I published this post years ago. Sadly, it is just as pertinent today as it was on that day. I hope that you will read it and ponder it. LKW

On this day commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King and his birthday, I cannot help but think of the divisiveness that has taken over our nation over the last decade.  For a too large segment of this country, agreeing to disagree is akin to an accusation of murder. Differences of opinions are now regarded as personal attacks, and in some cases, may lead to such. Ironically, those who are the first to scream and shout if it appears that their First Amendment rights are even slightly infringed upon, are the very same individuals who shamelessly denigrate the beliefs and points of view of  others, as they champion their own. 


On a grand scale, there is no simple or quick fix to the angry, hateful climate that has been stoked and allowed to fester for more than a decade. We cannot look to the media, politicians, or anyone else for that matter, to address the problem, because in some cases, they participated in stirring the pot of discord that has infected this nation. The answer lies within each of us. Of course, there are a multitude of actions that we each can take to ensure that we are not part of the problem, but a part of the solution. One suggestion is to begin each day with this affirmation:

“Today I will attempt to see anything I am involved with from more than one perspective. If I feel myself getting stuck in the way I see things, I will say to myself, “I wish to see this differently,” and know that my sincere desire will result in a shift of awareness. There is really no one right way to see anything . To allow my point of view to shift will not only produce insight and relief for a particular circumstance but it will give me practice in letting my mind and move freely and independently. I will allow myself the luxury of relaxing my rigid point of view and letting new light and fresh awareness come into my inner sight. I believe that it is possible to see things in a variety of ways.”  ~Tian Dayton, Ph.D.

How you choose to deal with the problem is up to you, so long as your solution is positive, and does nothing to add to the rancor and divisiveness of the day. Listening and treating others and their point of view with the respect that it deserves, does not mean that we must change our point of view one iota, but who knows, we might learn something.  The important thing for the health of this country is that we “transform the jangling discord of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood,” as Dr. King envisioned. Blessings.