Similarities and differences

Shannon Bohrer

(4/2020) While our differences are sometimes commonly exploited for political purposes, it is well known that we often have more in common than our differences. This statement may seem incorrect because we are bombarded with news and opinions from those that want us to be at odds, those that seem to have something to gain from our differences. The motivation of some groups and politicians in pointing out our differences often appears straight forward – the other side is worse than me. Could there be other motivations?

As individuals we tend to focus on what we are looking for, at least in that direction. So, when individuals and groups are constantly pointing out our difference - that influences our perception. When our differences are constantly noted, it can be easy to overlook our similarities, or things with which we agree.

What most Americans have in common are things that are important to our everyday lives. The majority of Americans want a good paying job; they are willing to work and work hard. They want good schools for their children; they want access to good medical care, at a fair cost. They want good public safety and emergency services, fire and police protection. We also like parks for recreation, athletic fields for our local sports and libraries for our children. Additionally there are many things that we like that many of don’t think about, unless a problem occurs. The roads we travel on and good zoning laws that protect our neighborhood are just two examples.

What all of these things have in common, is that we want to live in good neighborhoods and communities. Good communities have affordable housing, with good services, place to work and are safe for our children to play. We want a good life with opportunities, as it says in our declaration of independence,

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

The words "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" sums up what many of us have in common. It’s not one big thing, but a lot of things that contribute to happy and meaningful lives. The question then becomes – why would people focus on our differences? Is it really for the purpose of being divisive - and if so why?

It seems at times we are challenged as if we are opposing sports teams, with each team telling us how great they are, often by telling us how bad the other side is. However, unlike sports teams that compete with rules and regulations, those that often want us divided don’t seem to have any rules. As one noted figure said on a national news show, "truth isn’t the truth." I believe that was related the "alternative facts" theory that some have fostered. I have to believe, if for no other reason than my own sanity that the truth does matter to most of us. Even where we differ, the truth is still important.

A good example of a largely perceived difference is the label(s) that are often used to distinguish our two parties. Having a label, or believing that the labels we hear accurately describe us, is not reality. We can start with liberals and conservatives. A liberal means one believes in liberty, something both sides should agree on, but yet liberal has a different connotation for many people. Our country was created with a revolution, so we could be free and have liberties.

A conservative wants to conserve what we have and what we have includes our liberties. Our liberties begin with our bill of rights, but to enjoy them we need to have laws, not to restrict our freedoms, but to ensure they continue. The rule of law is not a liberal or a conservative issue; it’s an American issue, something most of us have in common, or at least we did.

A very large issue of our perceived differences, at least the perception of it, is the second amendment. Many of the beliefs attributed to self-proclaimed pro-gun rights segments, seem to be in conflict with other groups that they have labeled as anti-gun. The anti-gun groups include Moms Demand Action, an organization that promotes better gun laws. Shannon Watts, the director once said "We’re Not Anti-Gun, We Support the Second Amendment."

Another group, the students from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School organized a March for our Lives, for better gun laws. The march was vilified as anti-gun. When a leader of the group, David Hogg, was questioned about their position on the second amendment, he said "a repeal of the Second Amendment" has never been on their list for better gun laws.

All of these organizations want universal background checks, limits on high-capacity magazines, research for gun violence and limits or bans of assault weapons, which some have interpreted to be anti-gun and anti-second amendment. That is not true.

In the supreme court decision with the Heller case, Justice Antonin Scalia said "Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited…". It is "…not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose." Additionally the opinion included, "We think that limitation is fairly supported by the historical tradition of prohibiting the carrying of ‘dangerous and unusual weapons."

While 90 percent of Americans support universal background checks and "common-sense" solutions, there is a minority that believes you should be able to own and carry any gun or weapon you want. Conversely, there is another minority that would like to repeal the second amendment. What most Americans have in common, is that we are in the middle. This should only be a divisive issue for the minority on both ends, the rest of us are with the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

Maybe we should question the importance of our differences and at the same time embrace what we have in common. We can only do this, when we use facts and truth in our discussions. Yes, there are individuals, groups and even foreign countries that would like for us to be divided. They believe it fits their agenda, but that does not mean it’s good for us.

"A leadership is someone who brings people together." - George W. Bush.