Sadly, we continue to witness senseless, random violence in our nation. In some cases, it is possible that some violence may be someone’s attempt to “right a wrong” of some sort. But the truth is, you don’t fix a nation by random violence.
It is true that our nation became an independent country through sustained violence of war. About two and a half centuries ago we, as a nation, organized and fought against a true enemy: a ruler of a nation–a ruler who wanted to control us and take from us, without consideration of our needs.
The Declaration of Independence makes it quite clear why our leaders at the time saw it necessary to separate themselves from Great Britain and its tyrannical king. As the British were already using violence against us by that time, it was also necessary for us to fight back to remove the enemy from our land and establish American sovereignty.
Their cause was to eliminate the oppression of our people by an outside force. But Americans terrorizing Americans is not a just cause. We may get ideas in our heads that we want to do something big and physical to make things better: Maybe round up all the bad guys and lock them up or engage in another civil war. But these are not long-lasting solutions.
For everyone’s security and safety, it may be necessary to detain those who are prone to violent actions, as an interim measure to provide some relief, while we make the cultural changes that can endure. Those changes need to happen inside all of us if we want a lasting national peace and unity.
Each of us must recognize and accept that our fellow citizens and even immigrants in our nation are not our true enemy. Our true enemies now are false doctrines and deleterious ideologies. They are ideas that hurt rather than uplift. They are actions that divide rather than unite. The true enemy of all of us is darkness in hearts and minds.
We all have some light in our lives, but we also have some darkness to get rid of. Of course, it may take time to change ourselves for the better–it won’t happen over night.
So let’s get started now to take actions to bring more light into our own lives and into the environment around us!
Be patient and kind with those around us–in every circumstance.
Be patient with the weak, the slow, the less intelligent.
Use our words to uplift, help, inspire, etc.
When correction is necessary, take the time to do it gently; harshness brings darkness.
Look for the good in those who are hard to deal with; it’s there if you look for it.
Learn to appreciate the good in and the contributions of others and find ways to express it.
Respect those who carefully strive to follow laws and rules and those who honor moral boundaries. They don’t deserve ridicule or hostility.
Give people the benefit of the doubt; you don’t know what’s in their hearts or minds or what they are dealing with etc.
Be willing to help others when you have the ability.
Forgive wrongs of others; hopefully, they’ll forgive yours as well.
Give truthfulness priority over agendas and personal advantage; lies, deceptions, fraud, scams, manipulation, etc. will never build a great nation.
Strive for honor and integrity in our dealings with others (at home, school, work, and everywhere else).
We’re doing this for our country. Not only for our country, though, but also for our families and friends and future generations.