11/4/24-It's Election Day

Every leap year on the first Tuesday in November, in the United States, we make history.  We choose leaders who will guide the country until we get to choose leaders again.  Voting is a right that all citizens can exercise.  People have died defending this right.

I used to be into politics.  I followed the polls on election day.  I grew up with friends with varying opinions on politics and politicians.  But I think that even though we didn't agree all the time we were respectful of each other's feelings and choices.  We were able to discuss why we voted for what we did, without effecting our relationship.  I think when I was young people identified themselves as Americans first, then as members of what party or policies they supported.

Obviously, was not alive during the Civil War or The Vietnam War.  Those were times when the United States was divided over an issue or issues.  This division led to violent protests, assassinations, and even the dissolving of the country into a bloody war.  So I can't compare the political climate we face today with any other period in history.  But it seems as if we are at a crossroads as a country.

There have been many world empires in history.  The Greeks, The Egyptians and The Mongols have all been major worldwide powers in history who have had their confederations end.  One of the biggest and longest lasting was the Roman Empire.  The Roman Empire proper lasted for 500 years.   If the Eastern Byzantine Empire is included historians can argue the remnants of the Roman Empire were in parts of the world for another 1000 years.

So how does such a powerful, long lasting empire come to an end.  In "The Fall of the Roman Empire" it was theorized that there were an number of events that led to the ending of the Roman Empire.  A pandemic caused loss of population.  Climate change effected the ability to recruit for the military, to trade and grow food.  The Roman Empire faced a migrant crisis, political crisis and a financial crisis.  Political strife led to extorsion and corruption.  Religious dispute turned into moral decline.

I don't think it is difficult to see a reflection of the events that led to end or the Roman Empire in The United States today.  And that disappoints me.

I am proud to be an American.   I joined the Navy to be a part of the United States presence in the world.  On a submarine we were a projection of the tip of the spear of American sea power.  By bring out there we were defending the US from enemies, foreign and domestic.  I accepted the fact that given the situation I might have been asked to give my life in defense of the country.  The chances were small, but I think I would have been honored to do so. 

I still love this country.  It is the best country in the world.  Maybe in the history of the world.  But I miss being able to discuss issues without being worried about being shut down, socially ostracized or risk hurting someone feelings.  We should never be afraid to say what we believe.  It's part of being free.

  

We are supposed to have opposing opinions.  We are supposed to respect those opinions.  We are supposed to respect the people with those opinions.  We are supposed to be proud to be patriotic Americans.

"In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." -Barack Obama

My hope is that we can go back to remembering what we have in common as Americans to strengthen the republic rather than be ashamed of events in our history that divide us.  We are still a young country, and may have made mistakes in our growth.  But rather then erasing them we should learn from our past, lest we make similar mistakes in the future.  And the best wat to do so is to get back to respectful discussion and considerate debate.  Maybe this can even lead to a word that seems to be foreign in politics today: compromise.

In any case, if you haven't voted yet, you should try to get out today if you are registered to do so.  It's our responsibly as citizens of The United States to do so.

And whatever the results of this vote are hopefully we can have a fair and just election.  And that the transfer of power will go without incident.  And that we can get back to making this country great again.

"If we love our country, we should also love our countrymen." -Ronald Reagan