On the heals of my last post, could each of us, including me be part of the solution to our nation’s mess? What would the solution look like? Maybe if I could boil down what is happening on a national scale to what it takes for any two people to get along it would make the challenge seem doable.
Shane Deichman hit the attitude needed squarely on the head, humility is a great starting point. Also, when you desire to know someone and hear what they are saying it is much more difficult to be hurtful towards them because of their position. Maybe approaching topics by asking, what is it about this topic that causes you to be so passionate and what can I learn from listening to your perspective. What life shapers have you experienced that makes this issue so close to you?
Can we focus on topics and understanding rather than name calling and pigeon holing people. All to the left are not “Anti-American,” and all to the right are not “Ignorant, unintelligent bumpkins.”
When we put on the table what we are passionate about and why, is there some compromise a position that both sides can endorse, though it may not be either sides first choice? Isn’t this what we do to keep our marriages together? This is what it will take to pull our country together as well.
Maybe the entire country won’t do this but if I do it and you do it then we have a start. What we are currently doing is not working and to continue drawing hard lines and being ugly will only bring more of the same result.
As we have watched other nations around the world slipping into bankruptcy, like Greece, we have to know our nation is not too big to fail. We have to be students of history to know nation after nation has slipped from greatness to mere existing. We have to know it could happen here as well. Most can say what we are currently doing is not helping many, it’s not working.
There must be a higher, better way. We need to choose to be great and do the things that will help us achieve that destination. I need to be able to say, “So, you are Pro Choice, I am Pro Life, let’s talk about why this is important to both of us, I want to hear your thoughts.”
Could we be part of the solution?
blessings,
Scott
REALfitness by Scott 
Scott,
I have enjoyed reading your last two posts. I must say that as a Christian women my perspective may seem odd to you regarding the hot topic of abortion. Personally, I know I could never abort my child. This is both from my christian beliefs and morals that were taught to me by my parents. However, I have had some difficult things happen to me that may have lead to a different choice. At my age now, I can say however I would not. This is where you may not like my thoughts. I absolutely don’t think it is the governments or anyone’s business or right to tell a women what she should do. I try not to judge or push my beliefs on others. Should I, maybe. My wonderful pastor in Virginia (you may know him Pastor Ranck!) told me to let God change other peoples hearts. I have heard your words in my head more times than not since that lesson. I just don’t think it should be a politic topic.
I worry more about the overweight people in our country than abortion. I think that as a nation we are so overweight that this is a major problem. Imagine in the next ten years the cost of the overweight Americans and our health care system yet I don’t see many politicians talking about this. This area alone causes more problems as a country than abortion yet it is never talked about in the political arena. I wonder why?
As for Democrat vs Republican, I feel we are more interested in what separates us than what common ground we can find to make government better. I think we should scale back the government and allow the states to handle more local issues as it affects them. As you know, I am married to a Democrat so thru the years we have tried to find what common ground we have and lately, it has been harder.
I worry about our great nation. I feel everyone feels they are RIGHT and the other people are WRONG. There is not a lot of room for everyone to have different opinions and still function. I must say, the separation of church and state is a must to our great country. I will however still share my faith with others and pray for them to be lead to Jesus Christ. I just don’t make all of my voting decisions on my faith. If I did, I am not sure I could ever find a candidate worthy, do you?
Anyway, enough babbling from this mid-age Mom. Just my two cents. Keep writing for those of us out here in the internet world of communication!
Thanks Michele (whoever you may be ;)! I was thinking a while ago how nice it is that a guy in Colorado and a girl in Ohio I’m guessing and a guy in FL can still have a family connection though so many miles apart. We all shared a piece of time together that looking back were some really good days! I just want the best for you and your family and our country! Lord bless you and your family and hopefully you can all find harmony in your diversity. Just what our nation needs to do.