We hear it far too often- the widening rift in this country. Even the seemingly simple concept of wearing a mask to protect the human species from the coronavirus scourge takes on a red vs. blue tone. Ridiculous. We are not a nation of pure red and blue. Yes, some states and people lean right and some lean left. But we’re actually a purple country.
Purple is cool. Prince serenaded us with “Purple Rain”. Lavender, violets, blueberries eggplants, and amethysts are all shades of purple. And thank goodness for Deep Purple, or we wouldn’t have the incredible “Smoke on the Water” (the live version from Japan, of course). The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers displaying great valor.
For every rural or reddish area of this nation, there’s an offsetting city or college town that leans blue. One purple-impassioned author pegs purple-loving people as those who live in a dream world. Ah, if only… Purple has also been tied to royalty, wisdom, dignity, mystery, power, independence, creativity, and magic. So, purple is all over the place, much like the belief systems of many Americans, even red/blue leaners.
Purple is not one of the colors on the visible spectrum; you have to search deeper to find it… how poetic. The Purpleologist website (yes, it’s real) suggests that the color purple can calm nerves and the mind, is uplifting, offers creativity, and encourages spirituality. Perhaps we could all use a little more purple in our lives.
We need to stop allowing separatists to exacerbate the very real problems which can drive a deeper wedge into our “united” nation. People disagree all the time, and then things get resolved. Hawai`i, of course, had an esteemed senator at one point named Daniel Inouye. He knew the value of reaching across the aisle; he rationalized that compromise was necessary to move things forward at times. He partnered often with Alaska’s Republican senator, Ted Stevens, to get things done. Yes, a progressive and a conservative actually worked together well in an era of “purple reign” in Washington, D.C. Imagine that.
Alas, those days and those leaders have been replaced by far too many who shirk their appointed duties while simply pandering to keep their jobs. Maybe we’ll see a purple resurgence in 2020. Red and blue together, a refreshing thought for the beleaguered masses. Working together for the common good; it’s not so purple-xing!
Think about it…