Daniel

Us and Them

 

Social discussions on politics have turned mean,

Such stronger, opposite feelings it seems we’ve seen;

Recently, on FaceBook, ‘twas yet another spat,

So, I do have this I’d like to say about that:

 

My dear Grandma who lived to a hundred and two,

Taught me all my life to believe this is what’s true:

“That there is so darn much good in the worst of us,

And so darn much bad in even the best of us,

That it ill behooves any single one of us,

To criticize any or all the rest of us.”

 

You see, we do pretty good when we’re one-on-one,

Face-to-face we get along with ‘most anyone;

Overlooking difference and benefit of doubt,

Give us understanding what the other’s about.

While on some things we might not completely agree,

One-on-one, the other’s good we still find and see.

 

But lumping people in groups and a label give,

Difference we highlight, less likely to forgive;

What they think, how they feel, already known we claim,

We don’t listen, we’re ready to accuse and blame.

That face-less, name-less person we can then call “Them,”

And “Them” it’s easy to hate, and there’s the problem.

 

It’s easy to make “Them” into an enemy,

Then, disgusted with all they say comes easily;

We don’t really listen to anything “They” say,

We’re already sure we won’t agree anyway.

So “Them” we’ve decided to just hate and ignore,

Nothing “They” offer will we take time to explore.

 

That is right where politicians want us to be,

The other side’s good they sure don’t want us to see;

They keep us riled up that the other side’s all wrong,

Then with all they say we will just follow along.

But, there’s still so much “good in the worst” I believe,

And plenty of “bad in the best” I still perceive.

 

“Them” is just not some terrible disgusting thing,

“They” are people, a parent, child, spouse or sibling;

Each one is going about their life just like you,

What they think is right they are trying hard to do.

Before we all hasten, each other to dislike,

Remember “we’re more alike, than we are unalike.”

 

Certainly, neither side is all-wrong or all-right,

And it’s high time to end this nasty, ugly fight;

Acceptable solutions come from compromise,

And willingness to work together that implies.

Synergy, not dissension leaders should reflect,

But it starts at home with our own care and respect.

 

A little bit gentler we should all try to be,

Even with those with whom we don’t wholly agree;

Try to understand, give some benefit of doubt,

Learn a bit more what others are really about.

‘Cause party politics has this one big problem,

We are really all “Us,” there is not any “Them.”