Squaring the Circle of Democracy

By Renee Shay, Harvesting Thought

–explore–

Can you square something that its very existence is dependent on being diametrically opposed to its own self?  Seems like a contradiction in terms to take two shapes, a square and a circle, and try to figure out if you can find a way to reconcile them.  How do you do that?  It turns out that is an age-old question that has never been answered.  I did not know when I started thinking about how to square things that you cannot square a circle.  You may not be able to reconcile two shapes into the same shape as making a square into a circle, but I believe that does not mean that a shape cannot square itself even if it is a circle. 

In the article, “Squaring the Circle,” the authors acknowledge that even Aristotle found absurdity at the notion of attempting to square a circle, “the exponent of any science is not called upon to solve every kind of difficulty that may be raised, but only such as arise through false deductions from the principles of science.” Aristotle, Physics (384 BC-322 BC). This leads me to believe that certain things will never be reconciled when attempting to reconcile the wrong things.  Which makes sense in laymen’s terms.  JJ O’Connor and EF Robertson, Squaring the Circle (School of Mathematics and Statistics University of St. Andrews, Scotland, 1999)

–challenge–

It makes sense that not all problems are solvable, not everything fits into something else because all things should not be compared to each other.  If it is true that we cannot take two things that we perceive to be the same, like shapes, a square and a circle, and just render them into some harmonious state of being, then what?  How many things in life do we try to compare against each other to solve problems?  We try to fix one thing of the other to make it the same for us on the other side of whatever it is we are trying to correct. 

I can think of many things in life that we as human beings attempt to square but the one that is on mind these days are the two opposing political parties, Democrats and Republicans.  They are not the only two groups, just as a square and circle are not the only two geometric shapes, but they are the ones that come to mind for good reason.  They are the two most powerful groups that dominate the governance of our lives in the United States of America.  The saying that “you cannot put a square peg in a round hole” is one of the first lessons we learn as children.  Yet here we are as adults still grappling with that same problem when we look at our politics.  We somehow believe we will solve the differences between two groups when it is impossible to solve.  If we continue to try to square the ideology of Democrats with the ideology of Republicans what will be the result?  With the world watching, what has and what will be the result?

–expand–

In our political landscape we continuously have each side of the equation attempting to square the other, so each is seeing the other as the circle needing to be squared.  I want to suggest here that we need to stop focusing on the other, what shape they are against what shape we are and start focusing on ourselves.  If we focus on how we can shape ourselves within a party and start to see how we are able to change the shape we exist within from within, the possibilities for improving then now have a chance.  We need to recognize that it is okay to have different views of the world, different thoughts about governing, and that those views can exist in harmony separate from the other but occupy the same space.  

As Aristotle put it, you can square some things if they are based upon falsehoods but that is as far as you can square those things because like a square and a circle, they are not compatible elements to be made into one element.  Just as in science as in politics, two things may oppose each other but that does not mean that one or the other cannot be squared.  We do not have to change the other but the other might need to change something within them, as we need to change things within us to square the circle of Democracy. For Democracy to continue its success all parties need to oppose yet collaborate with each other when it is in the country’s best interest to do so. Most importantly, everyone needs to follow the same ground rules and that is what the Constitution is all about. We need to follow, protect, and defend it.