When I was a kid we traveled a lot.
Some of my most indelible childhood memories are from car trips we took around the country. Over the course of several childhood summers, I remember driving from our hometown of Seattle, through Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.
I was fascinated by the diversity and old country charm of different parts of America,
I am a west-coaster. I grew up in Seattle - still consider it home - and these days I live in Los Angeles. So, you know, I'm the 'communist liberal elite,' or something.
While I obviously agree with more left-leaning politics, and away from what can only be called conspiracy-driven insanity on the right, I often think back to my childhood, and wonder if I can find common ground with people I disagree with politically.
I used to have a documentary film idea - maybe it could still happen - where I drive around the deep south, doing my best to connect with people, over a beer and a game of pool.
I was coming to the end of a book I was reading, recently, and looked at my book shelves wondering what to read next. I could go buy something new, I thought. I even had a title in mind that I wanted to purchase. In the end, though, I pushed the new book back a few weeks, and impulsively grabbed something old off the shelf, something I've read before.
It is John Steinbeck's 'Travels With Charlie.' I first read it in my late teens, and it resonated with me. The 'Grapes if Wrath' author, late in his career, sets up a camper truck for a cross-country drive, invites his dog Charlie to come along, and sets off across America.
Steinbeck finds the charm in America, in that way I imagine doing if I ever set off on my beer-and-pool cross-country trip.
Given the nature of recent election results, many Americans are processing reality in this country these days. How do we reach across the divide and find common ground with these people?
It truly does seem utterly insane that half the country voted for chaos and incompetence. And yet, these people are our neighbors.
At one point in 'Travels With Charlie,' Steinbeck points out that he 'respects all counties, but hates all governments.' Maybe there is a little common ground in that somewhere. I do, in fact hate all governments, including the U.S. government. Is it possible to love your country while hating your government? Well, I've sometimes said that I am very American 'culturally,' but not at all American politically.
Is this a thread that finds some degree of truth and common ground?
My dad was very hard-core right wing, religiously so, in the sense that he was one of those religious nut-cases that believes God will take care of any bad decisions a politician will make (sorry, Christians, god will not save you from stupidity). I also knew someone from the same generation as my dad, back in the day, who was JUST as hard-core left wing, and who felt that there 'has to be a special hell for Ronald Reagan.' I always felt that these two people, my dad, and this 'opposite' person were actually very very similar. They had opposing opinions, but they both sounded the same in defensing their crazy positions. They were making opposite arguments, but using the same tone of voice, the same 'logic,' and exactly the same passion in standing their ground.
In the end a country is a family. We are stuck with crazy Uncle Bob. He's coming to Thanksgiving dinner whether we like it or not. He's human. He has flaws. He might be misguided, but maybe we all are in some ways.
Take a moment. Give Crazy Uncle Bob a half-chance. Maybe if we look close we can find something human and redeeming in him.
In the end, you know, we only have one Crazy Uncle Bob, and we want his craziness at as many future Thanksgivings as possible.
Peter Wick
November 15. 2024
