How do we reduce political polarization? America's veterans can show us the way

If we could stop hurling insults and actually solve some of these problems, that would be a good start.
We can differ on the methods used, but solving problems should be the goal.

Why does the word Chutzpah come to mind?

Maybe in "general", we get the concept of compartmentalization better than our civilian counterparts. On a battlefield, it doesn't matter too much whether or not the person on your right and left worships the same as you, or comes from the same background...what matters is that they put effective fire downrange when the people who want to kill you all are closing in.

The United States is not typified by hegemony...and I think in both "parties", and on both "sides", that's the problem. We need to figure out (remember, perhaps) that freedom is about being able to follow YOUR principles...not forcing the other guy to go against his. Sometimes, that means compromise...other times, it means leaving well enough alone. Most of the time, it means allowing things to be handled on the lowest possible level-i.e., let New York's legislature do its thing, and Tennessee do its thing.

There have to be "core values", and as vets, we "get that". If all we're doing is always looking for how we differ from one another...than we're certainly going to find it difficult to define those values.