Extending the conversation from a wise friend in cyberspace, we were discussing the nation’s response to the tragedy in Boston. We discussed Tuesday’s concept of whether or not we would simply forget the learnings after the “music fades,” so-to-speak, and return to our unfortunate, engrained, far-too-often divisive and defensive standing.
My wise friend made an excellent observation and then asked an even better question…
I am reminded, ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’ As long as we cannot come to some workable agreements on important issues among ourselves, it seems we leave ourselves vulnerable to destruction.
My question is, without that tangible adversary, can we agree on what the ‘enemy’ to rally against is? Is there a common goal that we can rally around without a tangible face of violence? And even better than a common enemy, is there a unified love to rally for…? Is there a common respect for the sanctity of life…? Or is it ‘every man for himself’? … each out for his own right to his own idea of liberty… her own idea of happiness. Is there a higher standard we can agree upon?
Friends, just as a common enemy united us in Boston — going forward — what is it that propels us? In other words, if a common enemy unites us like nothing else, who is that enemy as we continue forward?
I think we have two authentic, current challenges in this area: we either deny the existence of an enemy — or we identify the enemy as someone who it’s not. Allow me to respectfully share with you who it’s not…
It’s not the Democrats.
It’s not Pres. Obama.
It’s not the Republicans on Capitol Hill.
It’s not those who oppose gay marriage.
It’s not those for or against gun control.
It’s not the NRA, the ACLU, or any passionate, partisan advocacy group.
It’s not the teachers’ union nor Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin nor any other governor.
It’s not the academic elite.
It’s not even the uneducated.
And it’s certainly not any rhetorical 1, 2, or 17%.
No, it’s none of the above. And until we recognize that, as a nation, we may forever be both polarized and paralyzed.
Who is our enemy?
It’s no longer the Soviets. We no longer face a Cold War. But we have to quit insinuating or proclaiming that the enemy is something or someone it is not. Such may serve to net votes and drum up passion, but such is not wise; and such is not a process nor practice dripping of integrity.
In reality, the “enemy” can only be equated with one thing…
That one thing is not partisan…
That one thing is not an opinion…
That one thing is only one thing; it is evil.
The men who blew up the streets of Boston were motivated by evil. Evil is prominent in more ways than we can ever know. Evil is real. Evil is the complete absence of God. Evil is deep. It dwells deep within the heart of far too many. There is, no less, no such thing as any “lesser” of two evils.
That’s hard; it’s hard to specifically quantify. But evil — yes, evil — as we are calling it what it is — is prominent in more ways than we know; we have to be willing to see it and say it, for that is our common enemy. That is the enemy which unites us. And that is what we must combat and God-willing, attempt to extinguish.
Respectfully,
AR