Since the 2000 presidential election, America has been tense politically, now because of a president from each side of the aisle. Can we eventually come together? One special American is counting on it.
Ever since the controversial election of 2000 between Vice President Gore and Governor George W. Bush, the United States has been a whirlwind political nation full of animosity, mistrust, and tension. If it has not been mistrust over the Bush power grab with the Patriot Act, it is apprehension over the Obama expansion of government and purported high-tech tattle-tale-ing over health care protests.
Someone overseas threw a shoe at our president out of clear disrespect and many of us laughed.
Someone brought a gun to a “peaceful” town hall debate and most of us felt the line was crossed.
The question is now: will we make all of this tension worth it?
As with childbirth, the process of creating a new, wonderful life can be extremely painful. There is sometimes screaming and yelling. There is sweat, tension, fear, and a lot of pushing. Eventually, there is a great result.
Can we use that model to bring about a great result after dealing with yet another round of heated debates, calls of being un-American, and protests about the future of the nation? If we can bring about unified and cooperative change (not just change via listening to the president and merely doing what he says), we can gain those long-term benefits.
And the children of America will thank us for it, particularly one close to my heart.
Over the course of the Bush-Obama era, my son has lived through turbulent times. A controversial election where the choice for president was selected along party line from an entity (the Supreme Court) that is supposed to be above political affiliation. The horrible events of September 11. The financial aftermath. The impending American response to 9-11. Mistrust over the war effort. Increased of awareness to everyday racism. A very unpopular president. A very popular candidate. A very unpopular financial bailout. A very historic president. History-making rounds of criticism, shame, anger, and political bickering.
All of which a ten-year-old boy today will have to shoulder as a man in the future.
But, for now, it is our obligation to make sure that these events are not done in vain. It is our obligation to make sure that the passion doesn’t turn to hatred and that we are not distracted from our viewpoints (regardless of what they are) during our debates. We must argue in facts, not fury.
Today, I say proudly: “Happy 10th Birthday Peace McAllister”
In another generation, we will be able to enjoy the prosperity and peace that his peers and he will have
