A Birthday Wish for America

Left vs. Right. Liberal vs. Conservative. Democrat vs. Republican vs. Independent. Black vs. White. Pro-choice vs. Pro-life. For amnesty vs. against amnesty. Evolution vs. Creation. Public schooling vs. Home schooling vs. Private schooling. Pro-gun control vs. 2nd Amendment believers. Pro recreational drugs vs. Anti-recreational drugs. Vegans vs. Meat eaters. For euthanasia vs. against euthanasia. Pro death penalty vs. Anti-death penalty. For marriage equality vs. For Traditional marriage. Good vs. Evil. Right vs. Wrong. Left-handed vs. Right-handed. Pro Israel vs. Anti Israel.Toilet paper installation- over vs. under.

Do you feel like the controversy train has picked up speed and more cars lately? I mean look at that list above. 

Seems like debates and disagreements abound in our American culture today. 

This made me wonder if it's always been this way or only a contemporary issue. Were there this many issues when I was growing up in the 60's?

Most people have strong opinions on these issues. Have we always been so entrenched in our opinions and beliefs or is this new too? And why?

I wish I had the answers to these questions. Maybe if we understood how we arrived to this place of "us vs. them" mentality, we could find a way to resolve some of these issues.

I'm not opposed to knowing how someone feels about an issue. My concern is the invisible wedges that seems to be growing between us.

Hard feelings, hateful words and riots, to name a few. 

Tolerance is widely promoted, but not practiced.

If you could blow out the candles and make a birthday wish this July 4th for our country, what would it be?

Mine would be that we move from mere tolerance to simple respect.

If only we respected our fellow Americans and their opinions without adopting an enemy mentality, maybe we could slow down the controversy train. 

Who knows maybe even drop-off a few cars along the way? 

We're never going to agree on everything, but with respect on board maybe we can eliminate some wedges and focus on healing in order to reclaim our "One Nation under God" core belief. 

Happy Birthday to our great America! May a revival of respect sweep our land! 

What's your wish for this country? Please share.

Living the Garden Life, Tammy Van Gils plants words and sprouts insightful stories blooming with hope. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She's honored to be a guest blogger and a contributor to The Wonders of Nature Devotion Book, Worthy Inspired, Dec 2016.