My daughter-in-law, Laurence, stood tall and very French in downtown St. Paul to say the pledge, to become an American citizen. More than 50 others stood as well, all bonded by common words spoken in accents ranging from Canadian to Thai, Argentinean to Australian, Somali to Sudanese. The judge reminded us however seemingly archaic the words, everyone in our country, either as recent arrivals or through our forbearers, has taken the same pledge. Watching, I wondered why we who are here largely by birthright, though called by the same civic duties, have too soon forgotten that common bond.
We become divided every two years, casting ourselves into the schism of red or blue states, branded almost indelibly as Republicans or Democrats, liberals or conservatives, Tea Party or Independents. In our churches we can stand next to each other in communion, but soon turn to assaults and insults believing that our personal right deserves might, forgetting to listen with empathy, not merely prepare a counterattack. Instead of accepting each other’s diversity through mutual respect of democracy, we align ourselves along trenches dug by pundits and talking heads, eyeing each other with suspicion across a no-man’s land where reason dares not raise its head.
Yet all wars eventually come to an end, when we will lay down armaments of banners and yard signs, and bumper stickers will bleach and peel in the winter sun, as we will need to once again begin the long walk home across the ravaged landscape to what remains of community.
Steven M. Lukas
Schroeder
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