“Silence implies consent.” “Not to decide is to decide.” I’ve been thinking recently about these two statements. The rhetoric of our nation has descended into a morass of hate and fear. Whether you call it politics, idealogy, conservatism, liberalism, ethnicity, race or any other term you might want to opt for, it is disintegrating our nation and pitting us one against another. “One nation under God, indivisible…” is becoming a hollow mockery. Implied consent and avoidance by the majority of Americans of making a decision to take a stand for decency are allowing the destruction of the foundations of our nation. Silence is losing its luster and is allowing hatred and ugliness to become the norm.

Whether I speak from a Christian perspective or just as an ordinary citizen, I cannot be silent any longer. I must free myself from the cocoon of indecision. The people we have elected to guide our nation have for the most part become like children on a playground. “What you did is worse than what I did!” “You said it first!” We have two political parties marching in lockstep in total opposition to the other party and refusing to think in terms of what is best for our country. If one party is for it, the other party is required to oppose it even if it is something that would be good for the nation. Integrity and morality are becoming harder and harder to find. Tolerance and openness are declared to be universal, but in reality are extended only to people who agree with us. Honesty is going the way of the dodo bird. Political choices are becoming based on hatred and disdain for anyone who is not part of my group. Whether in print or vocalization the newsitorials tell us what to believe and who to despise. The reporting of news too often becomes a rant about how we should react to the latest incident.

No longer can responsible people sit on the sidelines and watch. Neither can we join the factions of abhorrence and disgust and dress it up as standing for what is right. It is time for us to stop letting other people tell us how to think and no longer mimic the behavior of people who have lost touch with the basics of decency. We must find ways to interact with people who are different from us and find ways to break down the divisions that are beginning to encapsulate us. It must start with relationships in our families, neighborhoods and workplaces. Then, we must search for and elect people who are not afraid to hold to strong beliefs and at the same time interact meaningfully with people who disagree.

Edmund Burke said it well.  “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”