By John Horton
Hatred has always been amongst us. It is evil and it kills the human spirit. In the past, hatred has been used to breed divisiveness, disharmony and disunity. Thusly, we can no longer allow hatred to divide Americans along these social, economic and political venues.
In today’s world, we need more camaraderie, commitment and compassion. Together, “we” can make a difference. Together, “we” can do almost anything. Sometimes, there is a need for a society and culture of “we,” instead of a society and culture of “me.”
Let us come together, regardless of political philosophy and social standing and do what is best for America. At this critical time in history, our country “needs” us. She is challenging us to do our very best.
It is time for our politicians (public servants?), corporate managers, financial stakeholders, civic leaders and public citizens to “work together” to put America’s interests (foreign and domestic) first and foremost.
As such, I strongly believe in compromise, sacrifice, fairness, and unity. “We” can get the job done to improve opportunity and to promote responsibility for all Americans. Our history, culture and heritage speak to this “possibility of circumstance.”
We should never allow our partisanship and pettiness to debilitate and/or destroy us. We have come too far and done too much, together. Failure is not an option. We should always remember that no one of us is as important as all of us.
So, let us realize what is at stake here. Depending on our choices and actions, history will either praise or condemn us. It is up to us. Let us “think” about what must be done…what needs to be done. And, let us do what is in the best interests of our America.
In the sage and eloquent words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we must come together in the name of “light and love”: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can.”
Please believe, we don’t need any more hellfire and brimstone. We need unity and utility. We don’t need any more negativity and pessimism. We need positivity and optimism. Together, we can do (almost) anything. For, this is our America.
Sometimes we must put our country’s overall best interests ahead of our party affiliations and individual differences. At times like these, “we” must strive for the common good, general welfare and more perfect union.
In closing, I would like to repeat the salient and succinct words of Alexis de Tocqueville: “…Those that despise people will never get the best out of others and themselves…The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults…”
Accordingly, I firmly believe that working together as Americans, we can overcome hatred. Yes, we can!
