Our Better Angels

           In 1861, Abraham Lincoln knew that his country was facing terrible divisions among a citizenry that was tearing itself to pieces over events that would lead to what became the Civil War. As President, in his First Inaugural Address he reminded the people that “we are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.” He pleaded with them to heed the “better angels of [their] natures.” They did not, and we experienced the greatest loss of life the United States ever suffered during any of its war experiences because we were killing each other.

Better Angels today....

Are we paying attention to our better angels today? We should be. As citizens we find ourselves at odds with great segments of ourselves when we should be remembering that we are all part of the common good found in our democracy. This is not the 19th Century, nor the 20th. This is the 21st Century, and we are part of a country that President Ronald Reagan once described as “a shining city on a hill.”

"We are not enemies, but friends"...

We already know about our worst angels when we view one another with deep suspicion and even hatred. This is no way for Americans to live with each other in our democracy. If our leaders will not assist us in creating that “more perfect union,” we, the people must lead. Lincoln was right in saying that “we are not enemies, but friends”

We absolutely need to live as friends…with as much love as possible.