Parallel Universes
As we navigate the conflicts gripping our nation, many people seem to have picked a side and see everything through a distorted lens that only allows in the facts that support their position. It’s like people are choosing to live in alternate parallel universes, each with their own version of the truth. The recent example of Renee Good’s death illustrates the point vividly. We all watched the same exact set of videos, and yet some people see a disobedient agitator that maliciously tried to run over an ICE agent and caused her own death, while others see a volunteer supporting her neighbors that got scared and was murdered as she tried to drive away from danger. The political narratives and media ecosystem are obscuring the truth and driving us apart. Now, more than ever, we must shatter these lenses and openly assess what is really happening, so that we can make good decisions and work together to solve the problems we face. The success of our nation depends on it.
I still believe that deep down we share a fundamental set of values and beliefs as Americans. I’m concerned that we are losing sight of these fundamentals while getting caught up in the political battles that often justify exceptions. Refocusing on these shared beliefs can provide the foundation for cooperation. We may often disagree about the details, and how to achieve the related goals, but if we at least can agree on our core principles and general direction we want to head, we have a chance to productively work together. I’ll lay out some of these shared values and beliefs in four key areas.
Truth & Science
Truth matters. We don’t want to be lied to or manipulated. We have a responsibility to be honest. Our government has a responsibility to be honest with us and base decisions on the objective facts.
Science leads to discovery and innovation. It deepens our understanding of the truth. It improves our capabilities and productivity. We should encourage and support scientific progress to reap these benefits.
Government
Government leaders represent and serve the people. They should be freely chosen by the people, with a system that holds them accountable to the people. Decisions should be made in the best interest of the people, free from corruption and never motivated by the pursuit of personal gain by government leaders.
Government has a primary responsibility to protect our nation. It must establish forces to defend against external threats. However, war is destructive and deadly – it should be reserved for defensive purposes and avoided whenever possible. Diplomacy should be used to create a global environment that makes us safer and allows our nation to thrive.
Government must create laws that enable society to function. These laws must be enforced to protect the rights of the people, and to prevent or resolve conflict. They must be applied fairly and with due process.
Rights of Americans
Americans should be free to speak their views without censorship or fear of government retribution. A free press must be allowed to independently communicate the facts to the people. We must be free to practice the religion of our choosing.
The US Constitution calls out other key rights of Americans. Adherence to this foundational document, including the Bill of Rights, is necessary for the government to function as intended. The goal is to establish a system of government that avoids concentration of power, tyranny and abuse.
Human Rights
All people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Individuals have a basic right to form beliefs without coercion. People should not be harmed or punished without just cause. They should have clean air to breathe and water to drink without degrading their health.
What Can We Do?
Any group of people will achieve more by working together than by fighting each other. I hope by focusing on these shared beliefs, choosing leaders that adhere to these principles, and seeking a variety of fair media sources, we can view the world through a common lens based in objective reality. If we can do that, we have a shot at working out our differences and solving the problems we face. To truly be successful, we should go a step beyond that to treat each other with kindness and love.
Alex Pretti’s death in Minnesota could be another event that divides us. If we can look at it objectively, without the political narratives and media spin, and consider how it relates to the fundamental principles above, it has the potential to drive more agreement about what should happen going forward.
Since it can be difficult to find unbiased media these days, here are some Podcasts I find to be quite balanced and objective. If we focus our attention on sources like these, the Media market will provide more like them.
- Tangle News (Most content is available free on the Tangle podcast.)
- Smerconish (I usually listen to the Smerconish podcast.)
- The Middle (I sometimes listen to The Middle podcast.)
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We Can Be Better 
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