September 7, 2012 (Friday)
After watching two political party conventions recently, I conclude they both had the same theme: “We are the good guys; they are the bad guys.”
I noticed that a few of the speakers in both conventions shared a common trait: they shared statistics that strengthened their propositions and ignored those that would have worked against them. At both podiums, facts were shared that proved them right, but if the speakers had shared a little more information about those facts, they would have either meant nothing at all or would have led to a conclusion that opposed theirs.
I listened to the speakers in both conventions and was moved emotionally by several representatives of each party. The overall impression that came to me was that being an American is truly one of our greatest blessings.
Bitter dialogue is our political inheritance. The revolution that brought our nation into being was the result of airing our differences with Great Britain. But even after we broke away and started our own country, we had differences of opinion among ourselves and our leaders. George Washington had his detractors in the Continental Congress and dissension existed within his army. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams worked together on the Declaration of Independence, but had deep disagreements with each other on important issues. Adams followed Washington as president, and led the country toward a strong central government. Jefferson had retired to Virginia, but was so upset by Adams’ Federalism that he returned to government and won the presidency, depriving Adams of a second term. Adams was so angry that he left town rather than attend Jefferson’s inauguration ceremony. We can see that, from the first, the idea of a peaceful relationship between those who differ has not been the norm in our government.
Good people differ on the issues. Jefferson and Adams became friends again later in their lives. Both men were patriots and loved their country dearly. They both died on the Fourth of July in 1826. That somehow seems fitting and proper. Would to God that we could all differ on the issues but refuse to hate one another. Those of us who claim allegiance to Jesus Christ are under obligation to love others.
I conclude with the same phrases used by most of the speakers at both conventions: “God bless you and God bless the United States of America!”