Destructive Course Must End

 The very nature of polarization and intransigence and our refusal to accept, in any manner, differing beliefs and points of view is crippling us.  This belligerence and adversarial thinking sparks disrespect and anger that all to often results in uncivilized and violent behavior.  Its ugliness is currently the major bane plaguing America.  There is nothing in the putrid history of bias that signifies a stronger more resilient environment.  What transpires is the opposite and which simply cannot work in America the single biggest melting pot of cultures in the world. 

This intolerance is nothing new to America. Irish, Italian, Jewish and black communities have all endure its pain. Yet knowing this has had very little effect in tempering the current hatreds.

Those of us who severed in the military during the Vietnam era where egged, spat upon and called baby killers.  

American Vietnam servicemen were once refused service at a drive-in restaurant simply because they were military personnel. Today we thank Vietnam veterans for their service.  Obviously and unfortunately, this is not the American direction today.  Today ICE agents are now being refused service.  

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1387699259471260

On January 3^rd a distraught patron at the Broadway performance of “Mamma Mia” went into a very vocal and public tirade over disruptions by audience attendees.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1460390159017198 

On January 7^th a woman was shot to death in Minneapolis by an ICE agent while departing the scene of an ICE investigation.    

https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/08/us/video/minnesota-shooting-ice-video-before-shooting-digvid 

We will never know the truth as to what really transpired in this shooting.  We are therefore left only with our own individual viewpoints to guide our thinking.  If those viewpoints are tarnished by tribalism, partisan politics or  hatreds then that thinking loses all credibility.  This is the result of what polarization and intransigence fueled by discrimination and bigotry produces. 

We must learn from the outcomes of the Irish, Italian, Jewish, black and Vietnam veteran hatreds and experiences.  We must clearly see that hatred does not unite us but serves only to polarize us. 

We must become repulsed by the awful destructive nature that drives much of the thinking in America today.  We must put an end to it; and only “WE THE PEOPLE” can do so.