Perfect harmony? Nah!

Earlier in the week, I wrote in my blog about a young man who would probably be called back up into the Marine Corps for a return trip to Iraq even though he suffers from PTSD and still has horrible nightmares about the things he saw.  One of the people who commented recognized that I found this unfair.  He is obviously unapologetic about the war and is, in all likelihood, a fairly intelligent and pragmatic individual.  One of his comments was:  . . . but you and the "I'd like to teach the world to sing and share a coke crowd" are completely unrealistic.

Now, you may think this post will be about defending my position on the involuntary recall of soldiers . . . you would be wrong.  His statement reminded me of the old commercial for Coca-Cola by the New Seekers.  Actually, the line was, "I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company."  But the point of the comment is still there.  He is absolutely right, the sentiment of the song is completely off the mark.  The way I see it, although I thoroughly enjoy an ice cold Coca-Cola, there are a lot of people who prefer Pepsi.  Some like Sprite, there is a southern contingency who really enjoy their Royal Crowns - that's RC Cola for everyone born after 1970 - there's the root beer class, those who "Do the Dew", he's a Pepper, she's a Pepper, and of course, there are some who are not into soft drinks or colas at all.

That's much the same way with the world at large, but especially the United States.  A funny name really - for we have never truly been united.  Even before the American Revolution, there was dissent between those who supported a break from Great Britain and those who would have endorsed remaining loyal to the crown.  And even among the liberty crowd, there were factions who wanted a new monarchy, a republic, or even a military dictatorship.  The intriguing men who eventually came out ahead still had problems coming to grips with what the new republic would be.  Lucky for us, these men came to decisions with give and take.  They would cede an idea or two just to take a single step forward with an idea they held even more passionately.

But just because our founding fathers were able to work through their differences and give us that grand old document on which our laws are both based and tested, doesn't mean we were suddenly like two peas in a pod.  Yes, we were in a pod - a pod of freedom - where every individual in our infant nation was suddenly free to not only think differently, he was also free to let everyone in on what his thoughts were.  Diversity and individuals were able to do what no single-minded purpose of thought had ever been able to accomplish.  We became a success - in spite of our dissimilitude - and either through divine providence or human design, the disharmonic nature of our very existence worked in our favor to produce a harmony that was admired and emulated around the globe.  

As old and new nations tried the grand experiment, some failed, some failed miserably.  But others succeeded and a few succeeded magnificently.  The secret to the better success stories comes from those nations who followed the extra pathway of diversity.  But no country on earth could match the real diversity of these United States.  Our population is made up of every race, creed, religion and nation on Earth.  And although it took more than a century to move past many of the contentions that led to that little disagreement between the North and the South, we managed to pull through.  We have it in us - and in that dichotomy of philosophies - to pull though again.   We have to overcome, not our differences, but the elements of of bigotry, treachery, villainy, and apathy diversity drags to the table.  We are at once full of hope and hopeless.  We are wealthy beyond all other nations, yet we fall behind in education.  We are a thoughtful society, but a thoughtless bureaucracy.  Thankfully, our system of government has always allowed us to rectify new problems as they presented themselves.  Given any problem, there will always be someone who comes up with a solution - usually more than one by several different lawmakers and each with their own method of carrying it through to fruition.  Once again, although we are not united in ideals, we are fluid enough to mesh with each others criticisms and/or suggestions for vivification of a resolution.  We are who we are.

We are currently in a state of unease in the world and billions of eyes around the world are fixated on our nation once again.  We're not the spry little country of our childhood, we are no longer the spit and vinegar country that only came to the rescue of Europe after our own butts got tagged in Hawaii, and we're not the nation who tried to change the world through a counter-culture.  We have become what we used to despise.  Politically, we are more divided now than nearly any period in our existence, save for the aforementioned dispute between the States.

On the one side, we have a divided Republican Party - their main incongruity is over the size of government in Washington.  On the flip side, we have a divided Democratic Party - they have too many bones of contention to list, however many of their disagreements are over degrees rather than polar opposition.  Some are more passionate in their desire to help - and once again, even the decision on who or what to help can be a sticking point.  Today's Democratic Party reminds me of the differences held by our founding fathers.  Once again, we want to rid the nation of hunger, we want to make sure each and every person in this country has a place to call their home, and we want to figure out a way to get along with others instead of killing each other.  These are lofty, but noble goals - goals we may not reach in our lifetime.  But like those early American patriots, we will strive to work it out.  

So no, I don't believe I can change the world by sharing a Coke.  But maybe a good start would be if we all went out for a good root beer.  Of course, I'll have Dog'N'Suds, she'll have the Hires, that guy wants and A&W, there's  a group who ordered the Mug, and I'm not even going to get into the variations of sweeteners.