A Waging Dialogue Clarion Call to Fellow Americans
(Note: contains semi-graphic depictions. This content originally was written in the summer of 2023, well-before the movie “Civil War” – #civilwarmovie – was released. Thus, this entry is not a direct response to the movie.)
Have you heard about the United States Civic Wellness Movement? It’s a growing phenomenon in United States history forged by everyone in America who is unwilling to let our republic’s current political malaise and mostly-manufactured malice drive our families and communities toward considering “civil war” and disunion. I’m guessing in good faith, dear reader, that regardless of any partisan leanings, that you are of a similar mindset and intent.
Folks like us at Waging Dialogue are part of the Frustrated, Fed-up Majority! That majority (approximately 86% according to More in Common) want to do the listening, sharing, and working required to maintain our “experiment in democracy” as a self-governing people.
WE are committed, fair-minded, and patriots of a different sort who will not allow the sacrifices prior generations to be blasphemed and carelessly discarded like yesterday’s trash, due to our present inability to get our collective act together and raise the respect, civility, and effectiveness bar in our political lives. As the owners and operators of our self-governing systems, we have every right to demand better of ourselves and our elected employees.
This starts with us – citizenry and residents. WE will not allow the memories of those who stood for: justice, civil rights, freedom, and liberty to be forgotten.
We intend to peaceably honor OUR inherited civic blessings and responsibilities! WE intend to uphold our part of the social contract per OUR preamble’s domestic tranquility and general welfare sentiments. So, we’re connecting and making a course-correction that will go down in the history books.
There are very few Americans who truly want the horrors of civil war inflicted on this country, because most people are willing to learn from history (the good & bad of it). From the grassroots on out, the US Civic Wellness Movement is a living, breathing “shout out” to our fellow Americans that “We hold these truths to be self-evident: civil wars suck!”
Picture it! If we go down that imaginary road of horror: all current problems will get worse; garbage will pile up and become rat and maggot infested; grandma won’t get her medications; forget day trips, vacations, and shopping sprees; you won’t be able to video game, ask Alexa, or get groceries; you can forget reliable cell service to text or Inst-a-cart/gram/whatever; you won’t be able to Google to find a bar or coffee shop to meet your friends; you’ll be terribly inconvenienced without water, food, and heat; children won’t go to school; children will be orphaned; the elderly will be abandoned; families will be homeless; theft will be common; terrorism will be a constant; rape and murder will increase; and, all around, people will be abused, suffer, and die! So, no. No, thank you. We the People are declaring that we will not be having a civil war. Or anything close to it!
And, the fact that we’re even hearing talk about civil war and secession amongst ourselves, or ANY elected employee or political camp is disgusting and, frankly, shameful. It 100% dishonors our veterans and people who serve OUR country in many forms and from diverse backgrounds. It‘s especially a kick in the face to our World War II veterans, who – believe it or not – still are cherished by their family and friends … regardless of who they did or did not vote for!
Thus, everyone who believes in what generations fought and died for needs to resist all calls for civil war and secession. The fed-up, frustrated majority is taking a stand to assert OUR constitutional right to maintain OUR domestic tranquility and general welfare! WE demand that right and reject civil war as an option. Any and all calls for such should cease and desist!
Americans have a long history of inventing and fixing things. If our Greatest Generation could face what they did to preserve democratic systems, then WE — as their children, grandchildren, friends, and neighbors — have an inherited duty to ensure that this Union stands! Does that fact need to be justified when we think about the full measure given to hold these states in Union and safe from tyranny in all forms?
So, let’s face it. It won’t be long until we start binge-watching shows that analyze us left-right-center-up-down-sideways, and backwards. Humans love to be entertained with stories of the past. We do it. It will be done to us. So, why not leave history with something better? Why not write a different narrative for ourselves and posterity?
We must STOP seeing ourselves as victims of “politiks” and political tribalism. We the People own and operate this republic. We make our political culture, because it’s OURS to define – here and now — it does not belong to any party, celebrity, or cult of personality. Let’s tell the story of the No-longer Silent Majority who took a stand and said “enough!” Let’s have some serious (and not-so-serious) conversations simply to get to know each other again as Americans.
The good news is that there are tons of people already at work! Through this grassroots up-swell, a new style of patriotism is growing.
We know from history — let alone everything we entertain ourselves with (or should I say bombard ourselves with) — that our current toxic political narrative can no longer be ignored or tacitly endorsed. We need innovation on the political front. Plus, we’re as bored -as we are disgusted and harmed- by how tribal toxicity has polluted our political culture. So, let’s change the channel to a 21st-century style of patriotism – one that allows the majority of us to feel a reasonable pride, without forgetting history’s injustices and lessons.
If you’re ready to rise to this civic challenge, come and meet friends and neighbors who value country over party and are embracing civic forgiveness as an act of patriotic duty. Check out Citizen Connect and the Listen First Project. There, you’ll meet others of similar resolve, find resources, and be welcomed to the table no matter who you are, where you live, or how/if you vote.
Together, WE must remember our patriotic hearts! We must say “STOP” to that which seeks to destroy e pluribus unum. It’s time! Using the philosophy, mindset, and techniques of Waging Dialogue, let’s DIY our republic; not destroy it. Are you ready to serve? If so, please contact us to learn more!