This is the first time I've posted a "diary" entry on Daily Kos. I hope I have done this correctly. It is an opinion piece.
Because I drove my wonderful hubby to the airport at 0400 hrs (PDT), I had the opportunity to watch "Driving Miss Daisy" on TMC.
Even though I did see this movie soon after it was made in the late 1980's, I had not seen it since.
Between 1989 and 2014, the two times I have viewed this movie in its entirety, some things have transpired in my life.
The event which is most relevant to this "discussion" is the fact that I lived in the South for a decade or more, between viewings.
The difference this "small" change in venue has made in both my viewing pleasure and my understanding of this movie, is astounding to me.
I will readily admit that just maybe, not everyone needs to understand the marked differences in culture, history and differences which reside in our United States in order to "translate" the range of experience which can occur when one is exposed to different cultures.
An obvious conclusion to the above statements could be that I am culturally obtuse, or willfully ignorant of the differences that are so very evident in our Country and have been magnified by our current political divide. But, bottom line...I believe everyone, in some way, shape or form, should allow themselves to be exposed to these differences.
By doing so, ones eyes may be opened as to how and why we are so divided as a country.
My 44 years of living in Northern California, the copious amount of reading I have always endeavored to achieve, did nothing to enlighten me to the culture I moved to, from Berkeley, CA to Atlanta, GA in 1999. But in truth, the idea that the cultural experiences within the United States could be so far removed from my own was obviously, born of either ignorance or hope.
The story of a Jewish woman and a Black man, regardless of whether they were "employer and employee" or just "friends" is heartwarming...on the surface. But, to delve a bit more deeply into the relationships with the knowledge of how it "really is" makes this movie so much more meaningful. To me, at any rate.
I've spent time in the Southwest, South"east" (as Atlanta prefers to be located), and a bit of time in the Midwest which has exposed me to the differences in thought, conviction and attitude between these regions.
What had never seemed open to change in the past, the basic belief that we are all Americans...re: of Race, Creed or Color, has become for some, an antiquated message. A message that for some, is no longer viable in regard to how they picture our present and future.
If one studies history, then one is aware of the necessity for a country to be united, rather than divided.
When the new Republic of the United States of America, came into existence due to the resolve and shared mission of our colonial ancestors, the Civil War...a divisive project from the start...came from our division and has yet to be resolved. This fact, which I was unaware of prior to living in the South, has some responsibility for our current situation. The "War of the States" or, as it is called in some areas, "The War of Northern Aggression" must come to an end. Now.
I'd like to propose a truce.
A truce between parties, regions, religions, sexes and sexual orientation of the American people. We face so many challenges, many of which are the direct result of our currently divisive Congress, the fear and division perpetrated by our Media (for the sole purpose of making money), along with the financial incentive some have to keep things "the way they are", along with the obvious (yet, at this time, far off) threats from forces outside of our borders, are THE major threat to our well-being as a Nation.
How about it? Election day is 8 days away...how about we try to work together? Let's ignore and/or expel those who wish to divide and scare us. As a people, let us try to bring our country back together.