Sunday Night With John: What If I Told You, We Can Have it All

What If I Told You, We Can Have It All

John Paul Derryberry

What if I told you I can want border security to be strict, but also to allow asylum seekers and refugees in. It's not the either, or, that our leaders would have us think it is. I know dangerous people are hoping to get into our country to wreck our way of life. I also know many people are seeking a better and safer life within our borders. The beaming light of hope that is America still shines the brightest even in these dark times. This light still communicates to the world, if you want the best life, get to America. We can keep everyone safe and also be a safe haven for those in need. I, for one, know we are capable of delivering on both.

Leaders really fall into three categories. The first type tears everything and everyone down. The second type builds everything and everyone up. And, the third divides, divides and divides again. There is use in the world for the first two types of leaders. We sometimes need people to tear down because what we have built is rotten. However, we need this type of leader a lot less often than we think. We always need leaders who develop, because preparing and constructing a better life is an everyday battle. What we could do without is leaders who divide us into warring camps and define every issue as black and white. In the real world, can you guess what type of leaders are running the country right now? Yep, both the Republicans and Democrats have leaders who divide. 

That is what is so darn frustrating about the issues we face as a country right now. It's as if our leaders do not think we are smart enough to figure out what they are doing. It is as if our leaders believe we do not hold the ability to understand the nuances of these situations.  I can both have deep respect for the difficult work police officers engage in and how hard it is in split seconds to make the correct call. But, I also want police reform. Let's have fewer people die from interactions with the police. I can even feel that the police should be the ones leading the charge in that reform because when anyone dons the shield, they should be held to a higher standard. People implying that every police officer is purposefully stopping reform is woefully immature. There are compassionate and smart officers pushing reforms every day.

Life is nuanced, and so are the issues we are facing. That doesn't mean American culture cannot produce outcomes that satisfy all of our concerns. Leaders sell citizens short in our ability to provide a better lifestyle in our schools, downtowns, and main streets.  I both can want gun reform to ensure our schools and kids are safer and understand the need for the second amendment. What I do not understand is saying there is no money for education, but we have money to pay armed guards at every entrance of our schools. It's another ploy to divide us over the gun debate and school finances, as if that is a choice we should have to make. 

Isn't it the real American dream that everyone gets to live the life they want, as long as they are not hurting another American? Isn't it part of the American dream that we can practice our religion, or lack of faith, in a place where we will not be shot? Can't we send our kids to school, knowing they will come home and share stories about how frustrating math is, not that a gunman showed up?  Aren't we founded on the idea that people from other countries should come here for a better life? That is how this all started. We have been a beacon of hope in the world where so many other countries have witnessed strong men destroy everything through violence. We have made massive mistakes but strived for improvement. Despite what our leaders say and do, we now more than ever, have to remember that we can have it all.