Hopefully the news media will give us a day off from their endless coverage of last week's SCOTUS decision so we might enjoy the holiday.
The United States is polarized like I've never seen. Political divides are sharper than ever. If politics were ever a way to divide a family, destroy friendships, or spoil polite conversations, it's never been more true than now. The battle lines are drawn, the knives sharpened. The presidential election looks to be the most expensive and nastiest in our history.
On the one hand, it's encouraging to see Americans so engaged in the electoral process. On the other, it's dispiriting to see how easily partisanship gives way to petty, vicious attacks on each other.
We are the United States of America. That seems to get lost once we're registered with a political party. We're all on the same team. It's important to understand that we're each invested in our neighbors' success. The guy across the street may be an arch conservative complete with bumper stickers decrying the liberal media. But if he loses his job and his home, it doesn't just hurt conservatives, it hurts all of us. The lady next to you on the train may be a liberal school teacher who advocates universal healthcare and childhood nutrition. But if her pay is cut, or job eliminated, money she previously spent in your store won't be spent any longer.
Today, if no other day of the year, Americans need to put aside their differences. We should rejoice that we live in a country with the freedom to make our voices heard. That we have the right to join the party of our choice.
Happy Birthday America.
The United States is polarized like I've never seen. Political divides are sharper than ever. If politics were ever a way to divide a family, destroy friendships, or spoil polite conversations, it's never been more true than now. The battle lines are drawn, the knives sharpened. The presidential election looks to be the most expensive and nastiest in our history.
On the one hand, it's encouraging to see Americans so engaged in the electoral process. On the other, it's dispiriting to see how easily partisanship gives way to petty, vicious attacks on each other.
We are the United States of America. That seems to get lost once we're registered with a political party. We're all on the same team. It's important to understand that we're each invested in our neighbors' success. The guy across the street may be an arch conservative complete with bumper stickers decrying the liberal media. But if he loses his job and his home, it doesn't just hurt conservatives, it hurts all of us. The lady next to you on the train may be a liberal school teacher who advocates universal healthcare and childhood nutrition. But if her pay is cut, or job eliminated, money she previously spent in your store won't be spent any longer.
Today, if no other day of the year, Americans need to put aside their differences. We should rejoice that we live in a country with the freedom to make our voices heard. That we have the right to join the party of our choice.
Happy Birthday America.
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