My State of the Union (with a dash of Charlie Kirk)

Once upon time, there was a belief that we, the people, would grow stronger as a society. As we made our way through the years, we would correct the mistakes of past generations. Our differences would eventually be molded into amiable place for all sides. In the end, we would leave the world a little bit better than we found it.

That plan seemed to be working for many generations. But somewhere along the line, we found a fork in the road. And it appears that we took the wrong path....

Our country is now in a "us versus them" dilemma. The mentality is to pick your team and fight the other team until the clock runs out. Compromise seems to be a lost art that no one wants to even consider anymore.

The recent assignation of Charlie Kirk only poured gas on the fire. While there are many on "the other team" who vehemently disagreed with Kirk's views, I think we should all agree that killing someone over their political views is wrong. Period. Kirk's murder was horrific in itself. But what's also horrific is the number of people who actually celebrated it. This is a glaring example of what's wrong in America today.

The constant barrage of emotional posts on social media only increases the temperature on the political divide. And the news media is just as bad as they slant their reporting to support "their team". The goal is to ignite the powder keg in an effort to get more viewers or subscribers. And the American people are the collateral damage left in the rubble...

Cell phones and social media have done so much damage to our society. The problem is not only the biased news reports, but also the slew of misinformation and lies that infect our minds. Just scroll through Facebook and you'll find that half of the posts aren't even true. And the majority of people won't take to the time to verify it. 

Part of the issue today is that we spend way too much time on our electronic devices and not nearly enough time talking to each other. And this poison has infiltrated it's way into our kid's lives. Their young minds are being formed by so much of the nonsense that they are being fed through these devices. A few months ago, Charlie Kirk said, "Kids spell love T-I-M-E". Let that sink in for a moment....

I have mentioned Charlie Kirk because, yes, I am very upset about his senseless killing. In the aftermath, I was left furious (which I still am, by the way). I often let my emotions get the best of me and say things in the moment that I regret later. At 60 years old, I am still a work in progress. Just this morning, Tina, who is always my voice of reason, told me that anger and a knee-jerk reaction was exactly what the "other team" wanted. And she's right. 

I also ask myself, "What would Charlie do?"

I think that Charlie did things the right way. While you didn't have to agree with him, at least the man was willing to sit down and have a conversation with you. And what's wrong with that?

Most people know that I have mostly conservative views. But like Charlie, I have had my share of conversations with people who see things another way. In the end, we all found a way to get along and live/work together in a positive way. The key is to have a civil dialogue. While there will be times that we ultimately have to agree to disagree, we will at least know a little more about where people are coming from.

So, now we're at a crossroads....Do we double down and go even harder at each other? Or do we do a complete reset and try to move forward as a country?

Frankly, I am tired of the two-teamed country that we've become. My core beliefs and values, like most of you, will remain the same. But can't we find a way live in one America? At the very least, we should try. If not for ourselves, for our kids, grandkids and future generations. 

If you do one thing today, be nice someone. It might inspire someone else to do the same. Trust me, it does the soul good....

kw