Wishes for America in 2020

Just two simple wishes, really, and both have to do with how Americans treat each other. Here they are:

1. I want Americans to stop seeing each other, to stop treating each other, as mere members of groups. Whether the groups is a person's sex, sexual orientation, skin color, political party, or whatever, see and treat each other as individuals. Looking at someone by their group membership first (or only), as is done in identity politics, makes us all worse. By seeing each other and treating each other as complex individuals, rather than reducing each other to the bare, simplistic stereotypes of whatever groups we happen to belong to, we will go a long way towards improving our social interactions and raising the level of our communication with each other. 
2. I want Americans, when they disagree with each other, to attack the ideas, not the people. When we attack people for having different ideas, we drive wedges between ourselves, and over time we're beginning to lose the cohesiveness and solidarity of an American people. We are all Americans, and we are and should be in this together. Further, by focusing our thoughts and when necessary, our attacks, on ideas, we'll exercise our own minds, strengthen our ability to think and communicate, and perhaps, if we've developed ourselves well enough, convince some of those people with whom we disagree.

That's it. Happy New Year everyone, and here's to a great 2020!