Why Can't We Be Friends?

We were watching TV when an ad came on for a futuristic sci-fi movie. There were huge aggressive robots - people missing body parts and the sky was ashen gray with a thick layer of smoke between the earth and the sun. My husband pondered something like - “why do they always have to paint the future as so bleak- why can’t they paint it beautiful and peaceful?” And I thought how true that was. I can’t remember a movie that made it look as if all of the wars-all of the money spent on defense-all of the scientific and technological discovery and advancement-all of everything… ever seemed to lead us to a better place! How many of us hold this vision in our hearts-that the earth after we’ve gone - wherever we go- will be a beautiful, more wonderful place than how we’ve left it? If we are all supposed to be a hopeful tribe- how does this make us seem? Are we working toward a better, brighter future for generations to come-for the children of our children’s children-for the life and health of the planet- or are we just accepting the status quo-pouring plastics into the oceans- watching the tides rise as the polar bears cling to rouge icebergs hungrily floating in a rising sea?

I’m not one to share politics- but it seems our country is in trouble- two parties- (funny to call them parties) just fighting against each other. I know, I know let’s all hold hands and sing ‘Kumbaya’. But seriously who can even turn on the news without fear and disappointment at what the next months will be like leading up to November’s election? Does anyone out there truly feel a sense of camaraderie and hopefulness? Friendships have ended! There are countless best friends that no longer even talk to each other. Families and neighbors are at odds with each other! States and countries and the world seem to be in a constant state of turmoil and instability! If we have the tools for war – why don’t we have the tools for peace? And what are we expected to do- just sit by and watch? Go door to door with petitions that say what - let’s love each other? Let’s work together for peace?

I want to live in a civil world again- not them against us and us against them. I am happy to bring out my guitar and start a stirring round of ‘Kumbaya’. I don’t want to look at my friends and neighbors and draw the line between the Hatfields and the McCoys-to know who you are voting for and judge you based on your politics. We have become a country divided -not by different dreams or priorities-but by who is voting for whom. I think we all feel it daily-and as like magnetic poles- it is keeping us apart rather than bringing us together. And yet we are the UNITED States of America - we are all a family under one sky and we all want what is best for our world.

We have every right to ask our government to work for us- not pit us against each other. Enough of this partisan nonsense – what was it from Network- “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” Our politicians are making a pretty good salary with a lifelong benefits package to sit up there and oppose one another. We can never move forward if we are so stuck in this ridiculous round of ‘I won’t if you will’- ‘I’m not because you are’ - nonsense! They should ALL be working to bring us together – not to divide us.

I’m not looking to start anarchy - I just want to start the “Kumbaya” Revolution-let’s all be friends again and work towards a better future for all.