Are We Coming Apart or Will We Come Together?

Election Year 2016


It goes without saying that the 2016 Presidential election has become the most contentious, preposterous,  tumultuous, chaotic, ludicrous, divisive, uncivil,  nasty, disturbing, threatening,  depressing, embarrassing and sad time in our history. I wonder what other countries think of this process; I can only hope they are not listening, but it is hard to ignore.

 The 2008 election was historic for electing America's first African-American President. I felt hopeful that perhaps we had turned a corner, that we had finally broken down a barrier. In 2016 we could perhaps break the gender barrier by electing our first woman as President. Whether you agree with her policies or not, it would be a momentous event. But it is dispiriting, discouraging and depressing that it could be tarnished by the current rhetoric.

What will happen in 17 days when it is over and one candidate or another has been elected? In our country there has been a peaceful transfer of "power" since 1797 and it would seem that might be about to change, or is it all bluster and show? Is it an attempt to threaten or intimidate? Or is it a more insidious effort to incite some to rebellion or even violence? Or could it be something more innocuous, like an endeavor to garner publicity for some future venture?

I confess to having a great deal of distress regarding one of the candidates, but perhaps even more distressing is some of the discourse I have read by supporters of both candidates. It's a good thing to be passionate about your beliefs, but at the same time I think we all need to have the same passion for the right of others to have their own beliefs. Is it necessary to rant and rave and rail against "the other side"? I am probably living in a dream world wishing that we could have a respectful  passionate dialogue.

In all ways, this election is unlike any other in our 200 plus year history and I can't help but think that Lady Liberty is crying. After it is over will we come together in national unity or has the chasm too wide? I am worried.