Our differences are no reason to hate

I have read many articles and opinion pieces over the years that condemn, but categorize, acts of violence by individuals or groups as being “not who we are.” We means us. Americans.

If we have any hope of unifying our country, we must admit that our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, widespread relatives, ancestors and friends include: immigrants, heroic veterans, tax cheats, liberals, small business owners, cancer patients, the incarcerated, givers, takers, sinners, saints, conservatives, moderates, the apolitical, CEOs and Social Security recipients. The variables are nearly infinite.

We Americans are peaceful and violent, active and indifferent.

The small minority of Trump supporters who encouraged or participated in the attack on the Capitol are Americans. The small minority of Black Lives Matter supporters who burned buildings and attacked a police station are Americans as well.

As are those, in both of those examples, who were true to their calling and nonviolent. Let us not pretend that we are all alike — willing and able to strive together towards some idealized and mythic unity.

But we can strive to recognize the humanity of those who are “estranged relatives” in our huge American family and not hate them.

Rick Dow

Bethlehem