Stronger as a whole

These are my thoughts and opinions. You have yours and may differ from mine; on that we should be able to agree. There is conflict when you try to force yours on me or I do the same to you. I try to follow “judge not lest you be judged,” and try to accept that you have a right to your opinion as much as I do.

For instance, I deplore socialism and see it as a threat to America, our Constitution and freedoms, and consider it an act of treason. That is my opinion; you may not agree, and that is your right. But we should be able to work together to make America a stronger nation. America works because we have differences of opinion but have been able to find a solution, not necessarily either one, but one that is better for America. We the people are America! We should work together to build a stronger union, not try to destroy it. We are stronger as a whole, made up of people of different nations with different customs, laws, religions and beliefs. Combining all that into one people is what has made America, I believe, the best nation in the history of the world.

We are not perfect, just as people are not perfect, but the good of the whole is the strength that has kept us free. Difference is our strength as long as we put the good of the whole ahead of the person and seek to make America stronger; realize we are all Americans and unite together for the good of all Americans. It will not be nor has it ever been easy.

Some would say I am a Southern-born, white male racist cracker. They are wrong; I am just one thing: an American. We wear coats of many colors, have different backgrounds, religions and different life experiences, which is what combines to make us all Americans. United we stand, divided we fall.

WAYNE KNOWLES

Shannon Hills