Michelle digman

Throughout American history, there have been moments when our nation has been so deeply divided that its very future hung in the balance. The first came during the American Revolution. In the 1700s, the American colonies were divided between those who remained loyal to the British Crown and those who believed they had the God-given right to govern themselves. The colonists were tired of taxation without representation. They believed their freedoms were being denied by a government that did not answer to them. They wanted the opportunity to determine their own destiny rather than have it dictated by a distant monarchy. Those differences eventually led to the Revolutionary War, which lasted eight years, from 1775 to 1783, and claimed an estimated 25,000 American lives. From that sacrifice, the United States of America was born. The second great division came with the American Civil War. Less than a century later, Americans again found themselves divided over fundamental principles. Southern states sought to secede from the Union, primarily to preserve the institution of slavery. Others fought to preserve the Union, and the struggle ultimately became one to end slavery as well. The disagreement was not simply about politics. It involved the most fundamental questions of human freedom, equality, morality, and what kind of country America should be. The Civil War lasted four years, from 1861 to 1865, and cost an estimated 620,000 to 750,000 American lives. Brothers fought brothers. Fathers fought sons. Families were torn apart. American blood was spilled on American soil. The cost of that division was almost unimaginable. Today, I fear that America may once again be approaching a defining crossroads. I see a country increasingly divided, not simply over political parties, candidates, or government policies, but over deeply held beliefs about right and wrong. As a Christian, I see a growing conflict between what I believe are God's teachings and the values increasingly embraced by a secular world. I recognize that not everyone shares my faith or sees these questions the same way. But to me, these are more than political disagreements. They are questions of conscience, morality, personal responsibility, faith, freedom, and the future we are leaving our children and grandchildren. I believe there are principles worth standing for, even when doing so is unpopular, uncomfortable, or comes at a personal cost. History teaches us that freedom is not guaranteed, that a nation can be torn apart from within, and that the decisions made by one generation can shape the lives of generations yet to come. But history also reminds us of the terrible price Americans have paid when their differences could no longer be resolved peacefully. God forbid that we ever see another war fought on American soil, with Americans taking up arms against Americans. I pray that day never comes. My hope is that we can find the courage to defend our convictions, the wisdom to distinguish between disagreement and evil, and the strength to stand for what we believe without losing our humanity or our love for our fellow Americans. I will not surrender my faith or my convictions simply because the world around me is changing. But neither do I believe that every person who disagrees with me is my enemy. Our forefathers left us a nation built upon the principles of liberty, responsibility, and self-government. Those principles deserve to be defended, preserved, and passed on. The question facing us today is not simply what kind of country we want to live in. It is what kind of country we are willing to leave behind. May God grant us the courage to stand for what is right, the humility to recognize our own shortcomings, and the wisdom to preserve this nation without repeating the bloodshed of our past. God bless America.