The Difference Between 200 and 250
I remember 1976 vividly. I was 16 and part of our world championship band, the Largo Band of Gold. During the bicentennial, we were the official parade unit of General Telephone (used to be a big company). We marched in parades all over central Florida: Ocala, Tampa, Fort Pierce, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and most memorably, Venice. At the time, Venice was the winter headquarters for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus. Each year, the town held a big parade to celebrate the beginning of the circus’ annual tour. It was one thing to march after the horses in a parade; marching behind the elephants took things to whole different level. If you don’t understand what I mean, then you need to attend a parade.
Our Band won the National Championship that year; it was pretty cool to be the best high school band in the country during the bicentennial. People seemed to get in the spirit of the birthday of America. Our town painted the fire hydrants red, white, and blue. The dogs didn’t seem to notice. Churches presented patriotic musicals and sermons proclaimed that God had indeed blessed America.
The TV networks (there were only three then) had coverage from 6 am to midnight on the 4th. We saw pictures of tall ships in New York Harbor and went out ourselves to see fireworks shot out over the Gulf. That summer, we seemed to shake off the lethargy of Watergate and feel good about ourselves again. I don’t remember anyone talking politics that day; Democrats and Republicans simply identified as Americans.
This year, our 250th birthday, I have seen no fire hydrants painted red, white and blue. There were fireworks, of course, but few parades. The news sources (now there are thousands) reported on events, but commentators quickly descended into debate about whether the Great American State Fair was drawing big crowds. Partisan bickering did not slack off; we seem more divided than any time since the Civil War.
A few years ago, I heard Brene’ Brown cite a study which showed in 1976 most neighborhoods were fairly divided between Republicans and Democrats. There might be disagreement about our politics, but people knew each other. It’s hard to demonize your neighbor when they helped you pick up limbs from the last thunderstorm, or taught your kid in school, or watered your plants when you were on vacation. The same study showed by 2016 Republicans lived in neighborhoods with mostly other Republicans and Democrats lived in neighborhoods with mostly other Democrats. Instead of the United States, we speak of blue states and red states.
People my age can wax nostalgic about the way things were. Many ask, “What can we do to get our country back on the right footing?”
I know this sounds pompous, but I know the answer. The answer is not to defame others, or to vow to stamp them out. The answer was given to us by Jesus: Love your neighbor as yourself.
That’s not as easy as it sounds. To love someone means I put them first. I listen. I respect. I am gentle. I am kind. This is why I believe the way of Jesus teaches us the best way to be “…one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”
If you truly love this country, you will stop blaming the other side for all your problems, and start asking, “How can I love my neighbor today?” You will need God’s help. The good news is he wants to help you.
I have two grandsons, with a third to arrive any day. They will live long enough (I hope) to see America’s 300th anniversary. On July 4, 2076, I hope they will live in a country that is united in an effort to love each other as Jesus loved us.