There are those who claim we have never had a major battle fought on our soil. This is not quite accurate. Our history has been filled with a series of confrontations from our European beginning to this very day. Here are just a few.
The white man from Europe fought with the Indians. The colonists fought with the Brits. The Brits fought with the French. In 1812 we finished our serious differences with the Brits. In 1846 it was time to fight the Mexicans. From 1861-1865 it was not a very civil time in our country. We fought brother against brother.
Then there was family against family: the Hatfields against the McCoys, 1878-1891, Kentucky and West Virginia. It was a classic example of bitter feuding rival parties.
My Dad used to say, I find it interesting that the majority of battles eventually wind up at the peace table. After both sides tear each other apart, lose life and drain resources, they get tired and see the futility of their efforts. They make peace whether they like to or not. He was always an advocate for moving to the peace table as quickly as possible. It is the innocent people who suffer during the conflict. Warriors have a tendency to fight. Politicians usually have little to lose. Dad was an astute observer of history.
For the last 15 years or so the Hatfield and McCoy families have been waging a significant battle in our nation's capital. They are called Democrats and Republicans. It seems their motives, like the families before them, are honor, justice and vengeance for and against each party. They are locked in mortal combat. They are like two moose whose racks are intertwined and they will fight to the death or starve, whichever comes first.
At least 85 percent of the American citizens have concerns over the seemingly senseless struggle in the name of what is good for all of us. The McCoy family candidates speak openly of their primary objective: get rid of the guy who is in the White House. What a high and lofty goal! They say their motive is to then lead us to the Promised Land. The lead son says, "We need to recapture the soul of the American people." Who does he think he is, God? The Hatfield family is no better. They have their well crafted plan for self perpetuation.
While this family feud has been progressing, the rest of the world shakes its head and wonders what has happened to America.
To add insult to industry, the TV networks have their own agenda: keep the pot boiling! The day after the 2008 election they began to focus on the election of 2012, a very smart business move.
The longer they keep the parties fighting with each other, the more money the combatants will spend on ads. Literally millions of dollars have been consumed. Why we could pay off a considerable portion of our national debt with such funds. Four years of the easiest cash cow known to the business world. I bet the networks' financial projections for 2012-2016 is an estimated 10-percent increase over the present political show. All of this money is spent just to tell why the bums on the other side are not deserving of the biggest "Political Plum" known to man. Unfortunately there is little else to see that is real news unless you watch C-Span or the BBC.
This has one advantage, I am reading more books.
I guess I am suffering from PCF, Political Campaign Fatigue. It may be my age. For the life of me I can't believe the average American truly enjoys the constant bombardment of character assassination, sweeping trite slogans that mean absolutely nothing and few suggestions for a path to survival of our country.
After the election of 2012 the first order of business should be a meeting at the peace table. Time is running out on the greatest social experiment the world has ever seen. I truly hope on that day the leaders have the vision, courage and the good sense to realize we are helpless and they are our only hope. It would be tragic if we said, we will now have to wait until 2016 for new hope for the future. Yes, even the most hostile families in 1891 broke bread in a display of brotherhood.
As a postscript: At the beginning of every session of Congress, our representatives in both houses should recite a national policy that goes something like this:
Do unto others as we would have them do unto us
If there be Peace on Earth let it begin with us
If there be war on Earth let it not begin with us
Ken Seifert is a 40-year resident of Andover and former superintendent of the Andover schools.
