My interest in the War Between The States -- better known as the Civil War -- is no secret. It's not that I like war - but I've always been fascinated by the insanity -- and drama -- of a war that pitted 'brother against brother.'
Sadly, in the wake of last Tuesday's presidential election -- a new civil war is waging, pitting 'brother against brother,' 'sister against sister,' once again -- and it too, is insane and dramatic.
Frankly, things get insane anytime we do violence to each other. And that's exactly what's happening. Especially visible are the protests in the streets of major cities -- but less visible -- are the Thanksgiving plans being scuttled, as family members cancel on each other, unable to sit with even a blood relative, who voted for the vile Hillary or the vile Trump.
But things are also dramatic, for at least three reasons: 1) the seismic societal change that's coming, as the country shifts right'; coupled, ironically, with 2) the unpredictability of the new president (what might President-elect Trump, Tweet tonight); coupled with 3) the unpredictability of those who oppose the new president (when you detest someone as much some detest the President-elect, all options appear 'on the table.')
So what's the way forward? Four milestones as we trudge this upward climb:
1) Learn From The Forgotten. Donald Trump got elected, in large measure, through a record turn-out of folks who felt forgotten. So forgotten, many of us don't even know who they are. Jim Tankesksy did 'a reveal' in the Chicago Tribune, last week: "For the past 40 years, America's economy has raked blue-collar white men over the coals. It whittled their paychecks. It devalued the type of work they did best...New industries sprouted in cities where they didn't live, powered by workers with college degrees they didn't hold...On Tuesday, their frustration helped elect Donald Trump...It was a revolt of working-class whites who felt stung by globalization... It was a rejection of the business-friendly policies favored...by elites in both parties..." James Tankesksy. "How Trump Won The Presidential Election. Revenge Of Working Class Men," Chicago Tribune, November 9, 2016 - http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-how-trump-won-election-20161109-story.html
Now we might very well disbelieve/dislike Tankesksy's assertion, but it's probably true. And so...as we've tried to learn from other marginalized folk (e.g. the poor, people of color, women), what can we learn from blue color, white men? I know that's a stretch for some of us -- but that's the point. Because it is a stretch -- we need to reach out even more. As I said in last week's blog: we need to build a bridge to everyone, and get over it!
2) Realize We're All On The Same Plane. There's always a strong temptation to destroy the enemy. That certainly was the case in the first Civil War, as 620,000 persons died (Blue and Gray) a figure almost equal to half of all U.S. casualties in all wars. That's a lot of death. But ironically, that record tally of death occurred among persons who were citizens (secession, aside) of the same nation. So, in essence, Blue or Gray didn't just hurt their enemy -- they hurt themselves.
So, too for our current 'civil war': go ahead, attack and destroy -- but we're only destroying ourselves. One angry voter calmed down long enough to put it this way: "Go ahead: blow up Donald Trump, but if you do, you'll just blow up the plane we're all on." Difficult, but wise words. I think that's what President Obama meant when he remarked to President-Elect Trump: "We're all on the same team. If you succeed, we all succeed."
3) But Never Stop Voicing What You Believe. Civility, teamwork, support are not to be confused with acquiescence. Behind our serious divide in this nation are serious differences, that must continue to be voiced. No, not with violence, hatred or bitterness -- but nevertheless, unapologetically -- with passion. Last Friday, in my Facebook post: Eager Thoughts, I made reference to Abraham Lincoln's famed 2nd Inaugural Address. Now persons are correct to categorize that address largely as a 'bind up the wounds' address. But a line in Lincoln's address that's often overlooked is this line: after Lincoln encouraged charity for all, Lincoln encouraged "...firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right..." So Lincoln advocated charity, but, with conviction. The challenge: how to express conviction in conversation -- rather than -- in combat. Many of us have a long way to go to grasp that difficult skill. But let's keep trying!
4) Keep 'Trying Every Door.' The day after the election was a day of rejoicing for many -- and -- a day of weeping for many. A common necessity, however, is for all, to keep hope alive. That occurs in three ways:
a) Work toward the common good, utilizing not ironclad ideology, but commonsense compromise; President-Elect Trump's apparent softening on repealing all aspects of the 'Affordable Care Act' is an example of this necessity;
b) Let faith possess you. In a recent chapel homily at Princeton Seminary Craig Barnes clarified: "...Faith isn't something that you get. It's something that gets us. We don't possess it. We are possessed by it..." Why? Because it doesn't originate from us, but from scripture and the legacy of God's people. As Barnes went on to clarify: "...[our faith] has been paid for by the blood of the martyrs...[it has] inspired the best of our social reforms...and has nurtured hope in the hearts of the oppressed for thousands of years. That is the faith that grabs hold of our lives and carries us when our little personal faith wavers..."
And so where are you wavering? It's been an upending couple of days, even if your side won. And so all of us need to 'settle down,' rooting hope, not in political ideology, a new President, or a scheme for revenge. We must root hope in the faith of the Gospel -- and -- the possibility of perseverance modeled by the long legacy of God's people.
And lastly, c) Shun any hint of despair. Cynicism and pessimism have a way of eventually creeping in -- for even the best leaders and eras -- eventually, disappoint. But don't cave to such 'lesser things' -- rather -- opt for a hope-full outlook -- nevertheless. Thornton Wilder says it best: "Hope may be a projection of the imagination, but so is despair. Despair all too readily embraces the ills it foresees; hope is an energy that arouses the mind to explore every possibility to combat them...Hope tries every door."
And so, how to you 'win' a civil war? You keep trying every door, that holds promise for resolving the conflict.
Frankly, I don't know what door/s will open the way to a new day of peace and understanding -- but I pray -- we will never lose the energy -- through Jesus -- to keep trying!
2) Realize We're All On The Same Plane. There's always a strong temptation to destroy the enemy. That certainly was the case in the first Civil War, as 620,000 persons died (Blue and Gray) a figure almost equal to half of all U.S. casualties in all wars. That's a lot of death. But ironically, that record tally of death occurred among persons who were citizens (secession, aside) of the same nation. So, in essence, Blue or Gray didn't just hurt their enemy -- they hurt themselves.
So, too for our current 'civil war': go ahead, attack and destroy -- but we're only destroying ourselves. One angry voter calmed down long enough to put it this way: "Go ahead: blow up Donald Trump, but if you do, you'll just blow up the plane we're all on." Difficult, but wise words. I think that's what President Obama meant when he remarked to President-Elect Trump: "We're all on the same team. If you succeed, we all succeed."
3) But Never Stop Voicing What You Believe. Civility, teamwork, support are not to be confused with acquiescence. Behind our serious divide in this nation are serious differences, that must continue to be voiced. No, not with violence, hatred or bitterness -- but nevertheless, unapologetically -- with passion. Last Friday, in my Facebook post: Eager Thoughts, I made reference to Abraham Lincoln's famed 2nd Inaugural Address. Now persons are correct to categorize that address largely as a 'bind up the wounds' address. But a line in Lincoln's address that's often overlooked is this line: after Lincoln encouraged charity for all, Lincoln encouraged "...firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right..." So Lincoln advocated charity, but, with conviction. The challenge: how to express conviction in conversation -- rather than -- in combat. Many of us have a long way to go to grasp that difficult skill. But let's keep trying!
a) Work toward the common good, utilizing not ironclad ideology, but commonsense compromise; President-Elect Trump's apparent softening on repealing all aspects of the 'Affordable Care Act' is an example of this necessity;
b) Let faith possess you. In a recent chapel homily at Princeton Seminary Craig Barnes clarified: "...Faith isn't something that you get. It's something that gets us. We don't possess it. We are possessed by it..." Why? Because it doesn't originate from us, but from scripture and the legacy of God's people. As Barnes went on to clarify: "...[our faith] has been paid for by the blood of the martyrs...[it has] inspired the best of our social reforms...and has nurtured hope in the hearts of the oppressed for thousands of years. That is the faith that grabs hold of our lives and carries us when our little personal faith wavers..."
And so where are you wavering? It's been an upending couple of days, even if your side won. And so all of us need to 'settle down,' rooting hope, not in political ideology, a new President, or a scheme for revenge. We must root hope in the faith of the Gospel -- and -- the possibility of perseverance modeled by the long legacy of God's people.
And lastly, c) Shun any hint of despair. Cynicism and pessimism have a way of eventually creeping in -- for even the best leaders and eras -- eventually, disappoint. But don't cave to such 'lesser things' -- rather -- opt for a hope-full outlook -- nevertheless. Thornton Wilder says it best: "Hope may be a projection of the imagination, but so is despair. Despair all too readily embraces the ills it foresees; hope is an energy that arouses the mind to explore every possibility to combat them...Hope tries every door."
And so, how to you 'win' a civil war? You keep trying every door, that holds promise for resolving the conflict.
Frankly, I don't know what door/s will open the way to a new day of peace and understanding -- but I pray -- we will never lose the energy -- through Jesus -- to keep trying!
Well said.......
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