A Divided United States
“25 And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “[a]Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and [b]any city or house divided against itself will not stand.” Matthew 12:25 New American Standard Bible 1995
Since the 2016 election the United States of America has been divided. Civility is no longer part of our culture. The division has brought forth hatred and an ugliness of character I have never seen. Hatred exhibited by leading Democrats, namely, Pelosi, Schumer, Adams, and Schiff began the downhill spiral of our nation. They could not graciously accept that Donald Trump was elected president. Almost everyday they spewed bitterness across the media toward him. The media loved it and pushed the hatred across the news thoroughly condoning it.
Donald Trump didn’t help the matter by controlling his tongue. He tweeted and said things that fanned the flames. As this descension continued Republican lawmakers were attacked on a baseball field. Sending several to the hospital.
The bitterness these democrats expressed resulted in the impeachment of Donald Trump twice. During the four years of his presidency what did Congress accomplish? Did Congress enact laws to protect our border? Did they encourage Americans to live by the law of the land? What did they do to improve the average Americans life? They had control on Congress.
During this time George Floyd was killed. This incited the division in our land even further. I by no means condone racial profiling, discrimination, or police brutality. What happened to George Floyd was wrong. This led to riots, tension between whites and blacks. I must say that God does not see color. He loves all people equally. He is color blind. George Floyd’s death spewed hatred from the Black Lives Matter group. In Christ’s eyes all lives matter. However, I believe, they are coming from the perspective that white people have dominated our society and racial profiling and police brutality have caused them much suffering.
White supremacist groups also spew hate. Some call themselves Christians. If you follow the teachings of Christ, you will know this is not true. Hatred in any form is a sin. This can be seen in Matthew 22:35-39 New American Standard Bible 1995: “35 One of them, [a]a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and [b]foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
“30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and [a]beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, 34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 On the next day he took out two [b]denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ 36 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” 37 And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do [c]the same.”” Luke 10:29-37 New American Standard Bible 1995 Jesus did not even allude to race or ethnicity.
Our nation has many problems.
Our southern border is not secure:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2023/08/31/border-families-record-crossings-biden/
Crime is rampant in many cities, a sampling of police data for four cities is listed below:
Chicago:
https://home.chicagopolice.org/wp-content/uploads/1_PDFsam_CompStat-Public-2023-Week-36.pdf
Seattle:
https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Police/Reports/2022_SPD_CRIME_REPORT_FINAL.pdf
Atlanta:
https://www.atlantapd.org/home/showpublisheddocument/5593/638272564513500000
New York City:
https://compstat.nypdonline.org/2e5c3f4b-85c1-4635-83c6-22b27fe7c75c/view/89
Food prices: ”The level of food price inflation varies depending on whether the food was purchased for consumption at home or away from home:
- The food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI increased 0.4 percent from June 2023 to July 2023 and was 3.6 percent higher than July 2022; and
- The food-away-from-home (restaurant purchases) CPI increased 0.2 percent in July 2023 and was 7.1 percent higher than July 2022.” https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/
Natural Gas: “JANUARY 9, 2023 Average cost of wholesale U.S. natural gas in 2022 highest since 2008” https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=55119
Gasoline:
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/
Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Establish justice
“the quality of being just, impartial, or fair
questioned the justice of their decision.
b (1) : the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action
(2): conformity to this principle or ideal: RIGHTEOUSNESS
the justice of their cause
c : the quality of conforming to law” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justice
Insure domestic tranquility.
Some synonyms are peace, calm, quiet, serenity.
Provide for the common defense.
“The act or action of defending
the defense of our country” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defense
Promote the general welfare.
General: “involving, applicable to, or affecting the whole” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/general
Welfare: “the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/welfare
Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.
Blessings: “a thing conducive to happiness or welfare” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blessings
Liberty: “The quality or state of being free:
a: the power to do as one pleases
b: freedom from physical restraint
c: freedom from arbitrary or despotic (see DESPOT sense 1) control
d: the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges
e: the power of choice” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberty
In the last four years how many of these provisions have been enforced in the United States? As a nation do we want to continue down this road? The choice is ours. We support and elect the people that govern us. This is a privilege not available in every country. Perhaps we need to make our voices heard. Perhaps we want capable people able to bring consensus without alienating our rights and exhibiting hate.
We need to look carefully at our choices for the 2024 presidential election. Perhaps it is time for new voices. Make your voice heard in a peaceful way.
Picture Kevin Lancepaine/Unsplash