In the end, we are nothing if we don’t have a country. Folks, we are quickly heading in that direction. We’ve entered a very dangerous period of time and the consequences of our behaviors may be direr. What I mean by direr is a country that is no longer the leader of the free world and its citizen no longer have the freedoms we once loved.
We are splitting ourselves apart. Yes, “we” are doing it. Donald Trump is a master at pitting people against each other and we are taking the bait. The agendas of the Republicans and Democrats are also a driving force, but we, the citizens, along with journalist are adding fuel to the fire every day.
This is my hypothesis of what is happening. By no means can I prove this, yet I believe, in my heart, what I’m writing and feel compelled to do anything I can do to try and get the attention of our citizens before it’s too late.
We’ve taken sides and we seem to be willing to defend these positions at any cost, even if it means destroying our country. I read the headlines and many articles of the following sites: Breitbart, CNN, Drudge Report, Jerusalem Post, Michael Savage, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, and Yahoo. I also look at many other sites and papers throughout the week. What I find is a clear attempt to pull us in opposite directions. It’s becoming an all-or-nothing game and facts no longer matter.
The country is divided, no doubt about it, in many ways and on many issues; however, if we don’t figure out a way to look for common ground we will surely break at the seams. Our government has created, over the past eight years, an environment of drawing “lines in the sand”. They no longer look for ways to compromise. They would prefer to let things shut down before they will budge and look for ways to compromise.
From what I am experiencing we are doing the same thing. In the past we seemed to have more tolerance for different opinions and beliefs, but now I see people avoiding each other if they know they supported Trump or Clinton. We avoid topics that we don’t agree on. We are surrounding ourselves with “our own Kind” more and more.
This is a formula for disaster. When this happens a vacuum is created and what fills that vacuum is someone who seizes power. That’s what is happening to us as we argue with one another. I know, at this point, a Trump supporter would defend the need for change. Yes, we do need lots of changes; however, how we try to get those changes made makes a big difference.
We are entering an era where these changes will be made by a small group of government leaders, mainly in the Executive Branch. This is not how a Democracy runs. Once you cross this line it is extremely difficult to go back.
My fellow citizens, we must be willing to bend a little bit and compromise. How will it feel if, by some chance, you happen to fall into the group of non gratis citizens? Today you may think you know who these people are, but none of us know for sure. And, it’s getting harder and harder to know since our press is being marginalized and losing our trust.
I can’t wave a magic wand and make this happen, but I can reach out to my fellow Americans and plead with you to open your mind and hearts to what may become a new reality for many generations to come. Most of us who are Baby Boomers have lived very nice lives. We don’t know what it is like to live through what our parents and grandparents did. We have no clue what it’s like to live in a country that is ruled in an autocratic manner. We have no reference point about how horrible that could be.
Please, let’s figure out ways to compromise and not allow our legacy to become the generation that destroyed how our children and grandchildren will be living in the future.