Saying Goodbye

“Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.” J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)

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When Britain left the European Union, you might say they also left their senses. America has always been the reactionary, act first, think later child, while Britain has been the reserved, stoic, level-thinking parent. How times have changed.

What the United States shares with Britain is the growing divide represented in its population. In my opinion, the discrepancies in America began with Vietnam. That was the so-called Greatest Generation’s not so great idea to begin a military conflict that was cruel and pointless. In the sixties, young people were divided between those who went to college, and could receive a deferment, and those who did not. The Iraq War (the Baby-Boomers not so great solution to 911), also sent individuals in the Reserves, and used them over and over again, rather than making everyone, including the rich and well off participate.

Until we address the divisions we foster through our military involvements, we will not see unity in this country.

Part of the impetus behind Brexit was the growing fear of “the other,” those groups coming into the country that were seen as different. The open borders among the EU countries made it easier for people to travel. When we participate in wars we create unstable environments for ordinary people living in those countries, and when the mass refugee movements take place, we want to quickly react and close our doors.

We don’t know how to say goodbye to the inherent prejudice, so we say goodbye to each other.

On day 277 leading up to the election, I want to say goodbye to those obstacles that divide us, including our gender bias when it comes to electing a woman president. But leaving sometimes causes us to forget where the real conflict resides. Britain may have all the same problems isolated as it did when it was united. America may have all the same controversies with a woman president as it did with its predecessors. We get to decide, but we also get to live with those choices, and until the root cause gets resolved, we will end up back where we started. As the adage goes — the only problem with going to a new place is you take yourself along.