For Unification’s Sake

Much has been said about the divisiveness in our country. Politicians, and we citizens, pontificate on how we need to “bring our country together” while in the same breadth pigeonhole folks as conservative or progressive, or an African/Hispanic/fill-in-the blank American. Want to truly lay the foundation for all Americans to feel as one? Here are some ideas.

Values -Talk to people about those things that make our country the “shining city on the hill” and one that nearly every other country aspires to in some fashion. Those bedrock American values are:

• God gave us our rights, not men
• the individual is supreme, and he/she is responsible for themselves
• government only exists at the behest of the people

Drop Pseudo Labels – Each of us is an American first and of some ethnic background a distant second. If I go to Italy, I’m no more Italian than someone from Iceland. I’m an American and I need to drop the hyphenation.

Call things for what they are and not what you want them to be – Science is science and no political correctness can change science. Twisting real things to fit an agenda demeans you and the cause celebre you are trumpeting. This will promote understanding and avoid dismissal of what might be a good idea.

Replace the 4 Federal holidays devoted to individuals/groups with “Great Americans’ Day” – on this Federal Holiday, say 9/11, every community can choose who they wish to honor. No more President’s (officially still Washington’s birthday), MLK, Labor, and Christopher Columbus days. Rather, let’s celebrate the millions of great Americans that have come before us. (It also cuts down Federal holidays from 7 to 4.)

Eliminate state sponsored holidays devoted to religion – Yes that’s right, no Christmas Eve or day off. If you want to give it off as a business, have at it but as a government declared holiday, NO! Take a vacation day Federal worker. It’s part of the, “the state shall not endorse any particular religion”.

Finally, encourage (require?) civil service – Provide “GI Bill” like support for service to our country. Include real international and domestic jobs that promote understanding of things that otherwise would be outside the immediate world from which we come. Programs already exist but they must be more focused and provide a net plus benefit to society.

It’s up to us and not the next guy/gal.