(Editor’s Note: While this was submitted as a letter to the Forum, it addresses the situation all Americans find themselves in these days. For that reason, we lead off with it today, as it speaks to what many of us are thinking, and us wondering where all this will lead. –eeb)
By Michael Wood | Police shooting black men. A black man shooting police. Political candidates for President of the United States who have either old, heavy baggage or who are creating their own new, heavy baggage by producing heavily grating comments.
Wood
To coin a phrase, “Are we going to make America grate again”?
Are we going to become our own “ugly American” again in the eyes of the world or even in our own eyes? We will if we continue current political rhetoric and violent aggression against each other.
The Democratic and Republican parties are more polarized than they have been in decades, maybe as polarized as ever. No wonder so many of the American people are themselves polarized and against what the two parties say that they stand for. All this is painful to witness. Coupled with the many recent shooting, killings and outbreaks of violence, the pain goes beyond the mind and to the very depths of the soul of Americans and people everywhere.
Just what is our country doing to us all?
How might we bring our country back together? Can we “make the center hold”? Or will many of us stay at opposite poles figuratively and literally shooting at each other with harsh words or real bullets?
I’m not sure, but I believe it starts with me, an individual American. The words I say and the actions I take will either build bridges or walls. I intend to be more mindful of my words and actions and to view and treat my fellow Americans as my neighbors.
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