Extending the conversation from a wise friend in cyberspace, we were discussing the nation\u2019s response to the tragedy in Boston.\u00a0 We discussed Tuesday\u2019s concept of whether or not we would simply forget the learnings after the \u201cmusic fades,\u201d so-to-speak, and return to our unfortunate, engrained, far-too-often divisive and defensive standing.<\/p>\n
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My wise friend made an excellent observation and then asked an even better question…<\/p>\n
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I am reminded, \u2018A house divided against itself cannot stand.\u2019\u00a0 As long as we cannot come to some workable agreements on important issues among ourselves, it seems we leave ourselves vulnerable to destruction.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n My question is, without that tangible adversary, can we agree on what the \u2018enemy\u2019 to rally against is?\u00a0 Is there a common goal that we can rally around without a tangible face of violence?\u00a0 And even better than a common enemy, is there a unified love to rally for\u2026?\u00a0 Is there a common respect for the sanctity of life\u2026?\u00a0 Or is it \u2018every man for himself\u2019?\u00a0 \u2026 each out for his own right to his own idea of liberty\u2026 her own idea of happiness.\u00a0 Is there a higher standard we can agree upon?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Friends, just as a common enemy united us in Boston \u2014 going forward \u2014 what is it that propels us?\u00a0 In other words, if a common enemy unites us like nothing else, who<\/strong> is that enemy as we continue forward?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I think we have two authentic, current challenges in this area:\u00a0 we either deny<\/strong> the existence<\/strong> of an enemy\u00a0\u2014\u00a0or we identify the enemy as someone who it’s not.\u00a0<\/strong> Allow me to respectfully share with you who it\u2019s not…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s not the Democrats.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not Pres. Obama.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the Republicans on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not those who oppose gay marriage.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not those for or against gun control.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the NRA, the ACLU, or any passionate, partisan advocacy group.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the teachers\u2019 union nor Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin nor any other governor.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the academic elite.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not even the uneducated.<\/p>\n And it’s certainly not any rhetorical 1, 2, or 17%.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n No, it\u2019s none of the above.\u00a0 And until we recognize that, as a nation, we may forever be both polarized and paralyzed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Who is our enemy?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s no longer the Soviets.\u00a0 We no longer face a Cold War.\u00a0 But we have to quit insinuating or proclaiming that the enemy is something or someone it is not.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In reality, the \u201cenemy\u201d can only be equated with one thing…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That one thing is not partisan…<\/p>\n That one thing is not an opinion…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That one thing is only one thing; it is evil.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The men who blew up the streets of Boston were motivated by evil.\u00a0 Evil is prominent in more ways than we can ever know.\u00a0 Evil is real.\u00a0 Evil is the complete absence of God.\u00a0 Evil is deep.\u00a0 It dwells deep within the heart of far too many.\u00a0 There is, no less, no such thing as any \u201clesser\u201d of two evils.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That\u2019s hard; it\u2019s hard to specifically quantify.\u00a0 But evil \u2014 yes, evil <\/em><\/strong>\u2014 as we are calling it what it is \u2014 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.\u00a0 That is the enemy which unites us.\u00a0 And that is what we must combat and God-willing, attempt to extinguish.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Extending the conversation from a wise friend in cyberspace, we were discussing the nation\u2019s response to the tragedy in Boston.\u00a0 We discussed Tuesday\u2019s concept of whether or not we would simply forget the learnings after the \u201cmusic fades,\u201d so-to-speak, and return to our unfortunate, engrained, far-too-often divisive and defensive standing. My wise friend made … <\/p>\n