Remember JFK’s famous quote in his inauguration address? “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country?” As citizens we need to heed this warning before it’s too late.  In “What’s Your Tribe?”  I referred to some accommodations that society needs to make in order to mend this tribal division in politics as our country seems headed to more violence.

I realize this may sound totally unrealistic and, if possible at all, a time consuming task. However I believe that if we can make just one person aware of tribal tendencies, we can change one person at a time. For years I’ve felt like this is a calling and I know what I would like to do. But I’ve not been able to figure out how. This particular scholar/author, Reuben E Brigety II, really spoke to what I’d been thinking. In addition, he presents true evidence as to how important it is.

He believes that there are answers to the issue and they start with leadership. In nations affected by this tribal problem, political “tribal” leaders worked together for the good of their country and not for their tribal agenda. President Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk, a party member responsible for apartheid, worked together to end it. We need brave leaders like this. Leaders who will stand up for the good of the country and not just party lines. George W Bush and Barak Obama have both called for this as well but not during their presidency. Leaders in power have to have the courage to do it.

As citizens we must demand this from our leaders. Brigety says “elected leaders show the courage to bridge partisan divides.”  This starts in our communities, counties, states, and federal governments. Let’s put our candidates and our current leaders to the test about this. We’ve got to start somewhere.  

More discussions on the road to repairing this divide are forthcoming.