In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue and “discovered” America. It was a big rock, with some inhabitants but not many by today's standards. That was the last time America was “discovered.” Ever since then, we have been creating and re-creating America. Come November 5, we will have another one of those moments where we will re-create America in our image for another four years. What we do in these four years will last far longer. We still bathe in the sunlight of freedom from choices made centuries ago. Future generations will live in the sunlight or darkness of the choices we make today. We will be discovering who we are on November 5, even as we are deciding America's fate.
At our best, no one is greater. We created the freest, strongest, most prosperous of nations. We invent things, make great discoveries in science, medicine, and technology. We create great literature, art, and music. We take care of each other. They gave us their huddled masses yearning to be free, and with them, we saved the world from the tyranny of Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. When we work as one – e pluribus unum – we are undefeated. When we break apart at the seams, we lose the magic. We have civil war, lynchings, book banning, push our natives aside and forget to be the stewards of this wonderful land our ancestors gave us.
Today we have divisions unlike any since the Civil War. We attack each other, distrust each other. Civil discourse has been thrown out the window. Truth seems not to matter. Lies get equal standing. Too many of us have lost faith in America. They believe our elections no longer matter. They think our democracy is a fake, that America is no better than its adversaries, Russia, China, Iran, where elections truly are fake. It's a lie Russia has been promoting for decades. We are the same as them. We ought to know better. America is not like those other places, and won't be unless we let it. If we no longer believe in our institutions, defend them from those who would tear them down, then soon we will no longer be great. Our enemies will have accomplished what they could not on the battlefield – destroy our faith in America.
On November 5, it will once again be our turn to put down the books and stop studying history for a moment to make it. When you vote, don't forget the magnitude of your decision. Your better angels will tell you to seek those who love and defend the free nation our forebears gave us. Ignore the candidates who seek to drive the wedge deeper, pit American against American, bad mouth America, tell us our free elections are as fake as Russia's or China's. They detest everything America stands for, think of America as a garbage pail. Our enemies will never defeat us, but our fears, anger, irrational rage, and lack of faith in our institutions may. Our enemies are hoping they will. Don't be mislead. Today, America is still the “shining city upon a hill......teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace...still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom.” Will we still be tomorrow? It's up to us today. Don't let anyone take that away, from you, your children, grandchildren and future generations who will inherit this land.
