a “Great” Nation?

/ Chase Blosser / Leave a comment

This is #a response #to #the one-word prompt “Mighty” by “The Daily Post.”

According to Merriam Webster to #be #mighty is possessing might: powerful, to be accomplished or characterized by might, or to be #great or imposing size or extent. President Donald Trump both during his campaign for the presidency #and during said presidency so far #has championed a returning the #United #States of America to a “great” #nation once again and to make it “mighty” in its powers. My question is and has been for quite some time is #what does the President mean by “great” and or “powerful?” A lot of nations in today’s world can be considered “great” and or “powerful” so too can we look to the history of past nations/countries and empires that were certainly considered “great” and or “powerful.”

The thing is, to be “mighty” and or “great” is, can be, and does mean several things. Also “mightiness” and “greatness” do not necessarily go together and are certainly not the same thing. As said above to be “mighty” is to process great strength, in the case of nations usually either military strength, economic strength, or both. But for nations to be considered “great” historically refers to the impact they have had on the rest of the world and on future generations long after the country, nation, or empire in question is either gone or had waned in power and greatness.

“Greatness” requires not just “power” and “might” but unequal influence over all other nations and peoples. It requires the nation to be quite different from others in its values, outlook, behavior and so on. Greatness can be either “good” or “bad.” To improve upon or bring back to “greatness” the United States as President Trump says is his goal, is all well and good, but not if he is focusing just on the economic and military strength of the nation. One has to look at the underlying foundations of the culture of a nation for greatness. If one believes that the United States has been a “great” nation (as I do and still believe in the potential for greatness) one must answer how has it been “great” and what #made it so. How has the United States traditionally acted and behaved in response to the rest of the word and its self?

One must remember that what makes up a nation is its people, thus it is its people that can or can’t make a nation “great.” If it is the people that have made the United States “great” then it is the culture, morals, and beliefs of the people that matter in making and deciding “greatness.” In making a nation “great” its people will also decide the underlying character of that “greatness;” that is if that “greatness” is either “good” or “bad.” Will the “great nation” have an overall positive or negative impact on the world? This is the fundamental question that must be asked by someone trying to “return” a nation back to greatness; what was the underlying “character of that greatness in relation to the rest of the word, good or evil?

I believe that the United States is and has been a “great’ nation for some time. That ‘”greatness” is not reflected in the military or economic “might” of the United States, (though both are and have been considerable) those are more a byproduct of said “greatness” no, the “greatness” of  the United States is reflected in the people’s traditionally strong sense of belief in both the individual and the community and a willingness (indeed eagerness) to reach out and help those in need, and not just those they know but in a lot of cases complete and total strangers.

The United States, I sincerely believe has become a “great” nation also because it is and was founded on a certain set of ideas and principles, (Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness). In that regard, unlike other nations and countries who have either collapsed and or have been conquered; as long as there is but a few to carry on those ideals and principals, the “United States” is and will be “immortal and everlasting. (But only if the morals and beliefs that made it “great” remain.) One could say that to be “great” is to transcend and transform the “normal” human experience and existence.

So, if President Trump or anyone wants to “return” the United States to “greatness” they need to look at the people and culture, not the military and economy, though those are important, just not the “be all by all” that some may think they all. “Greatness” is more than strength! The United States has been a great nation because traditionally the United States has been “good!”

What are your views on this subject? Please do share, all thoughts and viewpoints are welcomed and wanted.

 

The Glaring Obvious: The United States Is No Longer United!

/ Chase Blosser / Leave a comment

“This #is a response to #the one-word prompt “Glaring” by “The Daily Post.”

“We the People of the #United #States of America” are not so united anymore, or at least we #no #longer act like it. We can hardly if at all talk about politics, and our views with each other without coming to blows over disagreements on how things should be done; and this is with those of similar and/or same political persuasion as our selves, let alone the complete opposite. This disunity is apparent throughout our society from the average citizen and family/friends as well as our politicians and government officials. It prevents us from agreeing on anything and/or finding common ground to get things done and solve everyday life issues.

As President Lincoln once said “a house divided, can not stand“ well we are now seeing just how true that is, for we as a country and as a society are so divided, that we are getting nothing done, while the list of problems we face keep piling up. The thing is, we all know this and feel it in our bones, yet we continue to argue. WHY????????

The political divid has gotten so bad, that no one is able to be the “voice of reason” and or calm. No one has any credibility and trust. So even though we all may know that our arguing and blaming each other is getting us nowhere, we can’t help but continue it. We all see the “iceburg” dead ahead, but all we seem to be able to do is “help steel the ship” into the “icebure.” Everything we try to do to avert disaster only brings us closer to it.

So what is it that can be done to unite the United States once again? What can we do to stop the arguing in politics and get government actually working again for “We The People?”  First of all, we can start by actually getting to know the “other side of the debate” and listen to them and their ideals. Don’t just dismiss them as “no-nothings, bigots, racists,” or any of the things we call those who we disagree with.

The second thing we can do is stop with the “self-rightious” attatude in regards to our own beliefs. The other side may be wrong on their postion, but that does not make them evil or mean they don’t care about the issue/s and people invloved.

We also need to get to know eachother better and stop hanging around in our own “bubbles” of like minded belivers. Make friends with those of the opposite Political viewpoint to yours! That dose nothing but isolate and creat “tribelism” which only fuels the division in this formally great united country. The “bubbles” also do more harm to one’s own belief system then helps it in the long one. For it stiffles intelitual curriosity and a wanting to learn and gain knowledge. Thus, those who are stuck in a “bubble” are less able to defend their postions and explain the reasons for them to others.

We must also be consestent with our beliefs and how we act them out and treat others. We can not hold one person or a group of people to one standered and others to a completly different one. That is one of the cheif reasons for a lost of trust and crediblity in this nation.

Yes, it is #obvious that the United States is no longer “United.” The Question is; what are we going to do about it? We need to stop talking about the problem and start acting on it, and changing how we as a society behave and act with each other and those who we disagree with. Love and understanding is what we need!

 

What are your thoughts on this subject? Please share them! All thoughts and Viewpoints are welcomed on this blog!