Civility and Identity

We have a choice as to how we identify ourselves.  You can pick based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, political party, and an almost endless number of other characteristics.

Notice that our choice determines the nature and size of our clan.  If I identify myself as blue-collar, for example, I am likely to feel at home with others who share that category and may not be so comfortable with, or accepting of, white-collar folks.

The Presidential election is at hand.  Perhaps this is the most important time for us to identify ourselves first as Americans and to remember all that is great about this country.  We have so much to be thankful for.  We have such goodness to preserve.  How rare it is that each of us has a voice in who leads this great land.  How precious it is that we can speak our minds and protest what we don’t think is right.  How privileged we are to be free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.

We need to be careful to think about collective welfare and not just our individual welfare.  Please keep this in mind as you cast your ballot.