How do we come together?

There is a song that occasionally pops up on my media stream that resonates with me regarding the current political climate. A particular politician’s image comes to mind. If you listen to it, you may or may not arrive at the same image. Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” was released in 2008. Perhaps the band had a crystal ball that led it to create this prophetic tune.

At times when it’s playing, I contemplate running for president in 2024, just to put an end to all this divisive rhetoric, finger-pointing, hatred and distrust. Have I ever held an elected office before? No, but then I wouldn’t be the first president to do so. I have no ambitions of shredding the Constitution and installing my own autocratic government to subjugate America’s citizens.

There are a number of elected officials (federal, state and local) who go beyond expressing their ideology and instead force it upon their constituencies by passing laws that do not reflect the majority’s will of the people.

One of God’s gifts to humanity was the gift of free will. The framers of the Constitution were heavily influenced by Christian-Jewish beliefs. However, our forefathers recognized and respected God’s gift of free will and put it in the Constitution’s separation of church and state. Government officials might express their ideology, but they can’t force it upon the people.

Whether or not I run in the 2024 presidential race is inconsequential. However, in order for this great social experiment we call democracy to survive, drastic changes need to be made. Not just by the political assembly, but by all Americans. We all must come together as one body, heart and soul. We need to reach past the boundaries of empathy and truly feel the pain and sorrow of others as if those were our circumstances. Only then can we administer compassion.

Likewise, when there is cause for celebration, we should all rejoice together as one. Leave behind any pride or jealousies over another’s accomplishments. When we rejoice as one, the accomplishment belongs to all of us.

If we can make this happen, not only will this great experiment heal, but it also will thrive for millenniums.

Viva la vida!