United, we fall

Biden’s America is more divided than ever; fixing that division is not how we fix America

Jenny Han / Asst. Opinion Editor

On Jan. 20, Joe Biden addressed the U.S. for the first time as president. “We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal,” Biden said. “We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. If we show a little tolerance and humility.” 

In some respects, Biden isn’t wrong; the boasted strength of the U.S. is that despite our differences, we are united. And during this undeniably difficult time, his statement is reassuring. However, the reality is that it is unlikely that the U.S. will unite because of its vast differences. Therefore, Biden’s goal for unity is unrealistic and he must choose a side. 

Biden unquestionably needs to tackle many of the issues that haunted the U.S. in 2020: COVID-19, police brutality, rapid climate change, increased unemployment, and homelessness. The most prevalent, however, is a problem that has existed long before 2020: systemic inequality. I choose to use the words systemic inequality rather than systemic racism because I believe the U.S. doesn’t simply discriminate just based on race; race is a part of the bigger picture. 

However, the “two sides’’ of America, particularly the liberals and conservatives, have completely different approaches to the concerns listed above. While some liberals argue for a complete stay-at-home lockdown like New Zealand did, many conservatives don’t even believe that masks work. Some liberals preach ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards) while some conservatives boast that Blue Lives Matter. Many liberals advocate for the Green New Deal, while most conservatives tend to prioritize economic growth over the environment. Some liberals want to increase the minimum wage to $15 and increase taxes, particularly on the one percent, to get more funding to fix community problems; many conservatives believe that increasing minimum wage and taxes are what causes those problems. And finally, many liberals protest tirelessly for marginalized communities. In direct contrast, some conservatives don’t even think that systemic injustice exists; some will go as far as to claim that the majority group is superior to the minorities. 

Although I acknowledge that I am reducing these groups of people to their most extreme versions, the point still stands. There is no middle ground between these groups of people who hold fundamentally different core beliefs; Biden either has to take concrete action to solve these issues or maintain the current status quo by doing nothing. And more importantly, trying to achieve the middle ground will ironically make no one happy. Liberals would be furious that Biden is not doing enough while conservatives would be angry that Biden is doing too much about a nonexistent problem. In addition, each side is passionate about their beliefs. If Biden truly wants to change America for the better, he can’t wait for the opposing team to suddenly stop believing what they’ve believed for years. He’s going to have to choose and firmly stick to a side despite pushback. 

Some might believe that I’m advocating for Biden to completely disregard Republicans and conservatives. I believe that it’s essential for a president to take the time to converse, listen, and understand their opposing partisans. One of Biden’s strengths is his willingness to do so. However, we frankly don’t have the time or the luxury to wait for everyone to reach an agreement; these issues aren’t going to solve themselves. In addition, politicians are unwilling to set aside their political affiliation to vote for anything that is against their party’s favor. Biden is going to have to come up with a brilliant plan that even Republicans can agree on. However, judging Republicans’ responses from  Trump’s impeachment to Biden’s COVID-19 plan, it’s unlikely that they would be willing to compromise to make such changes. 

Unity is not going to heal those with COVID-19 or relieve those who are suffering under systemic injustice. In fact, the concept of unity is weaponized as a way of further oppressing minorities. The most notable example of this is in the ALM, All Lives Matter, movement in opposition to the BLM, Black Lives Matter, movement. On a surface level, both movements seem to want the same thing: equality. In reality, ALM is uncomfortable with being aware of how the system they, mostly white Americans, created is exploitative so they blanket it over with a “We’re all human!” rather than address it. The majority’s version of unity is a codified form of maintaining the current inequalities that convenience them. 

Compromise and unity can only be truly achieved when everyone at the table is treated and acknowledged as equals. Otherwise, unity is weaponized as a way to silence the minority for breaking a “pact” that never existed in the first place. Biden can preach and go pursue the concept of unity after minorities aren’t treated lesser than. Until then, attempting to unify the country is performative at best and exploitative at worst. 

All in all, Biden is correct when he states that “to overcome these challenges – to restore the soul and to secure the future of America – requires more than words.” However, “Bringing America together/ Uniting our people/ And uniting our nation” is not the answer. President Biden needs to pick a side, and  unapologetically pursue it. That is what will secure the future of America. 

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.