Addressing a war torn Nation, Abraham Lincoln said, “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.” We’ve come through another difficult week in our Country; a time when America is probably as polarized and divided as at any time since the Civil War. Now as then, a handful of extremely partisan people have purposely inflamed several controversial issues and deliberately brought the entire Nation to its knees for their own selfish interests. There are fringe elements on both the far right and the far left, whose hateful rhetoric contaminates all efforts for compromise and peace among our electorate. If our Country is to survive and prosper, these fringe elements and their pet issues must be put in perspective and defused. There is no one issue, no two issues, no collection of issues that warrant or justify the flames of hatred that these fringe elements have intentionally ignited in our Country. It’s time to wake up, calm down, and find common ground. As a god fearing, patriotic American, I support the duly elected President of the United States of America. If and when this Country duly elects another, I’ll do my very best to support him or her. I am deeply passionate about my own personally held beliefs, but I am considerably more passionate about this Country and our unity as The United States of America. Those, whose hateful rhetoric continually fans the flames of hatred and contempt among my fellow countrymen, rarely do so for the good of this Country. They do so because ignorance and contempt assist them in achieving their own narrow, partisan goals. Often, ignorance and contempt are all they have to offer. I urge you to ignore those who promote hostility, hatred, and derision, and strive instead for common ground, common good, and a boundless, lasting, comprehensive peace, so that President Lincoln’s hopes may at long last find fulfillment, that, “the mystic cords of memory will swell when again touched as surely they will be by the better angels of our nature.” And that God may bless The United States of America.
Shannon Thomas Casebeer
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