From my blog
It's hard to believe that it's been three years since 9/11. At times it seems like we have lived in our often (though often justifiably) paranoid state forever. Other times it seems like the event happened so recently, (though the constant reminders at the political conventions seek to make that impression.)
Before 9/11, things seemed a lot less serious - for me anyway. Clearly I was younger at that point, but before that day everything seemed to be going just fine. Our country wasn't in the best of its economic times, but far from its worst, and war seemed so distant.
Since then, an atmosphere of war has been over our country, whether or not the nature of the situation in Iraq is war or post-war peacekeeping (or peacemaking), or whether a war on terror is actually a war. No matter how war is defined these days, this atmosphere of war is certainly prevalent.
It has also caused as close to a political war as any of us have seen here at home. Undoubtedly, we are more torn apart politically than we were at any other time in recent memory.
I don't think the prescription to unity is obediently rallying around our President. I can't do that based on his policies and beliefs.
What we do need to recognize is that our political opponents are not enemies - they do not hate America, they see a conflicting vision of it.
I included the conclusion of Lincoln's first inaugural address - (you've probably heard it at the end of American History X). We are nowhere near (I hope) the division that beset our country back then, but it's relevant anyway.
"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."
We have, and we have created, too many people abroad who consider us enemies to fight here at home about who loves our country more.
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Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Exceptionally important point VR, you are absolutely right. So often internecine disagreements come to seem as wide and deep as those we have with people who would not even allow us to disagree with each other in an open, honest and public manner.
Thanks!
2 - Temple Stark
Well, I'm starting to think that there may be no repair. Is that because I spend too much time around blogtopia. Perhaps. No, in fact, quite likely.