America - Divided or United

America, Divided or United? It's Our Choice

America: An Uncomfortable Current Trend:

As a nation, we have been trending over the past several decades in an uncomfortable direction for many American’s. There is a significant number of American's who would like us to focus on the critical issues facing our nation such as poverty, racism, a quality education for all, a good-paying job, affordable medical care, security for themselves and family, and the ability to enjoy a prosperous life with their families. They desire to see their children afforded equal opportunities to enjoy success in the future. They want to see their leaders and role models embrace ethics, honesty, accountability, and personal integrity in the way they conduct themselves and how they influence their children. They want to see racism end forever. They want to see every child provided with a quality education. They want to see poverty ended in our country. They want to see an equal opportunity for all. Finally, they want to see no child go to bed hungry or family go without food. 

However, somehow extreme views and positions have taken control of our moral compass and vision for all our citizens. Greed, special interest groups, power, corruption, self-serving personal agendas, and partisan politics have corrupted our core values and principles of governance and openness.

To understand this trend, I would like to challenge you to read the following questions while asking yourself which of these are the most important to you personally. 

When did we become so intolerant?

When did we become so angry?

When did we become so disrespectful?

When did we stop listening to other points of view?

When did our hearts become so filled with self-satisfaction?

When did our souls become so empty of love for others not like us?

When did we decide to partner with hate?

When did we become so blinded by our ideas that we left no room for compromise?

When did we stop believing in the worthiness of every human being?

When did it become all about us with no room for others?

When did we stop trusting others?

When did empathy for others who are less fortunate leave us?

When did our hearts become rusty with bigotry and contempt for other races and religions?

When did we stop caring?

America: A Vision of Possibilities

Amid the current vortex of chaos, confusion, challenge, conflict, and change, we previously gave some thought to what we, as human beings, caring people, and proud Americans could do that might help bring us together as a united America, embracing the differences that have pulled us apart in the past, healing the wounds of division by the power of our love, kindness, and acceptance.

To understand the possibilities of a united future where everyone counts and where everyone has a seat at the table of success, where everyone shares from the menu of opportunity, we need to ask the following what-if questions. Once again, challenge yourself when asking the questions, which ones are most important to me?

What if we each start to build the bridge one plank at a time over the gap that separates and divides Americans into polarizing camps. 

What if we took the first step to bury our grievance towards other people and groups? 

What if we stopped the hate with our love and kindness?

What if we stopped the rumors and explored both sides of the dispute?

What if we did not allow ourselves to feel sorry for ourselves but tried instead to uplift others with words of encouragement?

What if we took our energy and committed ourselves to help others less fortunate than us?

What if we extended a helping hand to someone in need on the other side of the gap?

What if we listened, truly listened to others we disagreed with?

What if we demonstrated empathy for someone else’s problems?

What if we showed respect for others on the opposite side?

What if we demonstrated compassion for someone with opposing views?

What if we demonstrated tolerance in the face of hatred?

What if we embraced forgiveness for those who have acted with malice?

What if we demonstrated calmness when dealing with conflict and adversity?

What if we trusted the other side’s words, intentions, and deeds before we condemned their actions?

What if we tried to help, in whatever way possible, to bridge the gap of difference with others?

What if we would be open to exploring common elements of mutual agreement as opposed to immediately debating points of disagreement.

Let’s all make an effort to welcome love and compassion for others as our permanent partners on our life’s journey.

These actions will help bridge the divide, heal our hurt, open our souls, and create one America dedicated to the success and wellbeing of every person. An American where everyone is welcomed, where everyone has a seat at the table of opportunity, where everyone is respected, where everyone is loved, and where anyone has the opportunity to fulfill their dreams and aspirations. That is what it means to be united as one country.

As an individual, I thought that I did not have the power, network, time, or personality to make a difference. However, hearing about all the heroic stories and acts of kindness that have surfaced during the past 12 months of people helping others in need has convinced me that anything is possible. Individuals can indeed make a difference. Even if it is only a small difference delivered through an unselfish act of kindness, it can still touch someone's heart, lift someone up, if only a little, and make someone else life just a little more bearable. A single individual act of kindness can spread and multiple helping to place planks on the bridge over the gap of intolerance. By placing a single plank of respect, a single plank of caring, a single plank of love, a single plank of empathy, or a single plank of kindness can help bring us together as one nation built on a great tapestry of people, races, religions, cultures, and communities.

So what can you do as an individual? I will tell you what I am going to do. I am going to commit the rest of my life to place as many planks of kindness I can every week to help build the bridge over the gap that divides us as a community. Will it make a substantial difference, probably not. But it will have a positive impact on the lives of the people who interact with me along my life’s path and that one act can multiply. One act may lead to 10 acts, which may lead to 100 acts, which may lead to a thousand acts, which may lead to ten thousand acts.

Thank you for listening.

Peter Hughes

Dover, NH

[email protected]