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AMERICANS NEED TO PRACTICE UNITY, OTHERWISE WE WILL DIVIDE

By James A. Marples
We are living in very uncertain times. On Jan. 27, 1838, Abraham Lincoln gave an address before the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois. His subject was “the perpetuation of our political institutions.”

His most prophetic words were these: “Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”  Lincoln knew that together, as a citizenry, we lift each other up.  Divided, we fall.

That is probably where the wise remark “A house divided against itself cannot stand”.  For over 246 years, we have been the United States of America.  For a few years in Lincoln’s lifetime, a few of our States were the Confederate States of America.  Both were types of federal governments with a president, a congress, a supreme court, and both nations printed money and drafted men into military service.  Sadly, “we” were fighting against each other.  Much carnage took place on both sides.
Although the battle was seemingly “won”, and “one” government prevailed, we are still a nation experiencing the growing-pains that Lincoln talked about so long ago.
It is the duty of each citizen to be well informed, to not be hasty in judgment, but vigilant to seek the truth in all things.  That requires patience and a strong resolve.  We must do what is best, not just for ourselves, but for our neighbors, family, and friends.  Most of all, we must again seek the eternal wisdom of Almighty God so that good deeds may be done.
In all things, may we pray that “goodness” will prevail.

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