"One nation, under God" - here are the words added to our pledge in 1954; words to contrast our nation with the evils of then Communist Russia; words that would justify too our young nation's belief coined as Manifest Destiny, the blessed Westward Movement, as well as progress from sea to shining sea. Add in the race for space, the landing of men on the moon and super-power dominance as well, not to mention the ability to destroy ourselves.
Regrettably, and despite technological advances saving millions, here perhaps is sad indication of so-called progress. And never mind who might have stood in its way or been disenfranchised, be they the enslaved, thousands of native peoples or other designated outcasts, oftentimes immigrants who could not or were not permitted to assimilate till generations evolved. And in these times, will the disparity between rich and poor grow wider still?
Sadly, and regrettably, these very words, "One nation, under God," have been employed to divide. No matter one's personal belief or lack thereof, we are no longer indivisible, but painfully divided and on so many levels and in so many ways. Are we no longer one nation under any god or belief system? Has the time come to bear witness to our still growing nation as undeniably guilty, guilty of not one but many Trails of Tears?
If so, how does a nation beseech forgiveness? Today, such trails tend to be far shorter - short trips to schools and baseball diamonds, nightclubs and concert venues and now even into the sanctity of newsrooms where every American hopes truth is the mission.
America might one day be delivered onto a new and far better shore. The pathway traveled we can only hope and pray as we as a nation mature, will be one experienced by all as both kinder and gentler. And may the pillars of civil society, not least of which is a free press - thank you Cape Gazette for the part you play as we journey onward - may these pillars be our guideposts. Let them steer us clear of the evils of fear- and hate-mongering, so aberrant though accelerating and leading inevitably to violence and bloodshed.
"Great land of liberty," we can and must do so much better.
Jeff Dailey
Milton
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