In 1977, Leonard Nimoy, better known as Spock from Star Trek, began hosting a very popular television show entitled, "In Search Of". Millions of truth-seeking, puzzle-solving Americans tuned in to watch it, and I was one of them. "In Search Of" captured the imagination of the viewer because each program conducted investigations into unsolved mysteries, events that defied explanation, and even attempted to find solutions to the highly controversial topics of the day. Often, it featured episodes about important historical events offering up odd yet intriguing theories as solutions. As a result, each episode's opening credits included a verbal disclaimer about the "conjectural nature of the evidence and theories to be presented." Today I want to go "In Search Of" answers to THE most volatile issue of our day. This subject includes both controversy and conspiracy; carrying tremendous potential for disagreement and derision. And as I attempt to unravel this riddle, I offer no disclaimer because I know for sure that I have found the answers needed to solve this mystery. The subject I invite you investigate with me is this: In Search Of: Finding Unity in America after the Presidential Election of 2016. Trying to solve this while at the same time satisfying all parties included in the conflict will take great dexterity as a writer, and patience and understanding on the part of each reader - - it's a dangerous undertaking for we are a divided nation. We are split right down the middle and this split has turned toxic! Anger and recrimination abounds. In fact, one of the main reasons I have decided to discuss this is because a friend recently messaged me with this plea: "Honestly we need to find a way to unite our country!...I'm being called horrible names bc I supported Trump!...I am losing friends simply because of an election...My heart is crushed." Good hearted Americans of both stripes are at each other's throats; a civil war of ideas and ideals has erupted. The dark clouds of debate have formed into a massive storm of relational division. Forget death by cannon and musket fire, the weapons we now wield are ridicule and intolerance. And it is killing us. I am going to attempt to offer a solution. As a pastor I realize, and have been told very directly, that my job is to, "show love to others who feel hurt, broken, fearful, vulnerable, and, yes, even angry. Rather than attack back or become defensive, we need to try to put ourselves in their shoes and meet them where they are at, as Christ did that for us.... be a vessel of communication for Christ to demonstrate that each and every person has worth and value". So, beginning from this conciliatory starting point, I present my case. I ask you to hear me out and I also guarantee that if tried, this solution can bring those who are far away close enough to at least have a productive conversation...that is of course, if you want more than just having your side win? UNITY REQUIRES 2 THINGS FROM YOU & ME (1) Stop Condemning the Other in such Absolute Terms. Yesterday, I read an article written by Jamelle Bouie, a left-leaning journalist, that started with this headline underscore, "People voted for a racist...they don't deserve your empathy." Commenting on this statement another journalist noted, "In other words, not a single person -- more than 60 million fellow citizens -- can be forgiven or excused for casting a ballot for Donald Trump. Each and every one of them (including millions of racial minorities, it must be said) did so for unacceptable reasons, rendering them unworthy of empathy. Ironically, this is precisely the sort of 'dehumanization' leftists constantly and often hysterically lament; a right-wing phenomenon they perceive around every corner." But this same kind of venom is also being used by those on the right as well. Listen to this statement by journalist Kurt Schlichter, "Far be it for me to help out you terrible Democrat clowns by suggesting that your terrible party has a terrible problem and you might want to figure out how to fix it. Sure, Hillary did get a lot of votes. Maybe even a majority of votes. And, considering we are not a democracy but a constitutional republic, of equal relevance is the fact that I own a hat. You lost. And it’s because you suck." Wow, both sides are standing their ground, fists raised, slinging out insult after insult trying to prove their superiority, and refusing to give an inch! When we use such absolute, unbending terminology it will always bring us to a logical "impasse." Unity between two uncompromising belligerents is not only impossible, but it makes for perpetual conflict. Some of you will say to me, "But I hate everything about that man! He is a hater!" Don't you see the contradiction in your confession? Another "impasse." Some of you will say, "But what do I tell my children about this man -- I am embarrassed and have nothing good to say?" Tell me, what do you tell your kids about JFK, MLK, & William Jefferson Clinton? Do you tell your children they are serial philanderers or men who have done great things for the cause of progress? If you only see the negatives when talking about Donald, again, you will arrive at the inevitable "impasse." So, if you want to have any chance at UNITY, stop being so absolute. (2) Start living by Romans 2:3. It reads, "So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?" The New Living Translation says this, "Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?" What does this mean? Simple, at whatever point you judge someone, if you have ever done the same things, you are going to be judged. You may view yourself as innocent as you sling arrows of disgust at the other, but you more than likely are just as guilty. Watch how this works as one astute writer points out: "It's not true that all white people are racist. Of course it isn’t true. Again: stop being ridiculous. You can’t take some random sin or vice and assign it to an entire group of people based solely on their skin color. In fact, do you know what it’s called when you accuse everyone in a certain racial group of possessing some negative characteristic? Racism, by definition." What you ascribe to a whole group of people will often bounce back and bite you. Another word for that is hypocrisy. Again, Donald Trump is said to hate women for a tape that recorded him in a private talk. I agree it was reprehensible. However, what if there was audio tape ready to be released to the public on all of your private conversations? Would you be nervous? Would any of us be innocent? Secondly, how can the left point the finger at the right and their supposed "war on women" when Hollywood and the Hip hop culture on the left does nothing but promote female objectification? I don't think the actors on the right produced "Dirty Grandpa" and "Ted"? The left did that. Did you know Beyoncé was stumping for Hilary during the election? She has done more for the degradation of women than anyone I can think of in recent memory. Listen to some of her lyrics...on second thought, forget it. Just looking them up makes me feel soiled. One more thing I have noticed in this debate, the most vocal group about the disparity of opportunity in our country are the NBA coaches and players. This group which bemoans the lack of opportunities available for African Americans make more money and have been given more recognition than any man could ever dream. It was this country, and the marketplace ideal of meritorious earning, that gave them this life. That is what Trump will promote, and that is what the NBA should want for us all. All of us must be careful standing on our own moral high-horses as we judge the motives of others. Because those same motives move us. In conclusion, I think America is more UNITED than we could ever think. I have lived in Eastern Europe and have seen economic stagnation first hand. America, at this moment in history, is nothing like Europe. In fact, heavy handed socialism is not what is best for any of us. I personally think both those on the left and right get that. I think we all want to see the same things happen for all Americans: the hungry fed, new houses built, salaries increased, safe neighborhoods for kids, job opportunities for all races expanded, educational excellence, religious freedom, and personal peace. How we get there is what the give and take of political debate is all about. For the last 8 years the democrats won that debate, they had their chance to implement their policies born out of their idealistic Keynesian economic philosophies. For the majority of America, those policies and philosophies really didn't seem to work...so now we have collectively by an election, decided to give Trump a go at it. It's his turn. All we ask is that the media and professional provocateurs let the national funeral ceremony that has been going on for the last week cease so we can move on. If he fails, vote him out - - but please let's be civil toward one another in the meantime. I think the search for UNITY is not that big of a mystery after all - - we can get there. And then once we finish with this political mud-slinging, we can hopefully get back to investigating the important stuff again...like looking for Bigfoot!
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