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THREAD - To me, the most interesting thing about #SOTU last night was that it was a showcase of two views of America - One of America as a leader that can do great, unifying things: Moon landing, liberate Europe from oppression, cure cancer... /1
Another of an America that struggles with its past, present and future on cultural, racial and faith-based issues such as civil rights, equality, immigration and abortion. Differences of opinion over whether America is or has been "Great," over the very "nature" of America. /2
Your predominant view and focus as an American - pride in our accomplishments or grief over our struggles - largely defines your present day political views and view of our future. Each side has evidence to support their view, and last night framed out the differences starkly /3
This distinction arguably runs the course of our history - Some define America's greatness through our commitment to and fight for our founding values and principles... /4
...others define America's greatness by our persistent struggle and fight for change, to improve upon our founding values and principles and right historic wrongs. /5
I believe these views define our division - America is Great and we need to adhere to traditional values/views/mores and too much change is bad and risky VS America can be Great but we have big problems and we need to make changes and those changes can't come fast enough. /6
The difficulty is that there is truth in both views, and our society and our politics are violently struggling to effectively synthesize these truths in a way that allows us to move forward. And the answers are hard. /7
Increasingly, our views and politics are toxically binary - America is great or it is flawed, but it can't be both. We can't compliment or applaud our opponent, ever. My team is good and the other team is evil. There is no nuance, no compassion, no viable center, no listening. /8
This was the undercurrent of the last election, and will be more overt, more prominently on display in 2020 given the nature of Democratic nominating process and Trump as an incumbent. It will be fascinating to watch a more intense 2016 sequel unfold in 2020. /9 fin
