Opinion : Letter to the Editor: Patriotic Christmas Wishes

You were all warned that I would be giving the gift of my opinion for Christmas this year.

The United States is the greatest country on Earth. Many are calling for radical change and demonizing the very concept of the freedoms granted to citizens of our great republic. Maybe you don't think our country is so great right now. I think the fact that the United States has the largest population of foreign born residents, by sheer volume and percentage of population, proves we are still the greatest nation on Earth. The peoples of 193 other countries would not be risking everything, including their lives, to move to the United States if this were not the case.

The constitution and bill of rights grant United States citizens the power to create change and hold our public servants accountable. We citizens must take time to step back, breathe, and reassess if we are to wield this power effectively. We must reacquire the ability to diplomatically hold difficult conversations. Generations of Americans have been brought up under a construct of social interaction which has imparted the belief that it is inappropriate to discuss politics or religion in most gatherings. I am sure when this restriction of the tongue began to become the standard of etiquette; it seemed like a grand idea. However, this concept has led to a nation of men and women plagued with the inability to hold a rational, fact-based discussion on contentious topics.

The mere fact that we disagree on topics we hold vital to our existence does not mean I think you are uneducated or consider you to be my enemy. In recent years, I have deliberately tried to expand my sphere of social interaction to include individuals with whom I have great differences of opinion. This has created a change in the way in which I view my fellow Americans. It has helped me to realize we Americans are closer together on most issues than we are lead to believe. Once the labels and preconceived notions are stripped away and we consider an individual's position in light of what they hold most dear, we realize on many issues we are striving to reach the same goal, but have different beliefs on how we can best reach said goal.

In my opinion, the growing divide among the people of our nation is generally caused by uninformed individuals. We have abdicated our responsibility to be informed finding it easier to take a stance based on broad generalizations, poorly conducted research, and out of context statements. This malady is not without a cure. I encourage each and every one of you to slow your response to any particular issue and not provide your thoughts until you know the facts. Once you have the facts, then and only then, should you provide a calm, fact-based response with the full understanding that two different individuals may in fact look at the same set of data and draw two different conclusions based on their own knowledge, education, and life experience. It is only through this model of rational discussion that Americans may once again return to a time of impassioned discussions that ensure unity while securing beneficial change.

Our great nation was founded to provide liberties to the oppressed in the face of tyranny. Throughout our history, men and women have sacrificed their lives in defense of our freedom. These freedoms are priceless and should not be sacrificed upon the altar of stubbornness or sloth. So here it is, the opinion you were promised: Each and every citizen of these great United States must decide what he or she is willing to die for. What is so valuable that he or she would pay for it with their very life. I made that decision years ago. As such, I must live my life according to one single creed- Honor God, love your family, and defend your country.

Merry Christmas,

Chris Cantrell