As humans, we each have a unique worldview based on our own experiences and understanding of the world.
In many ways, our worldviews make us and our perspectives unique; but they are also part of a common worldview.
Despite all our differences, there are so many shared experiences, shared values, and shared perspectives between people that we forget to acknowledge when we only focus on what divides us.
I believe there are values and ethics that most of us would share if we took the time to search for them.
Beyond the basic “murder is bad”, can we all agree that forcing a human being into slavery is immoral?
Or that children should be protected from adults who wish to do them harm?
Rather than focusing on what divides (ex: should medically-assisted death be legal?), we should be focusing on what unites us (human life should be protected, celebrated, and lived in freedom).
This is not to say we should not challenge the status quo or stand up for what we believe in (case in point: the civil rights movement); neither is it a call to celebrate sameness over our differences.
This is a call to reject divisive politics and embrace the unifying power of humanity.
We are all brought together by shared values and perspectives if only we focus on what we share in common.
By refocusing on what unites us, we can reshape politics to be a unifying force in democracy rather than the divisive force that it is today.
In my next post, I will be talking about how ideology has created arbitrary chasms between people.