My daughter-in-law, Laurence, stood tall and so very French in downtown St. Paul to say the pledge, to become an American citizen. More than fifty others stood as well, all bonded by common words spoken through accents ranging from Canadian to Thai, Argentinean to Australian, Somali to Sudanese. The judge reminded us that, however 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 duty, have too soon forgotten that common bond. We become so divided every two years, casting ourselves into the schism of red or blue states, branded almost indelibly, as Republicans or Democrats, Liberals or Conservatives,
Greens or Independents.
In our churches, we stand next to next to each other to share in communion, but soon turn to assaults and insults believing that our personal right deserves might, forgetting to listen with empathy, not merely prepare to counterattack.
Instead of accepting each other’s diversity through the 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 once again begin the long walk home across the ravaged landscape, to what remains of community.
If only we could remember that we have made the same pledge ourselves or through forbearers, that we have all been invited to dine at the same table, not on the basis of votes cast, but as saints and sinners alike, regardless of our sincere beliefs. Steven M. Lukas, Schroeder
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