The quote in the title comes from NASCAR driver Kyle Busch prior to last Sunday’s Jeff Byrd 500 in Bristol, Tennessee. Before the race the drivers introduced themselves to the crowd of 100,000. Digression 1. Bristol Motor Speedway holds 160,000 and is usually packed for the two NASCAR Sprint Cup races each year on its half mile track. Considerable speculation has circulated about the effects of the economy in this area near Knoxville on last Sunday’s attendance. End Digression 1. Anyway, when Kyle Busch, regarded as one of the bad boys of his sport, introduced himself, the crowd responded with a chorus of boos. It was at that point that he came back at the fans, tongue in cheek, with “Can’t we all just be friends?” Digression 1A. Busch, who drives the number 18 car sponsored by M&M’s candy, went on to win the race. To the apparent displeasure of the fans, he’s won five races in a row at Bristol. End Digression 1A.
Now I don’t normally talk to the rabbits about NASCAR. Heck, I don’t normally admit that I watch NASCAR; it seems somehow not to fit the erudite egocentric image I have of myself. But, I thought Kyle Busch’s remark might be a good conversation starter so I went there.
Before going further, this particular conversation about Kyle Busch and his remark was precipitated by having a long lunch on Tuesday with a fellow TMV writer. The name of the individual will be withheld to avoid any preconceptions on the part of readers (you’re welcome to speculate). Expecting a more partisan discussion, I was surprised to find my lunch companion sincerely moderate, open to different views, willing to consider all sides on varying issues, and personally warm, intelligent and engaging. Digression 2. This is the second time I have met with a fellow TMV writer for lunch. Meeting with commenters is still on my to-do list. End Digression 2.
Talking to rabbits makes me feel warm and fuzzy I guess. And, this combination of Kyle Busch’s remark, the long lunch on Tuesday and the warm fuzzies of rabbit companionship caused me to wonder if we’re on the right track. It made me wonder why we argue about stuff like constitutional interpretation or this Republican dufus or that Democratic idiocy. It made me wonder why we bomb other nations and go to war. It made me wonder why we, as fellow Americans, treat each other like enemies, constantly focused on wanting the “other side” to lose instead of focusing on our common heritage and our common interests.
Oh sure, our common heritage includes violently subduing a continent, wrenching our freedom from a foreign power and countless wars. We have been shaped by sharp debate and political bloodletting. But, have we always been so divisive, one against the other on so personal a level? Wasn’t there before, at the end of the day, a recognition of our commonality? Has that recognition of commonality been subsumed in the rise of extremism that dominates our current political culture? I think we’re losing something here, something more valuable than who wins or loses each petty dispute.
There’s a bigger picture, one where we are all on the same canvas within the same frame. Lincoln reminded us that a house divided cannot stand. With states passing nullification laws to obviate federal statutes, with a national budget held hostage to military and entitlement spending, with a diminishing role in the global economy, shouldn’t we be uniting in common purpose instead of separating ourselves one from the other? Uniting in common purpose is what we’ve done in the past in times of national crisis. Why does it feel so different now? Seems to me that this intra-national Punch and Judy act, ginning up bases on tangential issues to win the next pyrrhic battle over NPR funding or the chicken and egg immigration dispute, isn’t much different than Nero, in a concession to his ego, fiddling while Rome burned.
Contributor, aka tidbits. Retired attorney in complex litigation, death penalty defense and constitutional law. Former Nat’l Board Chair: Alzheimer’s Association. Served on multiple political campaigns, including two for U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR). Contributing author to three legal books and multiple legal publications.