Putting The United Back Into The United States: Carl G Schowengerdt On The 5 Things That Each Of Us Can Do To Help Unite Our Polarized Society
An Interview With Jake Frankel
Develop the deepest respect for all other humans. This means, in practical terms, adopting the ethical standard of equal opportunity and compensation for all individuals, regardless of nationality, color, gender, gender preference, social status, religious beliefs, age and appearance.
As part of our series about 5 Things That Each Of Us Can Do To Help Unite Our Polarized Society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Carl G. Schowengerdt.
Carl G. Schowengerdt is a retired surgeon who grew up in a family of daily religious and ethical discussions. His father was a Methodist minister, his brother a Methodist bishop. Schowengerdt instead studied medicine, became a physician, and practiced surgery for 40 years, specializing in lung and esophageal cancer, as well as family practice. He was simultaneously Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Cincinnati, and Chief of Surgery and Associate Chief of Staff for Research at the Cincinnati Veterans Administration Hospital. He also chaired the Ethics Committee for Genesis HealthCare systems. His new book is Human Ethics. Learn more at YCityPublishing.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
Thank you for the interview.
I came from a family of ministers. Morals, ethics, right and wrong were always part of the family discussions. I first got the understanding from them that I should always do what was right, even though it was frequently not the easiest way.
What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
I wanted to be a missionary, and sought the field where I thought I could provide the greatest service for the greatest number of people. When introduced to the field of medicine, I saw a career as a surgeon as the best avenue for me to provide these services and education for other people.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
My most fulfilling project has been to write, edit and refine, then have published my book, Human Ethics. It is a summary of everything I have learned about humans during my lifetime. I find that many of our societal problems today relate to different strong religious beliefs. Unfortunately, our Abrahamic religions are highly bipolar. Each of them has both valuable moral beliefs, and a pole of intolerance and violence towards those who have different beliefs. None of these religions, for that reason of violent intolerance, can serve as the basis for a democratic government.
In Human Ethics, I provide a history of how that cruel intolerance has been expressed by our religions in the past, and find that they are still expressing that violence today, with ethnic cleansing and widespread destruction of infrastructure. All of this is incompatible with stable and loving societies. I come to the conclusion that a new definition of ethics is required that is free from all religions, governments, societies, philosophies, theologies and politics: Ethics are those human values and behaviors which best provide the deepest respect for all other humans, and the deepest respect for all other life, recognizing that this deep respect is necessary for survival of the human species on planet Earth. These ethical values cannot be fully expressed in any autocracy or dictatorship.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?
My parents not only admonished me to always do what is right, but also established in me the rudimentary understanding that there were ethical standards which were above, and more important, than individual and society morals.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting mistake that occurred to you in the course of your career? What lesson or take away did you learn from that?
My worst mistakes occurred when I tried too hard to fix a surgical problem, or was too fatigued from being up all night to make the right decisions at the right time. I learned to be more patient and rational making surgical decisions, and to think twice about surgical decisions made while fatigued.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species. I had already read Janet Brown’s two-volume biography of Charles Darwin — Voyaging and The Power of Place — before delving into On the Origin of Species. I remember vividly closing that book and finding myself astonished. This explained everything. Charles Darwin was right. Humans did evolve to their current state by natural selection from a succession of animals prior to our inception. Windows started opening, doors were unlocked, pathways showed that had never been present before, and rooms and their contents were now visible through open doors. I understood that all our religions were mythologies, and not holy words that gave any people or nation divine rights. That meant that all our gods were anthropomorphic mythological figures who were not directing human lives in any way. How we behaved, and whether we treated other humans with kindness and respect, is entirely up to us. No human has the right to kill or treat with disdain, any other human, because of divine direction.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?
It’s from a saying by Maya Angelou: “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” That taught me that I should always look back on my mistakes and learn from them to do better.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership is identifying a problem, finding a solution to that problem, addressing that problem and convincing other people to follow your example. I have planted over a hundred trees and bushes in my yard. My heating and cooling system is a geothermal unit. My windows are double pane. My car was a Prius prime, which got 52 miles per gallon with gasoline and 140 miles per gallon in equivalent measure with an electrical charge. I recycle whatever material I can. I consume only those materials I need. I am careful to avoid food waste. I write about conserving resources and polluting as little as possible. I decry Christian nationalism, color racism, white supremacy, sexual discrimination, and unequal opportunity.
k, thank you for all that. Now let’s move to the main focus of our interview. The polarization in our country has become so extreme that families have been torn apart. Erstwhile close friends have not spoken to each other because of strong partisan differences. This is likely a huge topic, but briefly, can you share your view on how this evolved to the boiling point that it’s at now?
We have had a conservative backlash from having a black president. These conservative elements are quite strong, and have taken over both the Congress and the Supreme Court, resulting in an obstructive Congress and an unjust Supreme Court. These conservative elements produce a society full of racism, separatism, Christian nationalism and rabid white supremacy, producing a highly divided society.
I have no pretensions about bridging the divide between politicians, or between partisan media outlets. But I’d love to discuss the divide that is occurring between families, co-workers, and friends. Do you feel comfortable sharing a story from your experience about how family or friends have become a bit alienated because of the partisan atmosphere?
I have good friends, good neighbors, and former colleagues from work with whom I have mutual appreciation and respect. I choose not to jeopardize our relationship by discussing politics with them, because I know they are Trump supporters.
In your opinion, what can be done to bridge the divide that has occurred in families? Can you please share a story or example?
We must vote these racists, white supremacists, separatists, and Christian nationalists out of office. I abhor Christian nationalism, white supremacy, and separatist doctrines. Diversity is the lifeblood of a healthy community. That diversity gives us knowledge of other cultures, other needs, and leads us into understanding and respect for other humans. Diversity is what makes life interesting and rewarding. Christian nationalism, white supremacy and separatism, are incompatible with a healthy society and healthy families.
How about the workplace, what can be done to bridge the partisan divide that has fractured relationships there? Can you please share a story or example?
In our times, most of the partisan divide that occurs in the workplace is a spillover from what is happening in our society. Unfortunately, there is one person who is fomenting and agitating all this division amongst members of our society, families and friends, encouraging hatred, revenge, and exclusivity, Donald J. Trump. He opposes all efforts to increase the comfort, productivity, and security of our society. He wants to tear down our democracy and replace it with a dictatorship. He personally tried to do exactly that. For that reason, he must be denied any public office in the United States of America.
I think one of the causes of our divide comes from the fact that many of us see a political affiliation as the primary way to self-identify. But of course, there are many other ways to self-identify. What do you think can be done to address this?
The root cause of this strong political polarization that is present in our country today can be laid at the feet of one person, Donald J. Trump. This man should be placed in jail for the crimes he has committed against our democratic government. He foments division, wants to make the wealthy wealthier, and the poor poorer. He wants to create a society in which there is a class of elite and a class of peons. Good governments will provide universal health care. There must be educational opportunities provided through elementary, high school, and college education. Preschool education should be financially supported. Affordable housing should be provided and supported. Donald Trump and his followers are opposed to all these measures which provide for a healthy society.
Much ink has been spilled about how social media companies and partisan media companies continue to make money off creating a split in our society. Sadly the cat is out of the bag and at least in the near term there is no turning back. Social media and partisan media have a vested interest in maintaining the divide, but as individuals none of us benefit by continuing this conflict. What can we do moving forward to not let social media divide us?
There must be strict guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in the social media. All artificial intelligence created content must be clearly defined as AI created. Originators of AI content in the social media who do not state the facts as well as give opinions must be heavily fined. The top 1% of the population of the United States of America owns 20% of the wealth of this country. This is an intolerable situation. The wealthy should be taxed heavily. Corporations and companies that give their top executives hundreds of millions must be taxed heavily. There must be a monetary ceiling set for business executives. Corporations should not be allowed to contribute political dollars. The tax burden on the middle class and poor should be relieved.
What can we do moving forward to not let partisan media pundits divide us?
It is not in the best interests of a healthy society to allow super wealthy individuals and companies to control the financial burden for all the rest of us. There should be heavy penalties for any individual in the top 1% of wealth in the United States of America, who does not give back to the community 30% or more of his or her earnings. The source of political donations must be completely disclosed.
Ok, wonderful. Here is the main question of our interview. Can you please share your “5 Steps That Each Of Us Can Take To Proactively Help Unite Our Country”. Kindly share a story or example for each.
1 . Develop the deepest respect for all other humans. This means, in practical terms, adopting the ethical standard of equal opportunity and compensation for all individuals, regardless of nationality, color, gender, gender preference, social status, religious beliefs, age and appearance.
2 . Develop the deepest respect for all other life. This means that the killing or maiming of other life just for sport is evil, in ethical terms. Perpetrators of disrespect for other life must be fined and admonished.
3 . Cooperate fully with all other humans in ethical ways. Only those communities in which the members cooperate with each other in joint endeavors, prosper.
4 . Pass abortion laws to give back a woman’s right to control her own life. Overturning Roe versus Wade was a grave injustice foisted upon the American public by a polluted U.S. Supreme Court. The subsequent decision of this body that the president of the United States is immune from criminal charges shows clearly that this body, controlled by wealthy donors, has become unethical and irrational.
5 . Pass gun control laws which ban citizens’ use of assault weapons. The slaughter of our school children by young people who don’t know the long-term great suffering and grief they are causing, must stop. Those legislators who do not vote for a ban on all assault weapons in public use must be voted out of office. They are more interested in receiving large donations of money from the gun lobby than they are in doing what is right for our children and our public good.
Simply put, is there anything else we can do to ‘just be nicer to each other’?
We must understand that we are not all born equal as Thomas Jefferson believed, but are instead unique individuals who develop an immune response to any foreign material, human or otherwise. We must understand, however, that all of us as unique individuals have the same needs: sustenance, shelter, nurturing, love, education, and equal work opportunities. Good government and good friends will provide for all these needs, without regard for race, color, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or sexual orientation. Unfortunately, narcissism and self-aggrandizement now have the upper hand in our governmental and social systems.
We are going through a rough period now. Are you optimistic that this issue can eventually be resolved? Can you explain?
I am not. Human greed, corruption, racism, narcissism and self-aggrandizement are in control of much of our political and social systems. I don’t see us as changing from these evil ways to ethical behaviors in time to prevent a major human disaster.
If you could tell young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our society, like you, what would you tell them?
I would tell them to follow the advice of Jesus the prophet: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Benjamin Netanyahu: I would like to tell him face to face that his religion had no divine right to take away land belonging to Palestinians, that his imagined, mythologic, anthropomorphic God does not give Israel the right to commit genocide in Palestine and commit rampant destruction of the Palestinian civilization. I would tell him that Palestinians need to have their own separate lands and national independence, free from Israeli interference. I believe that the U.S. should stop supporting Israel completely, until Israel agrees to a peaceful settlement and a separate Palestinian state. Whenever they are willing to make those peaceful efforts, the United States should support Israel and Palestine equally.
How can our readers follow you online?
Readers can find more information on my blog, https://www.ethicsandreligions.com/ and our publisher’s website https://ycitypublishing.com/, and we have also newly established social media @carlgschowengerdt on Threads and Instagram. I am also on Facebook.
This was very meaningful, and thank you so much for the time you spent on this interview. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Putting The United Back Into The United States: Carl G Schowengerdt On The 5 Things That Each Of Us… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.