Beautiful Old Broads vote to be vocal

Dear Ones,

The media natters on and on about how divisive our population appears.  They stress the fact that we’re contentious.  It’s one of their favorite topics. We all look around guiltily and nod our heads. Yes we do seem to disagree on many fronts. 

 Well, good for us, I say.  We are only following in the footsteps of our august forefathers…and mothers. Just take a long look back in history.  Exactly when was that period when we all held hands and sang “Kumbaya”???

 Not at the birth of our democracy when the original 13 colonies absolutely abhorred the idea of a federation. It was only after much wrangling and debate that finally in 1789, our Constitution was ratified and slowly we began to pull the oars of government together.  But then came the civil war and states jumped ship. And in the 1850’s the senate was deeply conflicted due to the slavery issues.  So much so that on one occasion Senator Foote from Mississippi drew a pistol in self defense when the burly Senator Thomas Hart Benson came rumbling down the aisle. Open carry was NOT an issue.  Wisely, Vice President Fillmore quickly adjourned the session that day and the two senators quickly cooled and apologized.

Not in the years before WW1. There were riots and strikes early in the century and then there was bitter disagreement on whether we should be involved “over there”.  Leave them fight their own wars, many said.

Not in the late thirties.  Though FDR wanted to stand beside England, the American people were, as usual, divided.  It wasn’t until Japan invaded and Germany declared war on us that we united in defeating Japan and Hitler.

History shows that we Americans are noisy, opinionated and outspoken.  And so we should be.  How sad if we were silent and complacent or if we stopped caring about issues or were afraid to debate topics.  Yes, maybe the media is correct in saying we do disagree more often than not.  However, one of the Latin meanings for dissension is to think.  So hopefully Americans will continue to think, to care, to stand up and voice their opinions and to argue for ideals close to their hearts.  I say…good for us.   History also shows that when we do decide to stand together, we are a powerful nation.

            “A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough

             to take everything you have.”             Thomas Jefferson