Happy 4th of July!

I just watched the movie Gettysburg for the umpteenth time. I wanted to watch it in honor of the 150^th 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 4^th 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…