A Time to Heal

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
--The Byrds

These words taken from Ecclesiastes are no more apropos than now.

What we need is to heal, unite.

What a divided people we have become. Perhaps divided is not the appropriate term. Divided to begin with, but something darker now. Isolated. Polarized. Blue, red. White, black. Capitalist, Socialist. Straight, gay. Republican, Democrat. American, anti-American.

There seems to be no middle ground anymore--no haven where we can come together as one.

A country founded on the ideals of freedom and equality and unity has been reduced to nothing more than a large kindergarten class full of "did nots" and "are toos". But even in hide and seek, there are safe zones.

I listened to Rush Limbaugh for a bit the day after the election. He is still spewing hate across the airways, and along with his callers, still stirring the pot of discord in America.

We need to move on. We need to heal, unite.

What truly prevents us from coming together to form a more perfect union—to band together as one nation, under God? Is it really that far out an idea? And if so, what kind of psychedelics were our founding fathers passing around as they were brainstorming our founding documents?

I used to be such an optimist. When I graduated high school, my favorite song was “Imagine” by John Lennon. I would sing it and feel every idea in that song course through my veins, and I just knew that I would make a difference in this world. I voted the first time I was of age to do so. I voted for Bill Clinton, and he was elected. It was elating. I felt I had a voice, and that it was heard.

I have become jaded in my seventeen years since high school. I no longer “know” that I can make a difference. Rather, I see it as a lofty dream, one of those regrets you take to your grave. I see a bright future for my children, but keep my aspirations guarded. Although, to them, they can and will do anything their heart desires. For them, at least, I let my cynicism take a nap.

I don't want to be a cynic anymore. It is the cynics that have given hope a bad name. Today, if you dream of better things to come, you are naive or immature. Today, if you hope for a better future you are impractical. Today, hoping for world peace has been reduced to a beauty pageant joke.

During this election season, I felt a tug of that optimism from what seems so long ago. I first felt the twinges four years ago during a key note speech from a little-known state Senator from Illinois. The speeches of Barack Obama, then and now, are uplifting, hopeful, inspiring, moving. I feel energized, renewed. I felt my voice come back. After eight years of having my words shoved back down my throat, I could be heard again! And the words I would speak were coming not from myself, but from a man with a strange name and a skin color not my own. Imagine that.

Why can't we, as a nation, as one people, join together with one voice and one purpose? We need to move past the negativity, the cynicism, the derogatory, the differences and regain our hope as a nation. We need to forgive the "other side" for whatever wrongs we feel they have done and make a pledge to band together for the greater good of our nation. Let us forgive each other - only then will we live in peace--Tolstoy

There is a website called DividedWeFail. The title is a foreboding omen for our country. Divided we will fail. Divided, we will fail to support our new President who has given us his word that he will make our lives better. I understand the difficulty of taking someone at their word. Long gone are the days when trust is established by a word and a handshake. But they don't have to be.

Can't we, just for a moment, peak over our self-erected fortresses, spit in our hand, and give our President a firm shake?

Look him straight in the eye, and say, "Mr. President, you have my support, and I am counting on you."

Can we not, as the United States of America, stand side by side, and shamelessly scream those immortal words of John Lennon?

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one