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Why are we unable to constructively move forward as a country?
Some would say that it is because we are not exclusively looking towards the future. That we are unwilling to make changes necessary to progress. While there is merit to this argument, I think it assumes there is little that is of value from our past.
If we exclusively look to the future, the disharmony and fractured nature of our society will only increase – unintentionally risking our collective future.
I believe we do not look to the past enough to find the positive guideposts and reference points for how we should meet the challenges of our time and move forward.
However, perhaps paradoxically, there is no shortage of comparisons made to the past – connections between our time and other points in American history. It occurs through the words we choose and the parallels that we try to make to contextualize major events.
We refer to the recent recession as the ‘Great Recession.’ We publicly demonstrate our affection for those who have served and sacrificed in the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These actions – whether we mean to or not – are ways in which we connect our time to historic events such as the Great Depression and World War II.
But when I reflect on whether we – in this moment, in our time – have truly stepped up to meet today’s challenges, that’s where the parallels between the past and today begin to fall short for me.
I think parallels between our time and historic events – from large changes in our economy to war – clearly are instructive. They can reveal the failures of the past and provide lessons learned for the future.
However, are we also learning, valuing, and applying the lessons of what was positive and successful from the past?
When I saw the recent news that Raymond Haerry was interred on the USS Arizona (http://rly.pt/2p97hif) – a ship that he served on during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 – I began to think about this very question and what Mr. Haerry’s personal decision, 75 years removed from the catalyzing event, might mean for this moment and our time in American history.
As reported on ABC, on December 7th, 1941, Mr. Haerry was 19 years old. During the attack, a large bomb exploded, igniting the fuel on the USS Arizona. Mr. Haerry had to swim through flames in the harbor to get to land, then engaged attacking Japanese aircraft, and subsequently began the difficult task of retrieving bodies of his countrymen from the harbor.
I wonder what Mr. Haerry would think about how to live and lead in our time and in this moment. Perhaps his family knows. But my guess is that, consistent with the culture of the WWII generation, one has to look no farther than his example.
Mr. Haerry’s decision to be interred with his USS Arizona shipmates reveals his values. For me, his decision says: do what you have to do, hang together, and then be at peace.
Mr. Haerry was an ordinary person put in an extraordinary moment. And similar to Mr. Haerry, we, ordinary citizens, find ourselves in yet another extraordinary moment in our history.
When I compare how we, as a nation, have reacted and handled ourselves during this tumultuous time to the example of Mr. Haerry, I’m not sure we can say that we are doing what we have to do. That we are meeting our challenges. That we are hanging together as a nation. That we are looking out for our fellow citizens in addition to ourselves.
Nor can I say that we are at peace. Far from it.
So, what can we do to honor Mr. Haerry and follow the example that he demonstrated both on December 7th, 1941 and, again, just this week?
First, I think we must re-build a national culture that puts at its core the fact that we have more in common than that which separates us. My educated guess, from my time serving in the military, is that Mr. Haerry did not agree with everyone he served with – and probably did not like all of them either. Yet, they were all in it together. And, at the end, that is who he wanted to be with.
Second, it’s not only about expressing how we feel or our grievances. It’s also about meeting our problems head on – in a way that is both constructive and enhances the whole. We must use Mr. Haerry’s example, not to mention the example of the many others of the WWII generation, to understand and embrace the importance of doing – not just being.
Third, we must re-discover the value of harmony – and what our founding fathers termed ‘tranquility’ – in our society. While this cannot be achieved at all times, we must put our shared humanity above all other interests. We also must re-commit to problem solving and value achieving improvements, even if they are marginal, in our collective well being – both within our political dialogue and public policymaking.
In the final analysis, I do not believe our Republic can long endure if we do not start following Mr. Haerry’s example and his life walk of service to family, community, and country.
We, as a nation, must re-build a national purpose, do what we have to do as a country and society, hang together, and then, as we say at West Point: ‘be thou at peace.’
Be thou at peace, Raymond.
***
Alex Gallo is senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and served as a professional staff member on the House Armed Services Committee for five years. He is a West Point graduate and combat veteran and a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School. His work has been published by The Washington Post, National Review, The Huffington Post, The Hill, and Foreign Affairs.
Some would say that it is because we are not exclusively looking towards the future. That we are unwilling to make changes necessary to progress. While there is merit to this argument, I think it assumes there is little that is of value from our past.
If we exclusively look to the future, the disharmony and fractured nature of our society will only increase – unintentionally risking our collective future.
I believe we do not look to the past enough to find the positive guideposts and reference points for how we should meet the challenges of our time and move forward.
However, perhaps paradoxically, there is no shortage of comparisons made to the past – connections between our time and other points in American history. It occurs through the words we choose and the parallels that we try to make to contextualize major events.
We refer to the recent recession as the ‘Great Recession.’ We publicly demonstrate our affection for those who have served and sacrificed in the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These actions – whether we mean to or not – are ways in which we connect our time to historic events such as the Great Depression and World War II.
But when I reflect on whether we – in this moment, in our time – have truly stepped up to meet today’s challenges, that’s where the parallels between the past and today begin to fall short for me.
I think parallels between our time and historic events – from large changes in our economy to war – clearly are instructive. They can reveal the failures of the past and provide lessons learned for the future.
However, are we also learning, valuing, and applying the lessons of what was positive and successful from the past?
When I saw the recent news that Raymond Haerry was interred on the USS Arizona (http://rly.pt/2p97hif) – a ship that he served on during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 – I began to think about this very question and what Mr. Haerry’s personal decision, 75 years removed from the catalyzing event, might mean for this moment and our time in American history.
As reported on ABC, on December 7th, 1941, Mr. Haerry was 19 years old. During the attack, a large bomb exploded, igniting the fuel on the USS Arizona. Mr. Haerry had to swim through flames in the harbor to get to land, then engaged attacking Japanese aircraft, and subsequently began the difficult task of retrieving bodies of his countrymen from the harbor.
I wonder what Mr. Haerry would think about how to live and lead in our time and in this moment. Perhaps his family knows. But my guess is that, consistent with the culture of the WWII generation, one has to look no farther than his example.
Mr. Haerry’s decision to be interred with his USS Arizona shipmates reveals his values. For me, his decision says: do what you have to do, hang together, and then be at peace.
Mr. Haerry was an ordinary person put in an extraordinary moment. And similar to Mr. Haerry, we, ordinary citizens, find ourselves in yet another extraordinary moment in our history.
When I compare how we, as a nation, have reacted and handled ourselves during this tumultuous time to the example of Mr. Haerry, I’m not sure we can say that we are doing what we have to do. That we are meeting our challenges. That we are hanging together as a nation. That we are looking out for our fellow citizens in addition to ourselves.
Nor can I say that we are at peace. Far from it.
So, what can we do to honor Mr. Haerry and follow the example that he demonstrated both on December 7th, 1941 and, again, just this week?
First, I think we must re-build a national culture that puts at its core the fact that we have more in common than that which separates us. My educated guess, from my time serving in the military, is that Mr. Haerry did not agree with everyone he served with – and probably did not like all of them either. Yet, they were all in it together. And, at the end, that is who he wanted to be with.
Second, it’s not only about expressing how we feel or our grievances. It’s also about meeting our problems head on – in a way that is both constructive and enhances the whole. We must use Mr. Haerry’s example, not to mention the example of the many others of the WWII generation, to understand and embrace the importance of doing – not just being.
Third, we must re-discover the value of harmony – and what our founding fathers termed ‘tranquility’ – in our society. While this cannot be achieved at all times, we must put our shared humanity above all other interests. We also must re-commit to problem solving and value achieving improvements, even if they are marginal, in our collective well being – both within our political dialogue and public policymaking.
In the final analysis, I do not believe our Republic can long endure if we do not start following Mr. Haerry’s example and his life walk of service to family, community, and country.
We, as a nation, must re-build a national purpose, do what we have to do as a country and society, hang together, and then, as we say at West Point: ‘be thou at peace.’
Be thou at peace, Raymond.
***
Alex Gallo is senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and served as a professional staff member on the House Armed Services Committee for five years. He is a West Point graduate and combat veteran and a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School. His work has been published by The Washington Post, National Review, The Huffington Post, The Hill, and Foreign Affairs.
Society
United States
Patriotism
Command Post
VetSpective
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 20
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Great reflection Cpt Gallo. Suspecting I've got a few more years on this earth than you, I was born in the 40s and got to grow up in the 50s and 60s when the influence of men like Mr Haerry was common and prevalent. I've held a theory for a long time that the feeling of progress and moving forward together disappeared primarily due to my generation's war. We had a glimmer of Mr Haerry again after 9/11, but soon fell back into our post vietnam malaise that persists today.
What we lost sight of, I believe, is the promise of our nation as established by the founders and the value of what used to be called the common good. Did our government officials betray that promise during Vietnam? Some did. Were there those who felt that betrayal take to the streets in protest? Some honestly felt betrayed. Were most of the protesters really interested in working for the betterment of our nation and protesting as a result of those betrayals? I think not.
Vietnam made anarchy fashionable. A schism on how to react to those things that were wrong developed and spread to anything individuals felt represented a personal betrayal. Instead of debate and constructive work toward a better society, violence and "symbolic" destruction became the instrument of change for many and it continues today. Adding to the problem is the resentment resident on all sides between those who believe in drama, and those who believe in traditional problem solving. For too many, evolutionary, o even steady deliberate move toward change is not satisfactory and anarchy will bring the immediate change they desire.
Add to that schism, you have the ever present desire for a watergate or pentagon papers revelation that will rocket a newsman or organization to the pinnacle of fame and you've got today.
Until those in our government earn the trust and confidence of the electors, until those who are wronged recognize that physical or psychological violence does not result in attaining their objective, and until those who report our news and form public opinion realize they are not established to direct society, but to inform it, our potential to move forward and progress as we did prior to Vietnam is severely limited.
What we lost sight of, I believe, is the promise of our nation as established by the founders and the value of what used to be called the common good. Did our government officials betray that promise during Vietnam? Some did. Were there those who felt that betrayal take to the streets in protest? Some honestly felt betrayed. Were most of the protesters really interested in working for the betterment of our nation and protesting as a result of those betrayals? I think not.
Vietnam made anarchy fashionable. A schism on how to react to those things that were wrong developed and spread to anything individuals felt represented a personal betrayal. Instead of debate and constructive work toward a better society, violence and "symbolic" destruction became the instrument of change for many and it continues today. Adding to the problem is the resentment resident on all sides between those who believe in drama, and those who believe in traditional problem solving. For too many, evolutionary, o even steady deliberate move toward change is not satisfactory and anarchy will bring the immediate change they desire.
Add to that schism, you have the ever present desire for a watergate or pentagon papers revelation that will rocket a newsman or organization to the pinnacle of fame and you've got today.
Until those in our government earn the trust and confidence of the electors, until those who are wronged recognize that physical or psychological violence does not result in attaining their objective, and until those who report our news and form public opinion realize they are not established to direct society, but to inform it, our potential to move forward and progress as we did prior to Vietnam is severely limited.
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CPT Alex Gallo
Hi Robert -
First, yes, I was born in 1977. I also completely agree with all of your posts here. Really, really well said. You may be interested in this article that I published today. Thanks! https://www.google.com/amp/thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/331843-its-time-for-clinton-and-trump-to-shut-up-about-2016%3Famp
First, yes, I was born in 1977. I also completely agree with all of your posts here. Really, really well said. You may be interested in this article that I published today. Thanks! https://www.google.com/amp/thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/331843-its-time-for-clinton-and-trump-to-shut-up-about-2016%3Famp
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LtCol Robert Quinter
CPT Alex Gallo - Well said Alex. We baby boomers have had our opportunity to prepare the world for those, like you, who follow. Don't know how well we did overall, but we didn't blow the place up. If that's the bar we set, no doubt you can all do better!
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SPC Todd Rhoades
LtC Quinter, sir my parents are your generation, I had uncles in SE Asia. I don't believe that about the baby boomers as a whole. I believe it is the latter part of them and the early part of my generation. I was part of the massive IRR recall in 91 and for just a minute I saw a change in people, a new pride in our country. Even though some were opposed, everyone supported the troops. What a great sense of pride, not in myself or my fellow soldiers, but in our country as a whole. Then it vanished, to be rekindled, as you said, on 9-11. Then once again it is vanishing. It seems that we can unite when there is a clear and present cause. I think what we lack today is leadership, not by our government, doubt they could lead a thirsty horse to water, but by citizens. Common everyday people, mustering the courage to stand up and find the compromise, foregoing the scrutiny of friends and neighbors that want to side on the extreme.
Courage is what we lack, the courage to be an individual, to be scrutinized by both sides. Only when we find that, as a whole, can we move forward.
Courage is what we lack, the courage to be an individual, to be scrutinized by both sides. Only when we find that, as a whole, can we move forward.
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SSG Edward Tilton
Once the rich had control of more than half of the wealth we no longer controlled the government. They seem to be more than happy with us at each others throats.
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United goal: like saying the pledge of Allegiance every day in school? Like compelling respect for the flag of our nation? Like having common prayers for the same God?
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I could write several chapters on what is afflicting our nation, but I'll mention these 3 that to me, are only a part of many that are at the root, but represent the very real danger of ending our republic.
Right now the 2 youngest generations of Americans have gone through the public K-12 school system and curriculum of multiculturalism and the narrative that America, it's founders and history are one of racism and bigotry and that the wealth and power of the U. S. was all from the theft from and oppression of weaker non anglo nations.
U.S. history that is taught, has spends little time on WWII, Korea is lucky if there is a paragraph and a half, Vietnam era glorifies the hippy movement and radicalism of the era. Civics (U.S. Government) isn't even a requirement to graduate high school.
After the first 12 yrs of primary education, there are the Universities that have been proven to be dominated by radical left anti- American, anti Western civilization professors. I have watched as interviewers have done random Q&A's of college students on topics from our history, 3 legs of the stool that make up the core of our federal government, individual(s) names are holding important positions, etc.It would have been humorous if the ramifications weren't so potentially dangerous to the nations long term continued existence as the America we recognize.
Tying this together, we have 2 generations that have been taught that their country is unjust and has contributed little to the world that is positive, does not know the construct of our government and the functions of the main 3 as they pertain to each other and equal ignorance as to what is actually in the constitution and Bill of rights.
Since last summer we have seen manifested in the violence at Trump rallies and colleges where conservative speakers were to speak, the young participants scorn and out right hatred for this nation and a complete disconnect from what the constitution protects and who, when and why. Not to mention a corrupt overtly biased media that often paints a narrative of America as racist and unfair reinforcing the false narrative in the minds of these young people.
One day these 2 generations will be passed the torch and will be responsible for taking the country forward. How can a generation that has been schooled and taught what they were about their country, very little in regards to the government or the founding documents that describe what government can do and what it's limits are in regards to it's interaction with the citizens.
How can a generation lead a nation they have been taught is basicly bad, knows little of where it comes from, where it has been in order to figure out where it needs to go and how to get it there?
Unfortunately, it may be very well that the only thing that can cause a major shift back toward the course that brought our country to it's finest hours and greatest achievements is a trauma on a national scale that literally effects every man woman and child as WWII did when the very survival of the country was on the line, only question is, would the things listed above damaged those generations to a point rendering them incapable of drawing on the neccesary will and emotion required to to save the country as the greatest generation once did and in the numbers needed?
Right now the 2 youngest generations of Americans have gone through the public K-12 school system and curriculum of multiculturalism and the narrative that America, it's founders and history are one of racism and bigotry and that the wealth and power of the U. S. was all from the theft from and oppression of weaker non anglo nations.
U.S. history that is taught, has spends little time on WWII, Korea is lucky if there is a paragraph and a half, Vietnam era glorifies the hippy movement and radicalism of the era. Civics (U.S. Government) isn't even a requirement to graduate high school.
After the first 12 yrs of primary education, there are the Universities that have been proven to be dominated by radical left anti- American, anti Western civilization professors. I have watched as interviewers have done random Q&A's of college students on topics from our history, 3 legs of the stool that make up the core of our federal government, individual(s) names are holding important positions, etc.It would have been humorous if the ramifications weren't so potentially dangerous to the nations long term continued existence as the America we recognize.
Tying this together, we have 2 generations that have been taught that their country is unjust and has contributed little to the world that is positive, does not know the construct of our government and the functions of the main 3 as they pertain to each other and equal ignorance as to what is actually in the constitution and Bill of rights.
Since last summer we have seen manifested in the violence at Trump rallies and colleges where conservative speakers were to speak, the young participants scorn and out right hatred for this nation and a complete disconnect from what the constitution protects and who, when and why. Not to mention a corrupt overtly biased media that often paints a narrative of America as racist and unfair reinforcing the false narrative in the minds of these young people.
One day these 2 generations will be passed the torch and will be responsible for taking the country forward. How can a generation that has been schooled and taught what they were about their country, very little in regards to the government or the founding documents that describe what government can do and what it's limits are in regards to it's interaction with the citizens.
How can a generation lead a nation they have been taught is basicly bad, knows little of where it comes from, where it has been in order to figure out where it needs to go and how to get it there?
Unfortunately, it may be very well that the only thing that can cause a major shift back toward the course that brought our country to it's finest hours and greatest achievements is a trauma on a national scale that literally effects every man woman and child as WWII did when the very survival of the country was on the line, only question is, would the things listed above damaged those generations to a point rendering them incapable of drawing on the neccesary will and emotion required to to save the country as the greatest generation once did and in the numbers needed?
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SN Shawn Wilson
a good read, I have been trying too instill pride in our nation to my three children, 10,10, & 8, I realize America has not always been a free country of men for some, but I tried of a country being punished today for past mistakes, I have not always agreed with our founding fathers and or previous government leaders of today and some of the things they have done while giving birth to this nation and still shaping the nation in which we live in. for instance I never understood the political turmoil of the 70's as a child, and being part American Indian, why some kids just hated me in my little town for being Indian, because i was being taught by my parents and school we all were Americans, nothing separated us yet I lived in a very racist town with crazy laws about people of color, I did not see that dark side of my home town till much later as adult, while serving on board the Orion I read a book called the Indian summer, where Native Americans took over several key positions and held some of the military bases out west, held the country hostage in the 70"s , now understanding the oath i took, according to the oath that all of us have taken past & present to me they would have been traitors to my country during that time, unless the oath they took has been revised since the 1970's to be different oath that i had taken in 1991, but I understood the racism I felt as a child for being part Native American. I do feel that the schools of today, try there best to paint America as an evil country that is not really free, except for a select group of people, but if we look at the actual political laws of advancement that have help make our country great, America is a Democratic Republic a sovereign state without a monarch. whose ultimate power rests in its citizens entitled to vote. who (directly or indirectly) elect representatives to wield that power. though over the years I seen our leaders become more and more corrupt, who have and are trying to systematically tear down our Democratic Republic, by promoting small political activist groups, ahead of the majority, that is not how our democracy is to work, some say it the younger generations fault, but I feel it is my generations fault, and my parents generation because they did not bother to be active in the local government because we had better things to do. some people say how do we save our country from self destruction it starts on the local level, teach our kids yes our country has made mistakes, but we have tried to make advancement everyday in our country, the sad part is people do not like change, even in my own home, there are a lot who want to talk about the good ole days when the zinc foundry was here, but it is gone because our government wanted more political power overseas, so policies start getting passed that hurt industry in our country, it also did not help the local farmers And worker sued the company either, stating declining in their personal health caused by the manufacture of metals, but refused too look at the pesticides they used when dusting their crops, or that most of them smoked every day of their lives, and or drunk alcoholic beverages everyday of their lives too i remember at one time we had many many bars, in my home town, we also had the boarzman brewing company right here as well, and the constant straggle hold the E.P.A. kept using on American industries , and still to day, and how the automakers, kept squeezing the Government with their lobbyist to pass more & more heavier laws against the railroad companies, just so they could forces American to buy there product. i feel after the great depression the government should have started to pass tighter laws on big business, instead of taking their money from the lobbyist. for instance the automakers bailout, was a wrong policy the union worked themselves out of a job, not everyday joe's like us. but at the time of the auto unions creation it was a good thing, miners union also a good thing when it started, but when the cash flow came to the executive representative of the unions, they stopped caring about the average citizen who purchased their products, shifted to monetary gains instead, to put more in their pockets. but I digress sorry. I still believe our country can be saved, if we stop looking for blame from the past, and correct our path for the greater good.
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SGT Donald Howard
You are correct in your observations, parents must also take steps to know what their children are being taught and what the books their children's school uses is teaching. There are many instances where parents in leafing through their child's history books have found examples of blatant rewriting of historical facts that were done with the intent of advancing an anti- American, anti- Western agenda.
One of the things that I hear and read about going on in class rooms across America today (2 stand out in my mind as diabolical) 1: Teachers pushing their political world view(K-12, most often a left wing view) on their students while at the same time painting the other side of the political discussion as racist bigoted, etc.
2: The growing number of incidents that are being reported by parents across the country that have discovered their child's teacher or school, or school board are instructing or planned on implementing a carriculum in Islam with materials and in cooperation with Islamic groups like CARE that are not only misrepresentative, but are nothing short of tools for indoctrination. It was said by one of the cosigners and framers of our constitution, "The Constitution and Bill of Rights were written for a an informed and engaged citizenry" We have come to find ourselves and our republic where it is now because far too many of our citizens are neither.
One of the things that I hear and read about going on in class rooms across America today (2 stand out in my mind as diabolical) 1: Teachers pushing their political world view(K-12, most often a left wing view) on their students while at the same time painting the other side of the political discussion as racist bigoted, etc.
2: The growing number of incidents that are being reported by parents across the country that have discovered their child's teacher or school, or school board are instructing or planned on implementing a carriculum in Islam with materials and in cooperation with Islamic groups like CARE that are not only misrepresentative, but are nothing short of tools for indoctrination. It was said by one of the cosigners and framers of our constitution, "The Constitution and Bill of Rights were written for a an informed and engaged citizenry" We have come to find ourselves and our republic where it is now because far too many of our citizens are neither.
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Well said. I fear that it will take another national disaster or terrorist attack for Americans to realize what's important.
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Excellence article- up till the last generation or two- people were taught to be responsible for themselves and their actions. Few thought or felt that they were entitled to anything they hadn't earned. We voted for the man/woman, not rabidly the party. And our elected officials were more in tune with what the people wanted than what the Party demanded. Know it seems it's the Party's way or the highway, and the other side of the aisle doesn't count for anything. Instead of being raised to say -"I'm an American of Latin descent- it's now all- I'm a Latino!"
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CPT Alex Gallo Good day to you Sir. Enjoyed your editorial & concur with your points about needing to come together as one nation.
It is high time (overdue really) for all citizens to reunite & reestablish our common goals & identity. There's been too much divisiveness, disrespect & in most cases outright unwarranted hostility toward one another. It's as if someone has lit up an entire shipment of those 1000 strip Red Devil firecrackers & tossed it in amongst our lot! Somehow we must quell this firestorm of negativity & the overt effects from our discord.
This will take an almost impossible effort of having a United leadership! (God only can help us there!) Only in becoming a unified nation, may we be able to live and honor the sacrifices of those heroes & heroines who have gone before us. Abraham Lincoln cited a biblical quote in his address to the nation "A house divided against itself cannot stand" (Matthew 12:25 - "But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.") He may have his naysayers out there, however I respect our Secretary of Housing & Urban Development, Ben Carson who also cited the same quote [see image.]
May we endeavor to come together & as you succinctly put it "rebuild [our] national purpose..." so that we may "be [a nation] at peace."
It is high time (overdue really) for all citizens to reunite & reestablish our common goals & identity. There's been too much divisiveness, disrespect & in most cases outright unwarranted hostility toward one another. It's as if someone has lit up an entire shipment of those 1000 strip Red Devil firecrackers & tossed it in amongst our lot! Somehow we must quell this firestorm of negativity & the overt effects from our discord.
This will take an almost impossible effort of having a United leadership! (God only can help us there!) Only in becoming a unified nation, may we be able to live and honor the sacrifices of those heroes & heroines who have gone before us. Abraham Lincoln cited a biblical quote in his address to the nation "A house divided against itself cannot stand" (Matthew 12:25 - "But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.") He may have his naysayers out there, however I respect our Secretary of Housing & Urban Development, Ben Carson who also cited the same quote [see image.]
May we endeavor to come together & as you succinctly put it "rebuild [our] national purpose..." so that we may "be [a nation] at peace."
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