Constructive Fun for Two Contrasting Realities

I am not the only, and certainly not the first, one to recognize that the 2020 election has brought into sharp focus phenomenon that has been growing in the US for decades: that is that people live in two separate realities. This is way beyond disagreements over political or social philosophy. I am sure others have observed that the gap is so great they have trouble even communicating much less debating with each other. They use words, symbols, and concepts in such different ways they don’t understand what the other says or thinks.

 I am not going to bemoan this, but had a thought the other day that seemed might be some constructive fun from considering this. Though our society is growing away from gender stereotypes, we all understand the phrase “women are from Venus – men are from Mars.” It brings a bit of humor to communication challenges between women and men. Though the planets are specified, we also know that grows out of popular understanding of Greek mythology.

 I started thinking what deities from Greek mythology would each reality choose to best characterize itself? I would rule out of bounds making pejorative selections for the side you don’t identify with. So maybe you just choose one that you feel represents your reality. Only if you can you be affirmative about the counter reality should you suggest one for them. That is, how might the deities of Greek mythology offer a way to speak positively of each other in the pursuit of better understanding?

 Now I am fully aware that Republican and Democratic voters are not identical with these two realities, but that is a convenient short hand. I am going to let you do your own Greek mythology research. So here are my starter suggestions. Tyche might represent the “Republican” reality. Dice might represent the “Democratic” reality.