Can’t we get along?

Illegal immigration. Abortion. Capital punishment. Elections. Guantanamo Bay detainees — these are just some of the areas in which it seems impossible to have a discussion. The sides are as divided as the hemispheres of the brain and as opposed as two warring tribes. The moderates are mostly silent, and there seems no common ground. But how can we understand anything in this way?

There is a dearth of discussion in this country. To watch cable news or read the newspaper, you might think that the last statement is false, but what we see in the public sphere isn’t discussion or even reasoned debate; it’s yelling and one-upmanship, fury and fighting, acrimony and bitterness. No side on any issue seems to have any respect for its opponent and demonization is the default strategy for all.

The point of discussion and, for that matter, debate, is to draw out the rationale for any argument and cause others to expand on their beliefs in a factually based, logical way. A good discussion or debate brings greater depth to an issue, helping others to learn more about and better understand it. But that’s not how we operate anymore. A discussion has become an opportunity for two sides to present talking points, which may or may not give any reasoning or have any basis in fact. Arguments are based on the understanding that repetition can influence people’s views. They do not appeal to reason but instead poke at a weakness in humanity’s makeup — if you hear something often enough, there is some chance you will start to believe it.

Debates are just more formal versions of our modern talking-point discussions. Candidates or opponents rarely have the opportunity to force their sparring partners to elucidate their arguments. Rather, both sides mostly do their best to paint the other as a hypocrite before reciting their own list of beliefs.

The way things are, all we have are two big choirs with their members preaching only to their side and without any mutual understanding or possibility for finding a shared solution.

Those who oppose illegal immigration aren’t necessarily racist, and those who don’t see the issue as so clear and easy aren’t necessarily apologists. Those who oppose abortion aren’t necessarily religious extremists, and those who support a woman’s right to choose are not murderers. Those who support the ultimate punishment for severe criminals aren’t necessarily heartless, unreasonable zealots, and those who oppose the death penalty aren’t necessarily, weak-kneed, Kumbaya-singing hippies. Republicans aren’t necessarily hateful fearmongers and Democrats aren’t necessarily starry-eyed Socialists.

And those who oppose the housing of Guantanamo Bay detainees in United States facilities aren’t necessarily ostriches with their heads in the sand. Neither are those who support the proposition necessarily naive. There is intelligent thought, reasonable discourse and good intentions on both sides. When we realize we are all in this together, we will determine that our goal should be to jointly figure out how best to live on this world.

Stafford County Sun editorials represent the opinion of the managing editor. Other columns, letters and cartoons on his page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily the Stafford County Sun.