The enemy didn’t live inside these borders, they lived in other nations, other monarchs, but not among the people of the United States of America. There were fools, and there were debates, but at the end of the day, they were all proud Americans. There was an understanding then, an acceptance, a certain respect that the world lacks today. Every year that passed after those times, we lost a little understanding, a little respect; we lost a little of our morals, our values, and our American pride. The political parties of our great country seemed to have lost more than the rest of us. The loyalties for their parties seemed to turn to treachery toward the opposing parties. The position created control, which, in turn, created power.
After those kinds of seeds are planted, it is next to impossible to get rid of them. I am not an omniscient wise person. I’m no expert on what’s happening in our political world. It has gotten to the point where I cannot spend more than 5 minutes watching, reading or listening to political news and debates. There is no understanding, no admission to fact, to responsibility, to right and wrong. There is no respect, everyone talking over everyone else, so convinced that they know more than the other, that they can’t wait until the other has stated his opinion to give the only one they believe matters: their own. To me, it’s too full of hate, too degrading and disrespectful.
My family has always been Republican, but I was never made to believe I had to be one or the other. I don’t recall ever having heard my parents bash, disrespect or disdain any member of any party in front of their children. They wanted us to have a choice, to someday have our own opinion, form our own assumptions.
As I got older, I started to see a pattern. It didn’t matter who the man was that was running for president, where he came from, what he believed, or what morals he had. All that mattered was what party he was running for. Good, bad, decent, deceitful, it didn’t matter. The thing that really disturbed me was that I never heard any member of any party say one good or positive word about any member in any other party but their own.
I am 37 years old, and I still don’t know what party I want to support. I’ve been waiting all these years for one side or the other to show me any amount of class, any amount of understanding, of morals. I do not vote for a candidate because of the party he represents. I vote for whom I feel is the better of the two, who I feel is better for the job. I vote for the man, not the party. It truly breaks my heart that the commercials of the political candidates who are running for office are no longer about themselves. They aren’t about letting us get to know them better, or about what they plan to do to better the country. They are about accusations and insults about the person running against them. It saddens me that this is what we are teaching our children.
The Pledge of Allegiance says that we, Americans, pledge our allegiance to the United States of America. We pledge our loyalty and commitment to our republic. A synonym for the word allegiance is the word homage, which means a special honor or respect shown publicly.
There are those out there who continue to honor that pledge, but they are few and far between these days. The political system feels like nothing more than a race for power and domination. It’s not about the person anymore, it’s about proving that one is better than the other.
I don’t know when we went from being “one nation under God” to being a split nation under distress. I’m not sure when we stopped being on each other’s side, and started being against each other, all because we want to be able to say that one side knows all, one side thinks that they are right, and everyone else is wrong. I yearn to be one nation again, to live for what is right, not what benefits and solidifies our own beliefs. I yearn for understanding, acceptance, and respect. And I yearn for love above all else, and for hate to become the rarity, not the standard.
It was once “united we stand,” but if something doesn’t change, if someone doesn’t start that change, it will be “united we fall.” All those years fighting, all of our ancestors and loved ones risking and losing their lives to protect this country only for us, us fellow Americans, to be responsible for our own destruction. Be the one to start the change.
Originally published on Anniston Star
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The most amazing way with words, put down where everyone can interpret. This Tabitha Lady seems to know how to use words very well, I will definitely be waiting to read more from this phenomenal writer.
Thank you for the wonderful words!!