‘US’ AND ‘THEM’

“There is NO ‘US’ and ‘THEM’; it’s an ILLUSION. We are all human beings, and we all have a responsibility to support one another and to discover ways of wresting the power from the very, very, few people who control all the cash and all the property.” Roger Waters

These past 2 weeks, I attentively watched both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, and needless to say they were diametrically opposed. One was filled with hope and the other- fear and despair.   Even the seriousness of the Coronavirus was handled very differently. In one convention, ALL of the activities and events were held virtually and ended with the candidates outside on a stage, who along with their supporters in parked cars looked at a fireworks display. Whereas the other one was partially virtual. During their convention, they held several in-person maskless activities with no social distancing and it ended with 2,000 maskless supporters seated closely in the Rose Garden of the White House listening to the US and THEM rhetoric of the current president. After watching both conventions, I became convinced that we NOW live in an America where we are defined by US and THEM. NOT as humans. NOT as civilized people. NOT as Americans, but as US and THEM. Now, all we have to do is figure out who is the US, and who is the THEM? Are you an US or are you a THEM? For this week’s blog, let’s figure it out. Let’s talk SHIP about US and THEM.

In 1973, the group Pink Floyd recorded a song called US and THEM and in its lyrics it says…...’ and who knows which is which and who is who’. Up and down and in the end its only round n round. Haven’t you heard, its a battle of words. Those lyrics reminded me of the Republican convention – a battle of useless words. Throughout the four days of their convention, several speakers repeatedly spoke of the US and THEM conspiracy. They emphasized the importance of THEM having to protect their neighborhoods from US moving in or causing violence. Their overall theme was to incite hate and to promote the fear of how destructive and crime-ridden America will become if you don’t vote for THEM. But they never discussed how they initially considered the Coronavirus a hoax and how it was the lack of leaderSHIP by THEM that contributed to the death of over 200,000 Americans. They also never mentioned that under THEM and their leaderSHIP, that the unemployment rate was currently 33.3 million which means a lot of US Americans aren’t working but they didn’t bring that topic up. They didn’t cite the fact that in the last 4 years, led by THEM, the stock market crashed, racism reached its highest peak, police brutality continues, and the unemployment and death rates have SOARED. Not once did they ever boast that the America we live in now was created by THEM.

They did, however, taunt how great America is, and for most of THEM,-especially the wealthy ones, it is true. But what about the 33.3 million of US Americans who are unemployed? It’s an entirely different story. Even though giving US an extra $1200 per month would help US buy food for our families and keep a roof over our heads, most of THEM decided to cut it by half. They bickered for weeks because most of THEM believed that giving US unemployed Americans $1200 per month was an incentive that would make US NOT want to return to work. So without reauthorizing an extension, all of THEM went on vacation leaving 33.3 million of US unemployed Americans with very little income. This only proves what’s important to THEM and it is certainly NOT US – the American people.

You may very well be a THEM supporter and that’s your prerogative. You may even share some of those THEM qualities and beliefs. But, if you are one of the 33.3 million Americans who are unemployed, regardless of your political affiliations and despite your beliefs, whether you know it or not, you are an US and NOT a THEM. And like the rest of US unemployed Americans, who with a few more missed rent payments could find yourselves homeless too. With no discussion of extensions, the moratoriums on evictions will be lifted soon and most economists project that over 28 million Americans will be evicted after the coronavirus dust settles. Where will you go? Since all of THEM have already denied US any additional money, we already know none of THEM would offer a plan to prevent US from becoming homeless. Voting for THEM for 4 more years will ENSURE that for some of US and for some of THEM too, homelessness could be a real possibility.

Honestly, it’s NOT the republicans or democrats that will lose if we allow THEM to be re-elected, it’s US the American people that will lose. Don’t continue to allow THEM to put US in categories. Don’t continue to believe the hateful, hateful rhetoric of those who support the US and THEM theory. It’s an ILLUSION and we must work together to dispel the US and THEM myth. As fellow Americans and decent human beings, let’s support EACH other by voting for a democracy where we ALL Matter. Let’s vote to build back a better America.

I am going to end this post where I began, with the resounding words of Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, “There is NO ‘US’ and ‘THEM’; it’s an illusion. We are all human beings, and we all have a responsibility to support one another and to discover ways of wresting the power from the very, very, few people who control all the cash and all the property.” Let’s seize the opportunity to do just that,-let’s discover ways of wresting the power from the very, very, few people who control all the cash and all the property. Let’s VOTE for new leaderSHIP and a brighter tomorrow. Don’t let hate win. Don’t let greed win. Don’t let racism win. There shouldn’t even be a US and a THEM in America because GOD LOVES and NEEDS ALL of US!!!

*Disclaimer-For the purpose of this blog, I used the term US loosely to make a statement. I am still employed but am empathetic because I’ve been there many times before but I’m also frustrated that none of THEM have stepped up to render assistance. Hopefully, you’ll remember it in November. May GOD bless America.

SHIP TALK: Are you a US or a THEM? Do you think America is better now than it was 4 years ago?

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