We’re the United States of America

The simple definition of united is “involving people or groups working together to achieve something” or “made up of members who share the same purpose, interest, etc.”        I say this because the United States of America seem less united than at any point in recent memory and it’s something we should be concerned about.

I’m not using this space for a history lesson but my late father always believed that our biggest enemy and threat was not from overseas but in essence our own neighbors.  It just seems like much more attention today is being paid our differences than what it is that keeps us together or united.

Take for example religion which is front and center, especially during a presidential campaign season.  My feeling has always been I don’t care what religion you practice and preach. Your faith is your business.  I don’t like those who believe they should try and make their beliefs my business because religion is and should be personal.

However clearly we live in a time where religion plays into so many things that it should not: our basic rights, politics and how we view one another. There should be total freedom of religion unless it involves violence and the killing of other human beings.

Of course you have the hot topic of racial division, an issue that is certainly not new but in a way feels more toxic than ever.  Like some of you I just finished watching the TV mini-series, “The People vs. O.J. Simpson.”  The series does not pretend to be a totally true depiction of what that took place some 20 years ago but it does at least mirror the “trial of the century” which many of us followed as almost a daily obsession.

For those too young the TV show makes it clear that the trial was more about race than murder and some of the issues addressed are strikingly familiar to what is happening today.

History is supposed to teach us lessons so we don’t repeat mistakes and can right things that are wrong.  We need to find ways to insure it remains the United States of America and not the Divided States of America.