Mark Twain is credited with saying, “In matters of opinion, all our adversaries are insane.” He probably said it, but maybe he didn’t. I’m not going to argue about it. I’m not posting the quote on social media or sharing it at a family gathering. But you could bet your bippy if I did, the attribution war would begin, and missing the entire damned point would accelerate to ironic madness. We have lost our civility at the edges, and our slip is showing as a society.
If you see it, too, don’t despair. Look to the last refuge of thought, consideration and reason. The middle part. The smack dab center of the bell curve. There you will find an electorate…a citizenry…an unincorporated tribe of humanity holding the gate and disallowing the tide of zealots to overwhelm our camp.
They may belong to a given political party, but their greater allegiance is to discretion and thoughtful contemplation of issues. Moreover, they have resisted the temptation to join any cult of personality. They act and vote based on a fluid set of realities and without a dogmatic tie to someone else’s coupling of issues. They read the bills, consider the sources and can stomach both sides of the story without hemorrhaging. They are, one might say, functioning adults.
Imagine conceding that the breach of the U.S. Capitol was a disgusting and vile event and expecting the rule of law to be applied when businesses are looted. Consider the audacity of a person to believe sexual orientation is biological and the merits of a person are not dictated by this factor, and we should be fiscally responsible to preserve our union. Sit in complete amazement while these folks hold leaders accountable for what they can control and do not assign to them blame for matters in motion for decades before their term. Those capable of these remarkable mental gymnastics are my heroes. So too should they be yours. As importantly, they determine our future.
If you think you are capable of membership, try this simple test. In your own mind, say something complimentary and derogatory about each of the following: President Obama, President Trump, Senator Cotton and Speaker Pelosi. Did you survive? Are you still able to read this text? If so, maybe you are middle material. The fact is, they are all human beings with flaws and incredible merit. If you doubt that, stay on the edge and enjoy yourself. It is your right.
COVID-19 has exposed our middle vs. edge divide so starkly, disappointingly and annoyingly; it is aggravating to write this section. On one hand, it is obvious we are making the rules up as we go along. On the other hand, how the hell could we not be? The data clearly shows a lower chance of severe illness among the vaccinated. The data also shows vaccinated individuals can and do spread the virus. If we all stay home, our economy will crash, and unemployment will lead to mass starvation, and financial weakness could be ruinous. What do we do? Well, that depends.
The edges dig in. Per the edges, you are either a vaxxed lemming or a selfish monster.
Meanwhile, the middle recognizes this is our first pandemic in a hundred years. It understands people do have rights and so do businesses. It concedes the governmental steps in response to these issues have spanned two administrations. Those away from the edges consider the laws of economics and the Golden Rule. Then, with this miasma of all these factors swirling, they make decisions for themselves. The point is not what decisions they make or positions they take; it is the process of thought. Avoiding the shortcut of being dictated a position is their greatest triumph. It is not easy.
Part of me wants to invite you to the middle. To encourage you to throw off the yoke of adherence to the religion of right or left. But, like being dragged to Wednesday night Bible study, such a provocation to act is unlikely to stick. That’s the paradox. Instead, my goal here is to simply highlight the power of existing in the middle. To maybe pause your impulse to respond harshly to a kind soul whose opinion conflicts with yours.
My faith in humanity remains strong. From edge to edge, we are generally a good people. The middle may just be a little better at showing it.
Stan Zylowski is the co-founder and CEO of Bentonville’s Movista, a mobile enterprise platform for retail.
