We want so badly to belong...

That we place ourselves in violent opposition to those who think differently...

We make them “other”...

In order to feel some sort of connectedness...
to those on OUR side, OUR WAY.

We hold hands tight.
Like elementary school children.

We face off.
Stand off.

Red Rover, Red Rover...
Don’t you dare come over...

It feels safe to have a side, doesn’t it?

To have a posse to stand with, as you label those outside YOUR group as THEM: the “faultful” ones?

THEY are the reason for this world’s problems.

It’s THEM.
Look at THEM.

They make me sick.

If only they would see it my way, OUR WAY, the world could be a wonderful place.
A just place.

A perfect place.
Utopia found.

Maybe we can just get RID of THEM.

Vote them in.
Vote them out.
What the hell are we voting about?

Wear them down.
Tear them down.
Wake them up.
Shake them up.

Can we throw them over the wall?
Feed them to “The Russians”?
Make them obsolete! #twilightzone
Maybe the ‘rona will get them (Shhhh.)

Maybe if I troll acquaintances’ posts to call them communists, or fascists, or conspiracy theorists, or sheep, or dissenters, or crazy, or stupid...that means I’m an activist?

Maybe if I shame others for holding an opinion different from mine, that makes me a change agent?

If I yell my beliefs at the top of my lungs in the woods, does Alexa even hear it?

It’s only Us versus Them, baby.
Forever and always.

“Us versus Them” gifts us a chance to belong.

“Us versus Them” gifts us a reason to hate.

In belonging we trust.
Yet divided we fall.
In hate we fall.
We fall.
We fall.
We fall.

*Awaits parachute opening*

One nation.
Divisible by Design.