(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding-Elvis Costello

It has taken me about  a week to begin to fully process the election results.  The social studies teacher in me has processed in historical quotes, but what I can’t get out of my mind is that this election must be a call to action for good.

As I watched the election results roll in last Tuesday, I felt like I was living in Germany in the 1930’s with a demagogue assuming power over people controlled by the media.  Joseph Goebbels, one of Hitler’s key advisors, once said, “A lie told one thousand times becomes a truth.” In today’s modern era of media, this is true more than ever.  And, Tuesday night, as I read all of my friends’ Facebook posts about moving out of the country, I felt more than ever that we have become a society immobilized by fear.  This reminded me of another quote from Nazi Germany by Herman Goering, “The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders…tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.”  Our citizens are being fed a line of fear whether we are told we are being attacked by Muslim extremists, political correctness at home, unfair economic conditions, etc.

While our media outlets and social media addictions are continuing to divide and separate us, I was reminded of Martin Luther King Junior’s quote, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”  Continuing to point out differences only serves to continue to divide us.  We cannot allow ourselves to become susceptible to these manipulation tactics.  We must act.  Franklin Roosevelt stated, “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely.  The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”  We must educate ourselves, and others, to reach a greater understanding among all Americans.

Whether you are happy or sad about the election, here are some things you can do to better educate yourself and better serve our country.

•  Stop continuing to talk about the “other side” and try to better understand people who believe differently than you.
• Stop falling prey to misinformation on the Internet.
• Be a better citizen in your community-volunteer, join a local board, attend city meetings, find out what is happening in your community and join in.
• Actively seek connections with people who are not like you.
• Learn about the Constitution, your rights, our system of government-why it was set up this way and how it has evolved over time.
• Donate to causes that are important to you.

I believe that by doing these things the citizens can regain control and get back to the ideals expressed by Abraham Lincoln that this country is “of the people, for the people and by the people.”