Never in the history of this great nation, have Americans been as polarized and angry as they are today.  That includes the time of desegregation in the South and the 60’s during Viet Nam.  In fact, the only time things were worse is when brother fought brother in the Civil War.  I for one am tired of it.  There is almost no one who sits in the center but that’s not the part that bothers me most.  What bothers me most is that neither side even attempts to form some kind of dialogue with the other. They are the same in their staunch resistance to understanding the other side

Extremists always display the same characteristics despite the fact that both believe they are unequivocally and without any question or thought, correct.  Their beliefs are the right and just ones and anyone who differs is wrong, crazy, evil or racist.  I dislike both extremes so intensely that at this point that I have for the most part dropped out of the discourse.  As an eternal optimist, I believe things will turn out the way they should.  My great faith in the Framers is the reason that I hold this belief.

But that is not the reason for writing this.  The reason I sat down to pen this is to challenge both sides to do some homework and learn the facts.  The facts do not and can not come from any forms of media whether it be TV News, the web or social media.  While I don’t agree with the method in which President Trump delivers his message, the media is biased.  All one need do is turn on MSNBC and then Fox News.  According to the former, he’s the Devil and according to the latter, he’s the savior.  This is a call to ALL AMERICANS.  Do your own homework.  Learn the facts by doing research.  Form your own opinions based on the record, not on what the media tells you. They are all slanted and Not in the business of being objective despite what they claim.

I have always written posts based on my knowledge, never what I’ve seen on TV.  Those are other people’s opinions and should NEVER become your own.  If you want to learn about this country, Read the entire Constitution and the Amendments.  If you aren’t aware that there are 27 Amendments to the Constitution and six other proposed Amendments that failed to win ratification, then you need to do some homework.  Read ALL 85 of the Federalist Papers.  Get it straight from the source, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay.  Yes they are very difficult to comprehend but at least you won’t be getting the Monarch Notes version of what the Framers intended when they started this great experiment. Read the writings of John Locke, and Alexis de Tocqueville to name just a couple of enlightened thinkers.  Gain real knowledge and then form opinions.  If you don’t like Donald Trump’s choices for his cabinet, do your homework and read about their records. Much or most of it is available.  But Stop taking the Media’s word for the way things are. You might find more things in common. Open your minds.  Speak to People, NOT Generalities.

As someone who travels all over the country, I can honestly say that most Americans are decent and want the same things; good jobs, good schools, a decent way of life and better lives for their children.  Focus on what unites us and not what divides us. Both sides are equally guilty of that.  Understand that while you may personally support a woman’s right to choose there are others who truly believe that life begins at conception.  You don’t have to agree but at least understand.  That’s how compassion and dialogue begins.  But often we so are blinded by our hatred and our distrust that we fail to see our commonalities as opposed to our differences.  It’s time for people on both sides of the aisle to sit down and learn about each other, you might be surprised. Please, listen to these words before it truly is too late and the divide becomes so great that it causes a permanent and irreparable tear in the fabric of this great nation.