Space Exploration

Perhaps it is so as it was scripted for the opening of the iconic television series Star Trek… that space is the final frontier. This popular sci-fi feature, which morphed into several variations as well as movies, tapped into the fantasies of millions with its explorations of outer space. And who knows? We may yet exist on high-tech discs hurtling through the darkness under the veil of a cloaking device!

But there’s more to be said about the concept of space. It is one of our more complex human realities. For instance, when we gather in groups for a meal, jostling for space at a table often offers an interesting study in human nature. Space may give rise to celebration as more seats are needed because more bodies have been added to the group. Space can also be a deeply painful reminder of a person whose body once graced the gathering but doesn’t anymore. A lack of space generates grumbling whether it’s a too-full closet or calendar. Often, because we humans are prone to be highly social and communal, we might feel the need to step back for some personal space.

This country’s news of late is filled with references to space but not in a particularly direct manner. It’s an uncomfortable place for some. It’s a battleground in the eyes of others. It’s the space between people of differing opinions. The context could be politics or religion, the military or the economy, medical care or gender identity… we humans aren’t all that choosy when it comes to getting into heated disagreements over topics we feel enthusiastic about. And our stance toward those who stand in opposition to us can range from vilifying them to pitying them. Yet the bottom line is the same: we seek to distance ourselves from them, to widen the gap between us.

Once upon a time, this country was thought of as a “melting pot.” The various ethnicities and origins of the people who came to make up its population were expected to morph together into a sort of sticky goo that didn’t fully retain diverse uniqueness. The expectation was that everyone would approximate homogeneity, more alike than different. The space between persons was reduced by conformity. Through decades of turmoil and change, individualism gained traction and freedom of personal expression came along with it. A subtle segregation has resulted and the space between people has quietly increased.

Is there any middle ground? Can the violence of the metaphorical battleground be diffused? Could tolerance offer a mixing bowl instead of a melting pot? Might we find ways to explore the space between us rather than treat it as territory not to be trespassed?