[Written 10/11/15, finalized 5/13/16]
Ten years ago, I was in Gettysburg Pennsylvania while doing a road trip of the East coast. Kristin and I went to a few sites and museums about the Civil War, one of our nations darkest periods.
Of the hundreds of displays, images and models that I viewed, one image still stands out in my mind today. It was a large painting of two members of Congress literally having a physical altercation in the aisle of the Congressional floor during session in the years just prior to the Civil War. It indicated to me just how divided this country was at that time, so much so that our even our nations’ top leaders had been reduced to waging fist fights at those who did not agree with them.
Fast forward over 150 years, it seems we are in the midst of yet another civil war of sorts with Facebook posts as fists and top US leaders portraying an ‘us versus them’ approach to dealing with the two primary political parties. Even the Office of the Presidency, a position that I once admired with respect and honor, has dug in its heels, taking countless jabs at ‘the other side’ in speeches and demeanor.
So why must we pick a side at all? Why must we pledge our complete and undying allegiance to one of two flawed political parties when we live in a country where we have the freedom to associate various admirable qualities from each side into our personal beliefs?
And why is it so important for someone who has pledged themselves to such a party feel like it is their mission to disband the other party? I have seen many posts on Facebook of people hoping for a day when they can look back and tell the next generation about the folly of the then-deposed ‘opposing’ political party.
Do you not realize that that is not a democracy?
I do not pretend to be an expert on politics, on the contrary, I consider myself to be quite naive on the subject. But I can report on what I see and observe. And what I observe is that this country is ill. I have been seeing that as individuals we do what we can: love and cherish and interact with the families and friends around us. But there is this foreshadowing, this lingering in the back of our minds that all is not well.
Some people believe that a change of government will make everything right. Some want an individual or group of individuals to fight our battles, say the right words, sign the right literature and all will be well. Some believe our current government is the best they’ve had in their lifetime. Some believe it is the worst. Whatever the belief, we simply put too much emphasis on who’s in charge and not enough emphasis on what we as individuals can do to make this world a better place.
As we arrive at the one-year mark before the 2016 elections, I believe there is going to be a flood of negativity over the airwaves that is going to be unparalleled to anything we have seen in our lifetime. Friends, we should strive to love one another as we love ourselves. We cannot hand our lives over to the words and actions of another and allow the winds of bitterness, cynicism and slander to seep into our hearts. There is only one Lord, only one God. And the God of Love is our true Providence, our true Blessed Hope and our true Deliverer. It is He whom he should love with our whole heart, mind and spirit.
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