When something bad happens, we always want someone or something to blame. It seems that people need a reason for their anger, a person to hate, or a philosophy to trash. We live in unsettling times with division causing as many of our problems as anything else. These divisions exist at the local, state, national, and worldwide level.
Honest, vigorous debate that respects all involved is good and healthy. However, the divisiveness that we are currently experiencing in our nation has pride-driven groups attacking one another without ever critically looking at their colleagues, political opponents, or fellow community members to see if in fact, they may have a valid point that deserves discussion.
I was recently at a brainstorming session in a community meeting where after I threw out an idea it was met with, “No, that’s a stupid idea.”
I didn’t say anything in return, but I was thinking, “If you are so darn smart, then where is your solution?”
Instead I let the moment pass, knowing that more confrontation doesn’t help get much done.
As a coach, one the most important ingredients to success is in getting your team to play together. If you have above average talent, a strong work ethic, and a group of people that are willing to work together, you can accomplish almost anything.
However, working together means putting the whole of the group before the individual parts. It means putting your own selfish motivations aside and doing what is best for the team’s success.
Most people who don’t really know me probably think I am a Fox News guru who likes to listen to Rush Limbaugh on the radio. That may have been the truth in years past, but I have come to realize that Rush and many others on talk radio are effectively dividing us as people. They do so in much the same way their liberal counterparts do on the other channels. The banter back and forth may be great entertainment, but it doesn’t help us as Americans come together to form a winning team.
Months ago I wrote a simple column talking about how young people need to learn the simple skills of showing their elders respect. This one pretty straightforward column led to letters to the editor that somehow attacked me. We are so divided as a nation that we can’t even talk about basic common values and their worth to society.
The mainstream news now wants to demonize unions and their effect on our economy. Again, we want someone or something to blame. We first started with CEOs and the financial sector, now we move to unions, and pretty soon it will be anyone directed towards anyone who can retire before they are dead. All of this bickering back and forth gets us to resent… each other. Are we now going to start resenting our neighbors or the Joneses who live down the street?
We don’t have to look any further than local politics to find division within our own community. Having worked at Superior National for over 15 summers, I cringe at the current situation our current politicians have put themselves in.
Division is this country’s greatest foe. It will take a great team to defeat it. It will also take great leaders to pave the way. Will our local, state, and national leaders in power be willing to give up some of their own selfish ambitions and backroom deals to lead us to success? If not, will we as citizens find the leadership we need?
Make no mistake, the challenges we face can be solved. We can’t let division keep us from finding the solutions to the real issues at hand.
Mitch Dorr, a Cook County High School Class of 1993 graduate, is now a social studies teacher and coach at his former alma mater. Mitch coaches Vikings football and boys’ basketball. Coach Dorr’s comments do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ISD 166 school board or administration.
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