Liberty Expose: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
“Won’t you be my neighbor?” Iconic lines of an opening song that graced the daytime television screens of millions of American families. From its initial broadcast in 1968, Mister Roger’s Neighborhood taught generations of American children the importance of compassion, understanding and community. In other words, what it meant to be a good neighbor in a neighborhood that we could all be proud of. But the inherent values in the lessons imparted by Fred Rogers weren’t limited to the hearts and minds of children, it was an education for every American citizen, regardless of age, color, and creed. Rogers’ program helped dismantle racial barriers in an era when the abysmal idea of racial inequality was still prevalent and ingrained across much of the United States, and till its finale in 2001, the program instructed Americans that our differences should not divide us, but illuminate the value of each individual as a unique and necessary part of a larger shared community.
What’s been important in my understanding of myself and others is the fact that each one of us is so much more than any one thing. — Fred Rogers
Yet somehow and somewhere, against the backdrop of the ever increasing turmoil of our modern age, the serialized sermons of Rogers ceased to resonate with the same universally accepted reverberance they formerly possessed. Once unforgettable lessons of kindness and civility seem to have been forgotten en masse, instead replaced by derision and zero-sum political thinking. The notion that disagreement is not mutually exclusive with division appears to be a concept foreign to many Americans across each side of the political spectrum. But this was not always the status quo. So when did America, in both its citizens and political parties, become so polarized? So blinded by lines of partisanship that we viewed our fellow citizens from the other side of the aisle not as members of the same national family, but political opponents to be ostracized and shouted down? When did we become so unneighborly?
The Rise of political Partisanship
Political disagreement has always been present in the American experiment. John Adams’ and Thomas Jefferson’s stark ideological differences defined the political conflicts of their era, but this opposition never prevented a lifelong friendship and correspondence that lasted till their deaths. Nor was the personal camaraderie between President Reagan and former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill ever overshadowed by their own fierce political rivalry. Debates over political differences were just that; debates. Dialogue meant to foster an understanding in both parties for the benefit of America as whole.
The rise of political polarization did not happen overnight. The Cold War provided an external framework for citizens to conceptualize themselves as brothers and sisters of the same American family. Whatever disagreements arose at home dissipated when it came to keeping up with the Khrushchevs and Gorbachevs across the street. It was understood as fact that Americans, whether Democrat or Republican, were first and foremost Americans in the face of a larger global conflict. But with the collapse of the Berlin Wall and a proverbial enemy at the gates, this conception of a shared national identity became less distinct.
It was left to the home-front to drive and instill a shared national identity for American citizens. But as political scientist and author Robert Putnam has documented, institutions that were once hallmark in enshrining a shared civic “we” have long been in decline. As attendance in local organizations, churches, and neighborhood associations evaporated, the experience of interacting with Americans of opposing political beliefs ceased to be an everyday occurrence. Without the sense of community and civic belonging derived from these points of contact, political and partisan identity gradually began to fill the void.
A Dangerous Division
The consequences brought about by the rising tide of political polarization extend far beyond the echo chambers of social media and the battlefields of comment sections. Such stark polarization hovers overbearingly over the daily interactions between families, friends and coworkers, serving as a catalyst to distance or altogether detach oneself from relationships with those of differing political beliefs. These measures may seem drastic in nature, but what else could be expected when the majority of members in both political parties view their opponents as more immoral, dishonest and closeminded than other Americans?
As a shared national identity is fractured into political tribal lines, the dangers of this shift permeate into government and institutions. After all, the politicians and bureaucrats who oversee these organizations are people subject to the same dividing narrative as their constituents. Legislation geared towards bipartisan compromise for the benefit of the nation is cast aside in favor of zero-sum politics, resulting in legislative paralysis and less-than-efficient policy outcomes from lawmakers. Ideological cohesiveness and agreements between party lines are congressionally out of fashion, with politicians more concerned about how their actions benefit their own constituent bloc rather than the entire American voter base.
The surge of political partisanship has also contributed to the erosion of confidence and trust in American institutions. From the federal government to the Supreme Court, the American public’s trust towards once hallowed institutions continues to recede to shocking lows. This distrust is magnified by political partisanship, with voters of each party losing confidence in the federal government and its apparatus when their preferred party is not in power. Even the institutions Americans trust, or distrust, are subjectively conditional between partisan affiliation. Personal trust between Americans isn’t oblivious to political polarization either, and may threaten and destabilize communities throughout the country.
Reclaiming the Neighborhood
In an era when political polarization is nearly all-pervasive throughout every aspect of American life and culture, reclaiming a shared national identity rooted in civic understanding seems like an insurmountable task. But America has always prided itself on rising to the occasion, defying the odds and overcoming the seemingly impossible. Dispelling the divisiveness of political partisanship is just another obstacle to be bridled by the spirit of American optimism.
We chose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. — President John F. Kennedy
The solution lies with the actions of both the American people and their politicians, Republicans and Democrats alike. Americans as individuals must venture beyond the comfort zone of their own political ideologies and into the unknown realm of the “other side” if political partisanship is ever truly to be quelled. Engaging in conversations and meaningful dialogue with politically like-minded citizens is great, but true change and understanding is fostered when these debates are held between people with differing political views. By viewing other citizens, whether red or blue, as members of the same American family, it allows us to bridge the gap of political polarization and conclude that we are all advocates and defenders of democracy, regardless of the latest media spin or narrative.
While American citizens bear the day-to-day challenge of civil restraint and understanding, it falls to politicians to foster a public atmosphere of unity and fellowship in their actions and conduct. The all too common and disparaging rhetoric of “deplorable”, “stupid liberals” and the like must be swept from the vernacular of politicians. Even ostensibly innocuous language or slogans such as “Heritage Americans” or “American First” equally ostracize one side of the aisle as much as their accusatory counterparts, and serve little purpose but to energize partisan sympathies. American politicians must lead by example, advancing policies that are for the well-being of every American, without regard to whether it counts as a victory for their respective conservative or liberal teams.
America is a neighborhood every citizen should be able to proudly reside in. But ensuring our beautiful community stays available to everyone starts with one simple question:
Won’t you be my neighbor?
