A Divided
Country?
by Christopher Dodson,
Executive Director, North Dakota Catholic Conference
June 5, 2005
Ever since the very close presidential election of 2000 we
have heard and read that the nation is “deeply
divided.” The nearly evenly divided U.S. Senate and
another close presidential election have, to some,
confirmed the existence of that division.
“Closely divided,” however, is not the same as
“deeply divided.” The closeness of recent
elections indicates an electorate divided into two roughly
equal camps. That alone does not indicate that the
divisions are “deep” or even great.
Indeed, considering human behavior, the likelihood that two
groups in equal in size, but diametrically opposed on most
issues, would develop within a particular region would seem
slim, at best. This reason alone should give us reason to
question any media pundit that declares our nation is
deeply divided.
From an international and historical perspective, the
United States has rarely been seen as deeply divided. The
ethnic, economic, class, and ideological divisions that
perpetually dominate the politics of many countries has,
for the most part, never existed here. To many outside
observers, the differences between Republicans and
Democrats seem nonexistent or insignificant.
The differences between the major political parties are in
many cases only differences in degrees or emphasis. The
differences become even more obscure in states like North
Dakota where the Democrats often differ from the
party’s national leaders on issues like abortion,
marriage, and guns and where the Republicans have a big
tent that includes ideological conservatives, fiscal
conservatives, libertarians, and social moderates.
Nevertheless, despite the absence of great differences, the
words and actions of both politicians and many citizens
certainly sound and look like the differences are great and
many. Partisan politics – political actions guided
solely for partisan reasons – seems more and more
common. The level of hostility recently expressed by
citizens in letters, calls to radio shows, and speeches,
toward those who do not agree with them is alarming. Even
both “progressive” and
“conservative” religious leaders have made
statements that sound prejudicial and personal. While the
country may not be deeply divided on most issues, the tenor
and manner of how the differences that do exist are
expressed has reached a heightened pitch and uncivil level.
What accounts for this? It could stem from the very
closeness of the division. People are often louder and more
careless when they are very close to winning or losing.
Perhaps it reflects a sign of people waking up to the
seriousness of issues like war, abortion, and healthcare.
From a Catholic perspective, moving from complacency to
concern is part of what it means to be fully human –
alive in Christ. Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead
. . . Passion for a just cause, however, should not be
misdirected and become hostile, partisan, vitriolic, or
personal. That passion – which, if authentic, stems
from our love for Christ in our neighbor – must guide
our political life in a way that reflects its source.
Our model for this type behavior can be the great Pope John
Paul II, who always expressed the Church’s thirst for
justice and human life with passion. Never, however, did we
see that energy and enthusiasm expressed in partisan,
personal, or hostile ways. If more of us acted as Pope John
Paul II, we could have a more civil and positively engaged
populace, even if it is still closely divided.
