Politics Make Me Sad

I try not to become disillusioned with our country and what’s going on, but it gets harder and harder.  Forces beyond my control are making us more and more divided.  I still believe that the answer to many of our trouble is to figure out a way to get along, work together for solutions that are good for all of us.  However, we are so far apart I don’t know if that is possible.  

One of my biggest issues is when politicians use something that has happened (and seriously twist the facts) to further divide us.  A recent example:  the case of the “Little Sisters of the Poor.”  A group brought the lawsuit on behalf of the nuns and religious schools, yet, a Republican lawmaker said on Facebook, “The Administration has taken the "Little Sisters of the Poor," a group of Nuns who care for the needy in the community, to court to compel them to buy birth control (which violates their religious belief) or pay a huge IRS fine which will devestate (their misspelling, not mine) the ministry.”  This resulted in countless people rallying behind him and his conservative agenda, not bothering to read the facts of the lawsuit. 

I know there are examples on the other side, too, but this one was fresh in my mind because I just saw it.  I don’t want to dwell on the specifics of politics because I think there are problems on both sides of the fence, and as you might guess I am a liberal.  But both sides go too far.  Both sides are guilty of using the mistakes and missteps of the other side to further their agenda.  Yes, yes, I know that’s what politics are all about.  Are we really willing to let that destroy us?  Are we not still the greatest nation on earth?  Are we not still your best hope to live the life you want with opportunities that are found no other place?  Are we not still proud of the brave men and women who fight for our freedom every day?  Let’s all work together to make sure those men and women are still proud to fight for us.