As we face more and more challenging and uncertain times — troubling to a level we have not previously experienced — we see opinion after opinion shared across various platforms. It is a situation that creates emotional responses from different viewpoints.

This presents a challenge as one tries to weigh in because we want to heal and not contribute to more division, but in trying to put words together I look to the importance of having a vision or pursuing a vision for our future, which seems so appropriate as we’ve recently celebrated Martin Luther King Day, a person who inspired so many with his words (i.e. “I have a dream.”)

His courage to act peacefully in the face of hate and prejudice was inspirational. Ours may not be a perfect union, but it’s the greatest union of democratic life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for every person that has been created and what has inspired me.

It’s then hard to stay silent in the face of a lot of hate, violence and loss of life. We shouldn’t stay silent when we see good people lose their life because they care — one who provided care and compassionate nursing support to veterans. It is so un-American and we should all be concerned about what we’re seeing play out in Minneapolis.

As we’ve reflected on the Martin Luther King celebrations, it’s appropriate to recall much of what he led and experienced that mirrors much of the rhetoric and actions we are seeing and experiencing recently. King said people would demonstrate with respect and do so peacefully. He wanted to inspire a dream for us all, and today we have made progress but still have much work to do and progress to achieve.

THE POWER OF OUR HISTORY

In the 1960s, King led the Civil Rights effort and chose to peacefully demonstrate, inspire change and show support through painting a picture of a future we all could aspire to. It was a dream for every person, for every child, where equal opportunity for all prevailed. In doing that, he was subjected to hate, anger and mistreatment and eventually it cost him his life. Truly a dark day in America’s history.  

It was a time where hate and anger and retribution were present. Now, 60 years later, we see actions that remind us of those dark days of hate filled words and actions. We see hostile actions against law-abiding citizens of this country and that’s not right.

I think we can all agree that if someone is here illegally and doing harm with the intent to do harm and commit crime, then let’s remove them. But the fear generated when force is used against those here rightfully with no ill intent, that is not right.

LEADERSHIP

We can go back 150-plus years and the Civil War where the nation fought over freedom from slavery and equal opportunity for all no matter the color of ones skin.

But Abraham Lincoln said a house divided cannot stand and recognized we had to restore the words that said we are one nation.

It was a time of leadership that led to a vision of hope and opportunity for every person. It was a vision that united people as a community that brought them together that built America to the power that it has been. It was leadership not driven by power, fear and violence

We are a nation of immigrant,s and we should not condemn those seeking and pursuing the American dream of opportunity of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We have to be able to address those here illegally and doing harm and not put fear on the faces of those who are legally here, doing good work and contributing to our community.

OUR TOWN

Over many months we’ve seen people protesting in our home towns and carrying out their right to demonstrate and do it peacefully. They share the vision for America and the democracy we live in and enjoy.

We should not condemn those protests as some hate-filled rallies. I see it as an integral part of our democracy — the right to stand up and share our concerns without fear of retribution. People who showed up to demonstrate in our town did so with respect and with purpose. They did so because they cared about their communities and wanted their voices to be heard and valued. Now lives have been lost and people are standing up for the America they have known. This is not the America that has been the beacon of hope and opportunity for so many. We all must respect the rule of law, but heavy handed, violent approaches are not a standard that can be accepted or respected.

The vitriol on social media that is condemning and hate-filled cannot become the norm, but that seems to be more and more the case. What’s the purpose? To fan flames of more hate? I want to follow those that inspire me to do good. To help and serve and engage where I can. I believe that was Alex Pretti’s intent and he was shot and killed.

I can never give up on the dream that we can all share — that we all belong and where we can work and play together.  Let us hope and then work for a better tomorrow where this vision for our future can become a true reality. It is why the work of educators is so inspiring because the caring and effort of so many educators is driven by the provision of hope for every child. It is why educators are builders of community!  Veterans served our country to preserve our freedoms, not for people to be treated as criminals and thugs.

Let’s work to find common ground where we agree to the provision of a quality education for every child. Let’s also foster a culture of serving and one that values and respects every person no matter the color of their skin, the sound of their language or their capacity to perform. And let’s do so where we can have influence in our home town and our state, and build a beacon of hope and possibility for every person.  Let’s respect and value each other and recognize that doing so while respecting the rule of law are not mutually exclusive.

MINNESOTA…WHO WE ARE

In our community, we will demonstrate that all people are valued, respected and belong. Let’s also recognize that our state is No. 2 in volunteerism, we are No. 1 in voter participation, we care about our neighbors, we are No. 4 in charitable giving. Schools and parents are finding ways to support students and their learning, patients are receiving healthcare at the best hospitals in the world, healthcare innovators are working to find cures to reduce human suffering, and people of all faiths gather as a community to help shovel a neighbor’s sidewalk, sandbag during a flood, pick up the pieces after a tornado, support a business in distress and protect our community.

This is the community and the state I know and believe in, as do so many more. This is the community most people want and strive to support. That is who I believe WE are, and we should stand up for those beliefs and values.

So as we understand who we are, it shouldn’t be a surprise that people will rise up and stand up to the bullying and intimidation they are experiencing. We can and must be so much better than what we are experiencing.