Last week a colleague shared the following quote with me:
“For a long while before the appointed time is at hand the election becomes the most important and the all-engrossing topic of discussion. The ardor of faction is redoubled; and all the artificial passions which the imagination can create in the bosom of a happy and peaceful land are agitated and brought to light … the citizens are divided into hostile camps, … As soon as the choice is determined, this ardor is dispelled; and as a calmer season returns.” Alexis de Tocqueville in Democracy in America (1835)
Tocqueville studied American Democracy often wondering why it worked in the United States and often struggled in France. Although his quote is from 1835 it speaks of much of our experience today. What I wonder is whether we can make our way to that calmer season now?
Some may feel that our divided nation will never come together. I believe otherwise. During my 28+ years in uniform, I served under five presidents and their administrations, both Democrat and Republican. In our military we do not get a choice in whom we serve. We vote of course as individual citizens. However, as a collective we are bound to serve by the oath of office we take.
In our all-volunteer force, what is our choice is the oath we take to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. We do so as a special voluntary obligation. No one forces us.
Perhaps we can all take a moment to think about how we serve; how we serve our country; how we serve in our communities; and how we might serve one another. Then maybe, just maybe, we can find our way to that calmer season.
Fly high,
Barbara
Need help navigating your way through life’s turbulence? Connect with me at CaptainBarbaraBell.com. Of course, check out my book, Flight Lessons: Navigating Through Life’s Turbulence and Learning to Fly High.
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