In a social media post this past week I made mention of my disdain for national politics and called for everyone to pray for our state and local politicians. They need that more than anything. Much has been made of our southern border, a razor wire fence, and the mass migration of people crossing that border seeking a new life in our country.

I have read the thoughts of many about that border and those people. There have been those who quote the phrase “come and get it” and I have even seen some post about our state seceeding. There have even been those who have mentioned an oncoming civil war;.

My opinion may not be very popular, it may cost me friends, and if so, so be it. But…come on. get real.

The simple fact of the millions and millions of federal dollars that pour into our state is enough to thwart any real effort for us to leave the United States. The notion of a civil war is also nonsense.

What I would like us all to realize is a very basic tenant.

What ever happened to the notion of “Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” What happened to the beacon hand glowing of worldwide welcome.

For that matter, what ever happened to the precepts that all are equal in the sight of God and all are apart of a humanity that is deemed to be free, our sisters and brothers, and a part of a family regardless of skin color, ethnicity, and even religion.

My memory may be getting foggy in my older years but I am pretty sure that the Good Book calls for us to love all.

There is a speech at the end of one of my favorite movies that has always cut deep into my American spirit. I realize it is just a movie, but the speech speaks to me. A part of it says…

“America isn’t easy. America is advanced citizenship. You’ve gotta want it bad, ‘cause it’s gonna put up a fight. It’s gonna say, “You want free speech? Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who’s standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.” You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms.

Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.”

Those couple of paragraphs from a movie script always speaks to me, because it is true.

We are a country that prides itself on our freedoms. I for one am very glad we have them. But having them means living by and believing in all of them, and sometimes that can be hard.

So, if you are for secession, that is your right. If you are for or against new taxes. That is your right. If you are for or against school vouchers, that is your right. And, if you are for or against people from other lands coming here to have a better life, coming here so that their children have a better future, and coming here to escape the violence and poverty of where they came from, that is also your right.

Just remember, as Americans, everyone else has those rights too.