General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: America [View all]Martin Eden
(12,863 posts)Abraham Lincoln was speaking of the institution of slavery, saying that our country must become all one thing or all the other.
The institution of slavery was abolished but its foundation of racism, ignorance, and hatred was not. 400 years of slavery cannot be erased in 4 years of war. Hearts and minds take much longer to change. That battle, clearly, still goes on.
November 3rd 2020 might be a resounding victory for light over darkness, human decency over racism and hate.
But America will not become all one thing. Deep bitter divisions will remain. I don't know how long or what it will take to slay the Monster of Trumpism in all its manifestations. Will John Brown's prophetic last words come to pass again -- will "the crimes of this guilty land ... never be purged away but with blood"?
Martin Luther King said "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
The Monster will survive and thrive until Americans learn to love each other for what we have in common more than we hate each other for our differences. I'm agnostic when it comes to religion, but perhaps we should ask What would Jesus have us do?