Addition > Division

Will you be on my team?

You’re the best

I did not know what to expect when starting this journey of Sowing Hope. I was even more nervous with my post on the economy because I know I think differently than many of you. Still, I knew I could trust my neighbors (that’s all of you 🙂🏘️). I knew if you were still reading, you value listening to different perspectives just like I do. Thank you again for being here.

Photo by Nathan Lemon on Unsplash

Update

I mentioned in the last post how it looked like the economy will continue its trend of improving. I just want to share an update since a new jobs report landed last Friday (BLS jobs report). We saw another 187,000 net new jobs and near-record-low unemployment again at 3.5%. With average hourly wage growth of 0.4% (4.8% annualized) and year-over-year wage growth at a strong 4.4% (wage growth data from Trading Economies), wages have continued to grow faster than inflation which continues falling to 3% now over the last year (BLS Consumer Price Index).

Photo by PTTI EDU on Unsplash

Disclaimers

• There is a one-question poll at the end. I would love to get your feedback if you have a moment. Thank you in advance. 😀

• My father-in-law (hey, Dad! 👋😁) said the last post was like a mini-doctoral thesis…I hope you found value in it, but I’ll be more big picture, today. Hope that’s okay. 🙂

• I learned I can allow you all to simply respond to this newsletter or send an email to matthewchisolm@substack.com if you want. While I will likely be slow in reading them, I would love to hear any hopeful stories you think I could highlight.

Not really divided

I have said for a long time I don’t buy we are a “divided nation”. I know, I know, we get told we are divided and we can’t talk to each other anymore all the time. But my experience talking to people and my research of the so-called “controversial topics” seems to tell a different story. Whether it is lowering health care costs, ensuring our youth get a high-quality education, or protecting our communities from gun violence the people I talk to and the polls I have studied all tell the same story: we the people overwhelmingly agree on the vast majority of issues. I talk with people who think drastically differently than me and still, we mostly agree. Polls ranging on health care, public education, and gun safety legislation show Americans agree on these issues often with a majority of 70%, 80%, and sometimes even almost 90% agreement (on universal background checks for gun purchases, actually).

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

The lie breeds hate

I think this false claim that we are a divided nation breeds the kinds of information silos that make us feel like those who are different than us must be evil or malicious. Don’t get me wrong, I am aware of the data that shows a small minority in our country are resorting to political violence and intimidation to get their way. But that doesn’t mean people who think differently than me are evil or malicious. For example, this summer a man was arrested after seemingly targeting House Speaker McCarthy, House Representative Raskin, and the Obama household (link). Last year, a man was arrested for using a hammer to break the skull of the 82-year-old husband of Representative Polosi (link). Also in 2022, a man was arrested near the home of Justice Kavanaugh after making the Supreme Court Justice a target (link).

But Americans are against political violence. In this study, the authors found 89% to 100% of engaged respondents when given specifics about the violent acts and evidence wanted the suspect convicted. The study is dense…if you’re interested but lack the time or energy, here is an article on how we oppose political violence; it references the study while being more digestible.

And while I brought up a few cases of political violence from the past few years, I want you to think about the people you know personally and see regularly. Based on what I’ve shown you, they likely:

1. Have never and will never commit any political violence.

2. Have or will condemn specific acts of violence when faced with the evidence.

3. Have and will continue talking to you, even when you disagree on a few things.

A related concern

Despite the overwhelming majority of Americans agreeing on most “divisive” topics and nearly 100% of us opposing the use of violence, nationally elected Republican leaders have broken the trend of strong and swift bipartisan condemnation when political violence arises. The national Republican response to the Obama family and Polosi family situations was either silence or downplaying the attack by qualifying their condemnation (this article discusses the silence of some leaders and the delayed, softer response to the attack of a few less prominent national Republican leaders). Please respond with evidence I’m wrong on this. I’d much rather be wrong. I will update the article and correct it in my next post if someone can give evidence I can verify, but my search has turned up inconsistent responses from national Republican leaders. In contrast, I have found nationally elected Democratic leaders consistently condemn these acts of political violence (one example from the Kavanaugh situation).

What do we do about it?

Thanks for asking. If my research is right that average Americans agree on this, then how we fix this is pretty clear:

1. We need to talk to each other more…especially with people we disagree with and about topics we disagree on. We’re all on the same team.

2. We should be vocal about how we are against political violence. We should win because our ideas are better, not because someone was assaulted.

3. We must peacefully pressure our elected officials to do the same. Our nation is better when our leaders act with human kindness and compassion.

But why?

Because, for me, I am overwhelmingly convinced the God I serve is all about reconciliation, redemption, and forgiveness. If you do not believe in God, I’m glad you’re here. If you share my faith, I’m glad you’re here, too. Either way, I think you can agree with me that reconciliation is better than retaliation.

So let’s talk.

It’ll help us see what we have in common and that we aren’t as divided as they say.

And I hope it will help the healing to begin.

Bonus Tracks

I wrote this poem recently; I feel like it speaks to many parts of my experience. I pray it speaks to you and provides encouragement 🌱.

Edit: Updated format of poem

Myth Divides Us

See the tree keeps its sway in the wind
and majestically dances with trunk, 
leaves, and branches all unified in kind.

Struck by bolts: frankly
cauterized; splintering
limbs; and branches rank.

While bark keeps bickering
the snake’s hiss burdens
a branch to keep on breaking

with the trunk; now the damage draws pathogens.
What if internal rot and rancid
smell fells the tree, not ax or pen?

But farmer’s scarred hands firmly planted
to see the tree he rooted restored,
so antidote applied, he heals the blighted.

With rope he restricted
the branches together to bind
and finally he spoke on why he fixed it:

while knotted branches wind,
the healing bears fruit in the wind.

Quote

I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people. - Maya Angelou

Podcast

I wanted to share a podcast I’ve been enjoying. They cover topics ranging from science and ancient history to religion and technology.

No Dumb Questions Podcast with Matt Whitman and Destin Sandlen