Words and consequence

America … Americans recently were treated to demonstrations by dozens, maybe hundreds, of persons who showed respect and honor for a man who served as President of the United States, George H.W. Bush. His career included many other government positions, as well as being a pilot during World War II, a career that nearly cost him his life.

Hasn’t it been inspirational to watch and hear his former colleagues, his family and even his political opposites speak words recognizing the positives this 94-year-old man lived for his country? The words they spoke also demonstrated the values of the speakers — simple words, but so meaningful. Take a moment and read a few of these words: poise, respect, decency, politeness, patriotism, decorum, pride, virtue, etiquette, courtesy, tact, stature, courage, manners, forgiveness, grace — words that do reflect their speakers’ values.

There are many other words, unfortunately, which reflect opposite values, words that too often are used by members of our society … many times used by opinionated news professionals (particularly television’s self-appointed experts). Those damaging and too-often-destructive words are also too often found in columns by some authors, in letters written by persons who show the writer’s inner being, and also in political cartoons which seldom depict a positive message. I recall seeing a wall covered with such horrible, mean, sometimes evil and destructive cartoons printed during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Those dozens and dozens of drawings never reflected the grace and stature and forgiveness which honestly would have best described that man who held our nation together. Have you ever wondered, would the Reconstruction of the South following that war have been totally different had Lincoln not been assassinated? Would our nation have evolved in a more calm and forgiving direction?

There are two words not listed above that could easily define their collective meanings, words that would best describe the bulk of the American people during the recent days, simple words: DIGNITY and CIVILITY. Both seem to have lost their meanings in recent years, words too often trashed by speakers and writers who have also trashed compromise and consideration needed to better serve the future of our Republic. Words that also are filled with self, ego and that horrid word, revenge. Remember that word? Revenge … that too often blends into Hate.

Could the same be said concerning our immigration laws which have been altered, butchered and often ignored? Look where it has gotten us. Surely no thinking person opposes welcoming those who honestly apply legally… not those hundreds, yes thousands, who swarm toward our borders. Words on our famous Statue of Liberty read, “Send us your poor…” But that was at a different time of our history; we were a mostly unsettled nation which welcomed persons who really, really wanted to settle here, to work, to contribute, to strive to be productive residents and citizens. Has what was then our “melting pot” become a cauldron of … can you name it?

Isn’t it time that all of our elected Reps and Sens get off their re-elect-me perches, abandon their personal prejudices and become the patriotic persons, not the political plops … and solve this problem which is of their doing? It has nothing to do with race or gender or any of those other descriptive words which separate the politicians from the patriots.

As divided as we are today, have you wondered if our nation would/could have been formed with today’s instantaneous communications and the lack of individual pride in being an American? … How about a crowd watching a parade and, as the flag goes by carried by a veteran who has fought to preserve our freedom, only one or two and sometimes even fewer take their hands from their pockets and instead continue talking and laughing? What thought must cross that retired vet’s mind as he ponders the lack of patriotism that is all too common? We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? Where are we, Americans? The ball is in our court.

May those two simple words, DIGNITY and CIVILITY, become the watchwords to help bring our nation back to the great America it was destined to be.

Change of subject. As this was being written, Mother Nature was planning another blow of snow and cold. But, we in Westside Eagle Observer country were spared an ice storm. Let’s hope for a return of a winter similar to the past three winters in these beautiful Ozark hills. Or, maybe, is she planning to tell us something?