I just watched the movie Gettysburg
for the umpteenth time. I wanted to watch it in honor of the 150th
anniversary of that famous Civil War battle. It was the turning point of the
war. As I watched it, I was reminded of all the trials and tribulation our
country has faced since it was born. In this one battle lasting 3 days, July 1,
1863 to July 3, 1863, over 50,000 Americans on both sides lay dead, wounded or
missing. It remains the costliest war in terms of American lives lost in our
history.
I remain puzzled how America ever got to the point of war
against itself, brother against brother. How did a people born out of such
hardship, oppression and strife, people of common ancestry language and vision come
to the point of being able to kill one another? I know the Geo-political things
that lead up to this terrible chapter in our history, but how did we as human
beings reach that point that we could kill our fellow Americans in these horribly
bloody battles?
Today, there are so many parallels in our country to the
years leading up to the American Civil War. Instead of Northern abolitionists
and Southern slave holders, we have Liberals and Conservatives. Instead of
slavery, we have abortion, gay marriage, immigration and a host of other hot
button issues to divide us. Every day the politics and hateful rhetoric seem to
ratchet up one more notch. Lincoln would feel right at home with today’s
Congress and the Right’s disdain for the Obama presidency.
The more I study history, the more I see the same play being
staged over and over. Only the actors and the location and the time are different, but
it’s the same play. Until man evolves to a point that violence can no longer be
the answer…history is doomed to repeat itself.
On this 4th of July, we need to ask ourselves,
how did Americans get to that point where they could kill one another, and then
take a step back. As a country, we cannot afford to repeat that dark history.
Let’s remember that no mater our disagreements…we are still Americans and we
are still the United States of America. We must come together, reason, compromise
and get things done with respect for one another. We must find ways to work
together as one people, as Americans, before the fabric of this grand
experiment in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness comes unraveled.
Food for THOUGHT…
