The World is Wide Enough for Us All
An invitation to move beyond the binaries, the either/or thinking that separates, divides, and puts us at odds with one another. To a both/and space of unity, diversity, and harmony.
Hi beautiful being,
Not long ago, my partner and I saw the Broadway musical Hamilton in London. It was an incredible show. The combination of the musicality, passion, storytelling, and beyond, moved us at a deep level. What is more, it honestly felt subversive—in a thrilling way—to watch something that centers on the American Revolution in our motherland.
I share this with you, friend, because the conclusion of the song “The World Was Wide Enough” makes a profound point, relevant to our times. The tune is about Aaron Burr killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel, and the immediate aftermath. In building to this climatic moment, two key themes are drummed home throughout the show: (1) One’s place in the world, and (2) How, because of their differing beliefs and backgrounds, Hamilton and Burr chose to be at odds with one another. Which, tragically and needlessly resulted in Hamilton’s death. As “The World Was Wide Enough” ends, Burr, in a moment of tearful revelation, realizes:
I should've known
I should’ve known
The world was wide enough for both Hamilton and me
The world was wide enough for both Hamilton and me
(Drinking in the wide-open expanse of the sea in Scotland, really put texture to what I share here)
While the two characters spend virtually the whole musical believing their differences mean they should be against and opposed to one another, as Burr finally understands, that’s simply not true. This world, overflowing with all manner of different plants, animals, birds, fish, terrain, and people, is wide enough. Not “wide” enough as in you over there, and me over here. But wide enough, as in there is space for our differing beliefs, backgrounds, preference, politics, races, etc. to harmoniously coexist together. Isn’t that why rainbows have long been such a powerful symbol to us?
If the Burr of the musical sang, what it took a tragedy for him to realize, to us today—I imagine he’d sing things like:
Shouldn’t we know …
The world is wide enough for you and I.
The world is wide enough for the Left and the Right.
The world is wide enough for white and black people.
The world is wide enough for liberals and conservatives.
The world is wide enough for men and women in power.
The world is wide enough for straight and LGBTQI+ people.
The world is wide enough for Palestine and Israel.
In other words:
The world is wide enough for us all.
The truth of this excites me because: Perhaps the greatest challenge of our time, is discovering how to move beyond the binaries of “us” or “them”, Left or Right, white or black, and so on—to a place where everyone belongs, is heard, and is valued. You know the saying, “United we stand, divided we fall”? In a world replete with polarization, whether it’s a divided relationship, self, family, workplace, community, country, world, and/or ____; I believe it’s imperative for us to move beyond the binaries.
(From Inspiring Quotes)
For reasons that aided us in surviving and evolving as a species, humanity has a built-in default to either/or thinking. We are biased to be very black-and-white in how we perceive and interact with things, as well as one another. While this is super helpful for discerning if an animal is safe or dangerous, a plant is nourishing or poisonous, and so on—aside from the relatively infrequent times when one’s health and wellness is at risk—either/or thinking is unhelpful when it comes to doing life together in a diverse society. Do you know what I mean, friend?
The “switch” for us to flip here, is from seeing and engaging one another in terms of either/or, to both/and. It’s recognizing there are often two sides to a matter, not because one is right and the other is wrong, but because both belong. What is more, this expansive way of viewing things, helps open one’s eyes to how—most all of the time—each of the two sides is both right, and wrong. Typically, in a way wherein they balance and benefit one another.
Let’s poke a bit at American politics as a case study. The Left does poorly, and is called out by the Right, in that it misses the working class. Meanwhile, the Right falters when it comes to including and caring for people on the margins, which the Left does well. Likewise—trapped in the adversarial nature of an either/or perspective—the Left overemphasizes the U.S.’s all too real faults, while the Right overstresses its goodness.
(From Inspiring Quotes)
I love ancient history. So much that I got a masters in it. I bring that up to point out: The Left and Right have been around at least as long as politics has. Why? Because both belong, balancing and harmonizing with one another like yin and yang. In other words:
The world is wide enough for both—and much more.
What do you think, friend? How do you see this applying to relationships? Communities? What moved or stood out to you?
Hugs & Love,
Lang (aka “Dr. Love”)
P.S. Did you know that clicking the “like” button 🤍 helps other people find this post—while bringing a smile to my face? Also, if you think this could aid anyone, please consider sharing and/or “restacking” it. And above all, remember: You are amazing, and I hope you have a beautiful day!
An example for me is as follows: I work in a very right wing, conservative environment…where I’m
More left/liberal leaning. Surrounded by good hearted, loving and gentle people, many who I admire…I see beyond their political beliefs, to notice how they love their friends and families, all diverse, the way all our friends and families tend to be. They go out of their way to help others. They come to the defense of people who would speak harm into the lives of those they care for. When I disagree, I seek to understand (after all, that’s what changed me). We have discussions about things that confuse them on the left (pronouns, immigrants, racism, economics, war, women’s rights). While I try to understand why they think/feel the way they do, about these same issues.
My observation, since living in Scotland for work, about the British people I work with, is that they feel they can speak freely about their political views, since they have no investment in American politics. This separation allows the to remain calm, while passionately sharing their opinions.
I wonder if we can learn something from them…after all…even the most sincere politicians won’t come to my rescue when I need a friend…but my neighbors will.