“Jesus knew their (Pharisees) thoughts and said to them: ‘Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.’”

Oxford NIV, Luke 11, v, 17
Excerpted by Abraham Lincoln on June 16, 1858, his House Divided Speech

There is no question that we the people in America are disturbingly polarized. Much has been written and pontificated by pundits that the tribalism of today has us on the brink of destruction. And as one who tends to exhibit some of the eager-to-please, let’s-all-get-along, golden retriever-ish friendliness and loyalty attributes psychologists ascribe to the middle child of a family, I am shaken by the amount of rancor. I prefer life in harmony and where there is conflict, I seek reconciliation. The divides that separate us are unquestionably significant. Politics, religion, race, socio-economic status, education, environment, inalienable rights (just what are they, i.e. is health care a right or a privilege?) are all bubbling at the surface.

So, on this crucial mid-term election day when the fate of our Republic is in the balance, if we are to believe the conservative and liberal pundits breathlessly opining on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC – and to a slightly lesser degree on various co-called mainstream media, why am I so hope-filled about the election and the future? Two things other than a naturally sunny outlook some might characterize as Pollyannaish: 1) I grew up in a house divided that is still standing strong and 2) I’ve read a lot of history.

Conventional wisdom is that politics and religion are topics best avoided if you want to keep your family, friends and business relationships. Our family clearly did not fear losing a family member. Dad was an FDR Democrat proud to pay social security, believing it helped secure his family’s future. Mom was a Republican who sat on the Election Board. They canceled each other’s vote every election (the exception to the rule was Harry Truman – neither liked him). They dutifully voted any way because voting was a precious liberty and a civic duty. Political views were exchanged in our household, but never was there a hint of acrimony. Conservative and progressive were merely two views of the same world. My family seemed to understand that the world needed progressives to make sure that we moved forward as a society and that we also needed to have conservatives to make sure we didn’t lose important values, traditions and policies. Compromise was not a dirty word as it is in political circles today.

Politics, civics and history always grabbed my interest. It was fueled by family discussions, scout leaders and a few outstanding teachers at De Soto High. In spite of my great respect for Dad, I gravitated toward Republican politics – until I heard Bobby Kennedy speak in Allen Field House in May of 1968. I was taken by his eloquence and passion as he espoused justice themes. My campaigning for him was brief as he was assassinated less than a month later. However, at the same time, I helped put Republican Bob Dole over the top in De Soto in his bid to replace Senator Frank Carlson. I joined the College Young Republicans as a freshman that year and campaigned in the Democratic stronghold of Wyandotte County for the Republican candidate for governor, Rick Harman.

I began seeing my party of first choice drift away from me in 1994 with the Newt Gingrich-led Republican Revolution and watched it sail further away with the subsequent Tea Party movement and its successor wing led by President Trump. Meaning no disrespect to any of the various iterations of the two major parties, I no longer self-identify as Republican, RINO or Democrat. Controversial Republican strategist Jeff Roe once said, “I only need to ask one question to know which party you’re with: ‘Are you liberty or justice?’” I proved the exception to his rule. I am equal parts liberty and justice, perhaps the stereotypical middle child. In my growing-up family, there was room for more than one party. Yeah, we fought some and argued some, but at the end of each day, we were together as one. In my American family, I see a place and a need for more than one party. We can still fight some and argue some – and at the end of the day, come together as one.

Our nation was founded on high ideals that it has yet to live into. We have experienced challenge and difficulties on an epic scale over the sweep of 200+ years. But a more prosperous and generous country is always hovering on the horizon, tempting us to stretch for something that today seems impossibly beyond our reach. But history tells us that the vitriol and division of now is nothing compared to that of earlier generations. Read about founding father Thomas Jefferson. He fought bitterly with John Adams but they made peace with one another in the end (lest we forget, his vice president killed his secretary of the treasury in a duel); the Jackson presidential campaign of 1828 was brutal and he came perilously close to the nation splitting during his administration; Lincoln presided over a nation engaged in war with itself; FDR dealt with the Great Depression and World War II; Truman left office with the highest disapproval ratings in the entire history of the presidency and now is regarded by historians as one of the top five presidents of all time. So take hope my fellow Americans, as I do, in the good of your fellow citizens that simply go about their business, performing acts of kindness, generosity and heroism every day. And trust that this electorate of your neighbors will right the ship of state even though it sometimes seems to be crashing ashore. Perhaps it will be in this election, or the next, or the next.

Identity Categories

Stage of Life: Baby, Boy Toddler, Child, Teen Male, Man, Kindergartener, Pupil, Student,
Adult, Senior citizen

Family/Relationships: Son, Brother, Nephew, Cousin, Husband, Uncle, Father, Parent, PaPa,
Friend, Boy friend, Acquaintance, Stranger, Employee, Coworker, Colleague, Mentor,
Volunteer, Officiant

Career/Work: Newspaper boy, Farm worker, Gas station attendant, File clerk, Assembly line worker, Weed crew worker, Construction worker, Retail liquor store sales, Retail advertising and marketing director, Hotel marketing director, Hotel public relations director, Creative, Writer,
Designer, Content Provider, Entrepreneur (marketing communications agency), High school track coach, High school XC coach, Nontrepreneur, Retiree, Substitute Teacher

Affiliations/Community: American, Kansan, De Soto native, Christian, Methodist Church, Seeker, American Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Child of God, Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Boy Scouts of America, Democratic Party, Republican Party, RINO, KU Jayhawk, UDK Advertising Staff, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, University of Kansas Alumni Association, Plaza Club, USA Track & Field

 Aspirations: Farmer, Tycoon, Millionaire, Olympian, KU Football Player, Astronaut,
Adventurer, Musician, Eagle Scout, God & Country Award-winner, Renaissance Man, Cattle baron, Lawyer, Accountant