When I was growing up, “us” versus “them” was all about the neighborhood kids choosing teams and playing some game — basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball— it didn’t matter. All we kids wanted was to be together and have some fun. But the idea of us vs. them has moved far beyond the innocence of those days and our rag-tag games. Now, it’s about conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats, Jews and Arabs, rich and poor, Hollywood know-it-all elite and us poor ignorant souls in the red states.  

How have we gotten to this point? Is getting what we want or what we believe is right more important than our brother or sister, friend or neighbor, political or religious counterpart? Have we gone so far down the us vs. them road that we are incapable of looking beyond our differences and working together for the good of our community or nation? I’m not sure but I do know that I’m really, really tired of the us and them attitude.

Whatever our excuse for this mean-spiritedness that has so permeated our nation, our state, our county, our community, for the good of our children, we must stop it! As responsible adults — parents and educators, pastors and politicians — it is imperative that we teach our children to listen to and seriously consider what other people are thinking: even those with whom we vehemently disagree. 

No, it doesn’t have to be us vs. them; we do not have to continue down that road at all. In my judgment, it is not unrealistic or utopian to believe we can teach our children how to have a more civil discourse on the issues of the day, be they political, religious, educational, moral or otherwise. But, before we teach the children, we must practice it ourselves.  

As adults, we are obligated, indeed duty-bound, to teach our children how to disagree without being disagreeable. We must teach them to be passionate without being mean-spirited. And, they must learn that there is nothing wrong with a good, healthy, passionate debate. It will make for a stronger community and nation. 

“Us” should be able to think one thought and “them” should have the right to another, but “we” should be grateful to live in a nation that allows freedom to think either way.

Fairhope Elementary School principal