Borders

I love geography and I've always been fascinated with borders.  Where does one region end, and another begin?  Why is this the place where a particular language and culture dominates, only to switch to another language and culture just a few miles (or even feet) away?  Some borders arise naturally, such as mountains and rivers, while other borders are much more arbitrary.  Have you noticed how many US States have unnatural borders (straight lines drawn on a map)?  But whether borders arise naturally or unnaturally, they serve as important geographic markers that not only divide people and places, but sometimes create whole new subcultures.  

I find border communities fascinating.  Sometimes a region is divided by, say a state line, that is essentially meaningless.  One such place is Kansas City.  Whether one lives on the Missouri or Kansas side of the state line, for all practical purposes, greater Kansas City is one metropolitan area sprawling over two states.   Both sides pull equally for the Chiefs and Royals (both of these teams are located on the Missouri side).  When someone from the Kansas side speaks of downtown, there can be little doubt that they are referring to downtown Kansas City, MO, and not Kansas City, KS.  Though Kansas license plates are more numerous on the Kansas side, no one thinks twice about seeing a Missouri plate cruising up and down the streets of Overland Park.  Though I have only been here for a week, I would guess that most people in Lenexa, KS have more in common with someone from Raytown, MO than they do with someone from Colby, KS.  And my hunch is that someone in Independence, MO might identify more with someone from Shawnee, KS than with someone from Poplar Bluff, MO.

And yet, the border between the two states is very much a reality.  It does divide the region, if only arbitrarily.  My guess is that the longer I live here, I'll notice a few subtle differences between the two regions of the metro area that might not be as obvious at first glance.  But all in all, the region seems far more united than divided, which is better than the alternative.  

Living in a border area is a good reminder that the differences between places and people need not separate us.  Differences can be healthily embraced and celebrated.  Far more powerful than lines on a map are the lines drawn on human hearts.  Over the past decade or two, many people within the US and around the world have allowed cultural, political, and even regional differences to drive a wedge between them and those they perceive to be the "enemy".  I wonder if these artificial distinctions are just as arbitrary as some of the straight lines drawn on maps.  Surely, as human beings, we have far more in common - far more that should unite us, than that which might divide us.  Are we possibly guilty of creating an artificial border between us and a neighbor or even family member?  What bridges might we build that might help to overcome those divisions?  It's worth thinking about. - Shay