Polarization’s Scheme?

I dance with my shadow

as the sun goes down

lengthening its steps

and quickening the beat

between us;

I almost forget my own feet

and shadow’s similar starting point.

Grasping at this idea

my shadow growths deeper

in darkness and distance

until it merges in a universe

beyond my own recognition

or beckoning.

In today’s political, social, and economical worlds, polarization’s voice is getting louder between people and communities. And I usually ask those in my office “what’s helpful or not helpful about that,“ and I’m inclined to do the same here.

Polarization strengthens the awareness of differences, but decreases the ability to sit with them.

Polarization strengthens the volume of our voices, but not the depth of our listening.

Polarization strengthens our walls, but not our capacity to bridge them.

Polarization strengthens conviction, but weakens curiosity.

Polarization strengthens belonging to a side, but distances us from connection as a whole.

So how do you want to communicate with polarization?

Is it better to stay silent? Speak up? Take a stand?

To sit in the middle of it? On the edge of it? Or to not engage at all?

There are no right or wrong answers—and I certainly don’t have them.

But perhaps what matters is that we keep questioning polarization’s pull, noticing where it shows up in us, and how it shapes the ways we relate, respond, and resist.