Diversity is Our Strength, Unity is Our Power

One Plays Chess, the Other Checkers

Nancy Pelosi does serious politics and toddler management 101. Trump watches Fox. 

As everyone knows – the lying bully-in-chief who – wanting to erect a pointless, ineffective and vastly expensive monument to himself on the southern border – was thoroughly defeated and out-maneuvered by Nancy Pelosi. She demonstrated the political will. Transportation workers delivered the coup de grâce.

Toddler Management

As Trump tossed all his toys out of the pram, Nancy stayed calm, focussed, reasonable. And as unassailable as a rock.

Amazing to think that just a few weeks ago some folks were worrying about Iron Nancy’s  ability to be tough enough, or lead, or bring the House Dems together, or whatever it was they were foolishly fretting about. 

She was too this. Or she was too that. And most of the this and that were long-time, Republican talking points. Of course Republicans hate and fear Pelosi and seek to tear her down. She’s been around the block, knows what she’s talking about, knows how to exercise power and she knows what to do. 

It was as if they had totally forgotten the Nancy Pelosi who delivered the Affordable Care Act when most everyone had given up all hope. Just one example. They had bought the Republican attack lines forgetting that there’s a reason the GOP go negative. It’s because she is an effective strategist and has nerves of steel.

So while Trump the toddler tyrant was being schooled in Politics 101, Democrats were being reminded of what it takes to get things done. 

Pelosi gave a mistress class in how to manage the marmalade moron, responding to his tantrum with the calm of an experienced kindergarten teacher who knows that – for the safety and welfare of all  – narcissistic rage and rantings must be met with firm authority. Positive limit setting. Boundaries control. Time-out in the playpen. Adult supervision. The answer, Donald, is: “No.”

Pelosi stayed on topic. She refused to get diverted or drawn into Trump’s fact-free fantasies of migrant mayhem. His lurid visions of duct-taped women spun further out of control. (Sweet of him to care really.  But one wonders which women he would like to see duct-taped and silenced first.)  

So now #IronNancy joins the #NotoriousRBG as a an icon of badassery. 

Diversity is Our Strength, Unity is Our Power

The words are from Pelosi’s statement on Friday about the end of the Trump shutdown of the government. They weren’t delivered in triumph or high rhetoric. Just part of a matter-of-fact observation about current reality and what had just happened and why. 

The Diversity of the House Democrats is their Strength. Their Unity in standing together for the values and agreed upon goals is the Power. 

As they move into debating, considering and proposing workable, effective and affordable solutions for border security, let’s hope that the Diversity will again be the Strength. And that common principles, goals and cause will help fuel the Unity that affords the Power to make good things happen. 

It means all voices and opinions and ideas should be heard, listened to and valued. it means that there are values and guiding principles that need to provide the connecting thread, the glue, and help point the direction.  

“Diversity is our Strength,  Unity is our Power” Pelosi delivered it not as a slogan or rallying cry but merely as a conversational statement of fact. It’s a great line and, when reality, provides an unstoppable force.

And School?

Seems to me “Diversity is our Strength, Unity is our Power” could serve a school just as well as it does a political party or bunch of elected representatives. 

What could that look like in a school? How do you build the Diversity (define) and the Unity (about and around what?) so that you have the Strength (define) and the Power (to do what?)

Working together on that sounds like a winning way forward.

Sounds like fun!