I once found myself on the wrong end of a .32 caliber Walther PPK (with an extremely possessive husband on the other end- but that is another story…). I prayed on that occasion for the Wisdom to survive. The quiet answer turned out to be, “add no more violence”. By following this “advice”, the situation was defused and the outcome turned in my favor. This is what I request of us- to “add no more violence.”

Add truth, add protest, add anger but- fairly and without violence. Those who do will reap exactly what they sow.

But you are absolutely wrong. I don’t have contempt for conservatives, and while you and I may differ about whether Reagan was a great president, I don’t despise you or anyone else who holds that belief.

If you understood my writing at all, you’d understand that what I rail against is hatred, incivility, deception, and demagoguery. Not conservatism, and certainly not dissent. That I happen to believe there is more anger and bitterness coming from the conservative side of the fence may offend you, but I can’t help that.

Two of your favorite writers are Ann Coulter and Bill O’Reilly, and I’m over the top? I’m so far down I can’t even see their butts.

I don’t ever want to be condescending, David.

…………..by the way, condescending means talking down to someone

Thanks for your heartfelt words. I respect and admire your passion, and your beliefs, even the ones we don’t share. I’m sure our friends understand that they come from an honest place, and without ill intention. Like you, I’m sure that I’ve presented my views in an overzealous manner from time to time. I hope our friends on the conservative side of the point realize that they are not intended to personally assault.

But, I find myself unable to avoid speaking up in the face of so much hatred and misinformation. When I point out outrageous behavior, like prayers for the death of the president, it startles me that I’m counter-charged with bias and unreason. It seems we can’t find common ground, even on something so clearly dishonorable. I have never been more fearful for our future. I still have hope that Obama will somehow prevail, but that hope rests parallel with an equal fear that he will not survive his tenure as president. Such is the hatred and anger that pervades our political discussion. I hope not to, and I try not to, contribute to that. Even a straightforward presentation of facts, however, draws an uproar from those who would rather not know them. As you so aptly pointed out, if the splintered factions of this country can’t reach some minimal accommodation, then our grandchildren’s grandchildren will still be paying the price for what we failed to achieve.

You can be sure that we’re still friends even if you’re unable to “rage against the machine” as before. Your voice will be missed not only because it’s eloquent but because, as a person of faith, you speak from a place that I can’t, and you speak to a faction that will not hear me.

So, it’s my hope that you don’t completely abandon the fight, but that you find a way to wage it that is not strident, and that allows you a “comfort zone” with your friends.

Most of my Facebook friends know that I am an old Union man and Democrat- that I supported Obama for “Change”, and even voted for Obama in Hood River, Oregon where I celebrated in the streets with thousands of happy people. It was a time both exhillerating and full of hope. I know better than to place too much confidence in the “flesh”, especially political flesh. Nonetheless, I was hopeful- hopeful that this time Democracy would really work.

The report from the Census Bureau points out the difficulties that occurred in America following the 9/11 atrocity and, unfortunately, on George W. Bush’s watch. I am uncertain that things would have been any different under Al Gore. I’d like to believe that children and the poor would not have been forsaken nor would the importance of clean air and water have been relegated to peripheral damage. Even at that, I can only guess.

My concern is that it seems as though special interests have way too much say ($$) in what the government ends up doing under any administration. No political party is going to be able to say “no” to billions of dollars. That is what makes “the world” go ’round. For that reason, we are all left dissatisfied by the direction our government takes. Yet, we take out our disappointment against one another. “Brother against brother and mother against daughter.” We are being divided by something which is so much a part of “the world”. We know better than that! That we need to unite and then we could do mighty works to “change” the future. But divided? Well, it’s probably too late to save “tomorrow”, if that is our final answer.

I know that I’ve taken everything too personally and too seriously regarding our national “leadership”. I have made statements on Facebook (to my friends, for Christ’s sake) that were neither kind nor fair and for that I ask forgiveness. I do not wish to participate in adding any further rancor to this situation. At the same time, I continue supporting and believing in my UNITED States of America and in the “Leadership” which I helped elect and continue to pray for. I still hope for a better future for my America.

My question is: “Can we still be friends”?