Prisoners of Binary Thinking
My side! Your side! No common ground!
Sometime in the history of U.S. colonization, under dominant class rule, binary thinking was implanted, if not imposed. Binary thinking reduces us all to extreme ways of seeing the world as good vs bad, moral vs amoral, self vs others, mine vs yours, etc. It’s a limitation (whether organic or societal, I’m not sure) affirming self-deification and power mongering.
Honestly, I can’t tell you exactly when the imposition of binary thinking on this side of the planet began. What’s apparent from what I’ve read about the transformative realities of European arrival and impact, however, is that binary thinking and being was not a value of many Native cultures before the European ways of thinking and being became dominant.
“On Columbus’s later voyages, his crew happily accepted godhood — until the Taino began empirically testing their divinity by forcing their heads underwater for long periods to see if the Spanish were, as gods should be, immortal.”
— Charles C. Mann, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
With the arrival of Europeans, cultures that had survived for thousands of years met greed, unforgiving diseases, and barbarity. The results were not just an eradication of millions of peoples. More, if possible — entire civilizations, their cultures, values, regard for self and others, and views of humanity’s relationships with the universe, were erased. Perhaps, it is by those Natives who welcomed foreigners to their lands that we can see evidence of greater values for middle ground choices (diversity, equity and inclusion) than the extremes of binary thinking.
In fact, Gerry Jennings, in his non-fiction based fictional work, The Aztecs (1980), tells us during the heights of Aztec culture and rule conquests were at times arranged, with prerequisite casualties doomed to enslavement or sacrifice determined by the “losing” tribe. Slaves often had rights and could work to freedom. Conquest did not necessarily mean eradication and subjugation. The vanquished tribe often maintained its leadership, social order, rituals, belief systems and rights to self rule. A nice middle ground, unless you were unlucky enough to be chosen for sacrifice.
Inclusion of Native nations in nation building, respect for their cultures and spiritual practices never happened, as the myth of religious tolerance and Thanksgiving lore suggests. Certainly, binary thinking was in play and nourished when Spain massacred the French Huguenots, followers of John Calvin, who had fled Europe seeking religious freedom. And the revenge minded French carried out their own massacre at Ft. Caroline (now FL) in 1568. There was no middle ground in religious tolerance’s beginnings in the “New World.” As there is none now, it seems.
Inclusion of Native nations in nation building, respect for their cultures and spiritual practices never happened, as the myth of religious tolerance and Thanksgiving lore suggests.
And certainly after Jamestown’s establishment (1607) European colonists soon sought to take over the Western World. There was no middle ground. No values for diversity, equity and inclusion. Binary thinking turned colonization into an invasion and a desire for dominion. And if it is true that Natives helped the colonists establish themselves, survive and explore, then the harmony offered, the middle ground, belies the “tribes in constant war with one another benefitting from civilization” argument.
What’s Manifest Destiny Got To Do With It?
The announcement made in 1845 that Manifest Destiny, God’s granting colonizers’ dominion over the country, if not the world, was actually more affirmation than new doctrine. The institutions created to lead the country, manage its governance, and operate its systems had already been empowered to enforce the dominant class’ right of dominion. Diversity, equity and inclusion were not values that defined the New World. Nor were they intended to be. Rules and laws of ownership were imparted, and extended to human flesh. My label drives your identity became accepted cultural norm!
Colonists’ religious dogma had brought concepts like heaven and hell to the land. Concepts of bias, prejudice, caste and colorism also. Dominant culture values determined what was right and wrong, good and evil, who had power and who owned what. Privilege and status replaced values and belief systems that had been in place for hundreds of years. There were no grey areas. It either is or it is not, the way I see it.
God’s chosen people were the interpreters of God’s words. Those to whom God spoke. Their image (not yours) was that of Jesus, God’s messenger and Son. His universal truth, as they interpret them to be, God’s laws, must drive your faith. The deification of Him is your pathway to eternal life. There was, is, no room for any other beliefs. Still isn’t!
The Blind Side!
Yet, Manifest Destiny, embracing dominion and white supremacy, brought unforeseen downsides. As does most binary thinking and binary ways of being. People, in a democracy, will fight for self determination and a well regarded middle ground. They value collaborative problem solving and decision making.
For example, freed slaves, women and immigrants wanted a voice in the democracy. The desire to vote and the elections of former and freed slaves to public offices after the Civil War proved a threat ushering in an era of Jim Crow. Inclusion, aka Reconstruction, was never realized in a culture clinging to binary thinking: Black and White do not mix. The beginning of decade long culture wars incited.
The same was true for Women’s Suffrage movements. Women’s desire to participate in the democracy, to define the country’s values and beliefs, to manage its resources, proved threatening to the dominant class values. Still does, it seems. Wedded to binary thinking and values that embrace a zero sum belief system! For, granting rights to some lessens the privilege of others. A belief, constantly sloganized in political campaigns, immigration policy debates, and social justice discourses.
Al Fin:
We are in an age where greed, conquest and colonization-inspired binary dichotomies are driving ineffective ways of addressing the complexity of problems the world faces. And the dominant culture’s disregard for diversity, equity and inclusion — seeking to force millions into binary way of problem solving: the two-party political system; the politicization of evil others; the colorization of good and evil; judgements of others’ lives and decisions; capitalism over socialism; my faith over all others, are just a few examples.
By embracing truths many are turning away from — like, winning is everything, history is written by the victors, power over people, and more — the dominant class, still, seeks to force people to binary’s margins. Campus unrest, Millennial burdens, and Gen Z mental health struggles are just a few indicators of seismic shifts in people’s regard for this way of thinking and being. A growing chorus of whom, within the country, and around the world, see democracy as failing.
The U.S., seemingly, has gotten trapped by it’s own gilded cage. Unable to free itself from the thinking that brings the country to this place. The current choices in this year’s presidential race are glaring examples. The culture has grown to be the caged bird that sings. For how long the world will be content with the song selection seems the question at hand.
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