Although this song was written in 1967, it is very much a song for our times.
Hit the play button and really listen to the words.
Tune out the voices that sow discord among us and remember the truth of who we are; good people who never fail to open their hearts when it truly matters.
Let’s all remember who we were before they told us we hate each other.
Each morning, I turn on cable news to find out what is going on in the world. I flip through all the different news channels in an effort to expose myself to more than one point of view. I try to tune in to each channel for at least 15 minutes so that I have an opportunity to listen to several different personalities. Some days, those 15 minutes are as unnerving as nails on a chalkboard. News anchors have turned into political activists. Political pundits present opinions as facts. News stories are cherry-picked to support one narrative or the other. The hearts and minds of the American people are being influenced by a media which has lost its ability to present the facts without the bias.
Before leaving office as our nation’s first President, George Washington composed a Farewell Address to the people of the United States. He felt the need to impart his final thoughts regarding the future of the new nation. One of his foremost concerns was his belief that political parties would eventually divide and weaken the country. His words have proven to be a prophecy now playing out in today’s headlines.
What would Washington think if he could witness our current political climate? Political parties routinely incite discord among citizens in the hope of destroying the credibility and character of their opponents. Their goal is to further their own agendas. Politicians have forgotten that they were elected to represent the people — not the Democratic Party and not the Republican Party. Why then are we depending on partisan politicians to protect the legacy of America?