Give Us a Side and Watch What Happens

Why We Don’t

image created with conflicting thoughts

I remember 1992, during the Los Angeles riots, and Rodney King asking the question everyone remembers. To paraphrase him, “Can’t we all just get along?” I’d like to think the answer is yes, but it isn’t.

I suppose we can be decent, generous, even helpful people. I also think we’re selfish, tribal, suspicious, cruel, and violent. History has given us plenty of examples.

Philosopher Philippa Foot, in her work Natural Goodness, argued that honesty, justice, and courage are part of living well with other people. I think she had that right, but we still manage to push those qualities aside when self-interest, fear, or loyalty becomes more powerful.

Give us a reason to choose sides and we usually will. Religion, race, nationality, money, sports, power, and even the weather. The subject changes, and the ‘fighting’ gets more fierce, in my opinion.

Iran is showing us that right now. Nearly six months into the conflict with Trump, there is still no type of settlement. Threats continue, sanctions continue, and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains badly disrupted.

Russia and Ukraine are still fighting after more than four years. Missiles and drones are still flying, people are dying, and peace remains a long way off. Four years is a hell of a long time to keep killing each other.

We don’t need wars to see the same thing. Politics, religion, sports, families, work, neighborhoods, social media. Give us a side, and we’ll find somebody to put on the other one.

Then watch what happens to judgment. We condemn something when they do it, but when our side does something similar, we start finding reasons why it’s different or justified.

That’s loyalty for you.

So can we all get along? I don’t think so. Self-interest, loyalty, pride, fear, and our need to pick sides make it too freakin’ difficult.

I hope we can do better. I just wouldn’t bet my retirement portfolio on it.

Where do you stand?

[embed]Look. See. Think. Think before you decide what’s truemedium.com

[embed]A Short Guide to Bad Thinking How We Get Thinking Wrongmedium.com

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