We can be proud of our country, but we can’t rewrite history to say that all people were included. Still, it stands to reason that any objective fault we might find with the generations before us will also be found in us by the generations after us. It’s imperative that we work to make the country more just and free so that the next generation is stronger, so they can take up the quest for the generation after them too.
Since the cycle of dysfunction begins with ideology, we should explore its root, the reason for that root, and we should explore the way out to freedom so that we can find relief from it. For this series, I am defining ideology not simply as having ideas for possible solutions that we then consult with each other about, but rather ideas that don’t take into account the full picture and are then polarized to force us to take sides.
We can reverse the cycle of dysfunction—ideology, division, and burnout—when we choose the pattern that is the essence of unity: collaborate, build trust, and build endurance. It’s an infinite pursuit, and everyone can participate where they are to unite the country and make it stronger.
How we use power matters. It is not a question of whether we use power. As citizens of the United States, we all already have power, and the choices we make are a use of power. Voting is a use of power. Not voting is a use of power. Organizing politically is a use of power. Indifference is a use of power, too.
I know we have all faced significant challenges in life over the last nine years—and yet, when we choose our hard, when we choose to build endurance, we can make our country more just and free. The goal of raising $2,000 in monthly contributions matters because the stakeholders that we serve deserve the best service we can give them.
021.2 The Cycle of Dysfunction
