Last week I ventured into the “folly of politics” — this week I’d like to journey through the “state of us.” It seems to me, especially after a few sittings at the “table of mature men” in the morning-hours at Towne Fitness Club, that we live now, as we have always lived – in a state divided (no not Georgia – rather “state” being a position in time, age, education, and value of self). Those who sit at that intelligent-table embrace differing social views, have chosen political affiliation, possess opinionated solutions to life’s problems (all types of problems), with each accepting differing levels of “matters of truth.” How am I sure of this? Because I bring divide to that table – so hold me up as a prime example of one who lives in a state of confusion and divide (but only for most of the time).
Given the areas that divide us – I’ll always be divided from many but only for most of the time. What was that – did you just say, “Huh?” Re-read that sentence and once reread consider this: each human position (political, religious, social) changes with enhanced education, walking in another’s shoes, accepting personal fault and failure, and recognizing the impact of one’s personal position on the position of those around us. It’s changing the “divide” that allows us to understand and participate in humanities greatest of all statements: “this too shall pass”. Nothing fails the embrace of that statement – except this, change is dependent on choice – choice is dependent on action – action is dependent on being embraced by ‘truth’.
Given this truth (and truth it is) history is not alive, this moment is now gone and so changing what needs to be done must be a future act married to current action. Things that divide us (politics, religions, education, moral values, and the experience of life) keep us from changing – for example: believing in what you receive in an EMAIL as “truth.” If I send you an email stating that Mitt Romney is actually a Jihadist, an anti-American, salutes the flag with his left hand, and never wears an “American Flag pin” – would not the majority think “that’s just not true” – yet the majority of the tables’ mature men believe it of President Obama. To believe either is embracing the “divide.”
I am not intelligent enough (sigh) to provide the formula to resolve our divide – neither personal nor group divide. I do know however that the formula must contain the following: a care to be educated on the truth of issues, an awareness of what separates oneself from the majority of others, a willingness to change based on the discovery of truth, and – perhaps most importantly, the realization that the “we” will always be more important to the formula than the “me.” In simple conversation is oft found the complex problems that create divide – one of the greatest problems of life is “assumption.”
If the obvious is hidden by shadows of truth and lies – then assuming something found in an email must be true - gives proof to the saying that “assume makes an ass of u and me”. We are less than 100 days from our next election. This is an important election for this nation, indeed the world, for we are in dire need of an end to separation and divide. We must end our divide – I ask no more of you than I will ask of myself and that is this: vote for this nation – choose our next president by his actions, intelligence, and plans for the future. I am divided – but when I walk into that voting booth I will have done my homework and I’ll vote for the “plan of action” not the man, not his skin shade, not his religion, not his “faith beliefs”. I will vote for the person who I believe will best move us forward, not with the deepest concern being me – but with the concept and hope for the importance of ‘we’. Is it not true that – “we hold these truths to be self-evident.”
Thomas H. Hunkele of Troup County is a certified fitness trainer and president of Lakeside Fitness.
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