top of page
Search

Thoughts on our country

Writer's picture: Zac Bales-HenryZac Bales-Henry

If this election cycle has proven anything, it’s that there is a clear divide in this country that now feels palpable. This is only exacerbated by the existence of social media and the pursuit of clicks and interactions over respectful content and genuine dialogue. While I’ve often felt like I needed to “sit this one out” when it came to the topic of politics in this country, especially when it comes to the microcosms of social media, depending on what group you align yourself with; I find it incredibly disheartening that we become stuck in our own bubbles, conditioned and fed content that is directed at us instead of making us think and challenge our own beliefs. This can lead to vast amounts of misinformation, making one feel as though the core of who they are is under attack. However, the United States is a vast and complex country, filled with a wide array of beliefs, ideals, and dreams.

 

Many of us have learned or been primed to communicate in terms of social media, but have forgotten how to communicate with each other face to face. We live in our bubbles and forget that there are people living lives much different than our own. Instead of talking, we make assumptions about someone’s way of life, who they are, what they believe in, and why they’re different than us. We turn the people we don’t know or don’t understand into the “other.” Media, both traditional and social, further this divide and pray on our fears and insecurities. Our politicians and political parties use that ignorance as a weapon, further dividing us from our family, friends, and neighbors.

 

When I was elected here in Windsor Heights, I saw firsthand how misinformation could spread. It didn’t matter that the people I was representing lived right next door to me. It didn’t matter if I had the accurate information or the factual evidence to back up what I was supporting; some would still assume, or at times, feel so passionately about the topic, or their belief that I was incorrect; they would form a distrustful image of who I, or what my agenda was. I saw firsthand on a micro scale what is happening at a macro level when looking at our political system. It was this unfortunate realization that gave me a foundational understanding of what I find so concerning about the United States we live in today.

 

For years now, every election has been seen as an existential threat to Democracy. Every candidate has been a rally cry for those who believe they’re unseen, or unsafe, be it true or otherwise, to make their voice heard. And while at times, this can be Democracy in its most truest form, it has led to politicians and parties trying to score points over substantive change. So many of our electeds opt to divide us further in the pursuit of power over representation. Our political system at times can feel more like a sporting event, wherein the simple fact that if we win, we have succeeded in stamping down the other side. This simply isn’t true, and if we ever truly want a change, or to be heard, or to create a world better than the one we live in now, we cannot forget that there are humans on both sides of the political spectrum. We cannot forget to communicate with each other, or to explore difficult conversations with each other, to challenge beliefs, and learn from one another.

 

Politicians and political parties will not save us. Ideologues will continue to divide us. The work that needs to happen will have to come from everyday interactions, and finding the common ground that binds us rather than divides us. The reality is that half of the United States isn’t going to disappear, and unless we take on the hard work that needs to happen, understanding that everyday interactions are likely the best way to humanize the other, we will continue to have a political system that only serves to divide us further from each other. If we want a better system, we have to realize that most of us are simply trying to survive, that those who we deem as different aren’t actually that different from us. We have to be willing to share our stories and have the tough conversations. More importantly, we have to care for those who we do not understand, accepting that what makes them different from us is in fact the powerful story of this great nation.

 

One of the things I find most beautiful about this country is that we have, and will continue to be a diverse web of individuals, with varying backgrounds, stories, and passions, bound together by one thing, our love of this place we call home. This country doesn’t belong to one thought, one party or one person. It belongs to all of us.

0 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

The consumption of information

Recently I have been thinking about what, and how someone stays informed, taking a more active role in one’s everyday life. And how...

Comments


Connect with Us & Join Our Mailer

6720 University Ave

Windsor Heights, IA, 50324

  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

© 2025 by Black Phoenix Group

Licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Iowa

License Numbers: F06129000 | B58727000 

Copy of Beige and Black Vintage Circus Logo-3.png
bottom of page