Will Alexandria Be Our Turning Point?
Article by: Andrew Creighton, June 23, 2017
Go with me to Alexandria, Virginia in the early 1860âs. In the midst of the Civil War, we find it a much different place than in the months and years before. The bustling and growing city had been easily captured by the Union Army, and was now a city filled with military leaders, escaped slaves heading north, and soldiers wounded and or dying. Those who had once inhabited the houses and businesses now converted into hospitals and military offices, many of whom were on the side of the Confederacy, had either been forced out or left to move further south and avoid signing allegiance to the Union. The hospitals were only for Union soldiers. Confederate soldiers were either not treated, or if they were, they were placed in a separate area of the hospital. Friends and family who were once close, were now divided and fighting against each other. If you were Black and needed treatment or simply somewhere to stay, you were forced into one of the small camps set up throughout the city. They were disease ridden, had few if any doctors or nurses, and not enough food or beds to go around. The war had taken a once thriving and growing city and turned it into a gloomy picture of the effects of the war. These effects were not just limited to Alexandria though. They stretched from the north to the deep south. From Gettysburg, PA to Richmond, VA to Atlanta, GA. We were a nation divided. As I said earlier, families and friends were now on opposite sides of the war. Their beliefs and politics had separated them until there seemed to be no other resolution than to fight. President Lincolnâs words, âa house divided cannot standâ, had come true.
Back in 2017, Alexandria is now the city it aspired to be before the Civil War. Just outside the capital, businesses, restaurants, schools, and parks thrive. Alexandria wasnât a turning point in the Civil War but it, rather, was a view of just how divided we had become. Unfortunately though, last week Alexandria was, I feel, somewhat of a turning point for us today when it was struck with tragedy. Congressmen practicing for a charity baseball game were targeted by a gunman. Though some were injured and one Congressman still in serious condition today, the attack might have been much worse if not for the heroics of two Capital Police officers. We quickly found out that this shooting was no random attack. In fact, the shooter was specifically targeting Republican Congressmen. He had a list of Republican Congressmen, and belonged to extreme left wing groups on social media. It was a stark portrait of just how divided our country has become.
In the past few months and over the past year, we have seen the rhetoric and vitriol, on both sides of the aisle, growing exponentially. Republicans claiming Obamacare is killing people and Democrats claiming Trumpcare will kill people. The protesters during and after the election, who smashed windows, looted stores, and set vehicles on fire. The rhetoric from both candidates during the election. Kathy Griffin posing with a fake bloody decapitated Trump head. The list could go on and on, on both sides. Something has changed in our country in the past few years. Something Iâm not sure weâve seen since the 70âs or maybe even since the Civil War. Something that both sides share responsibility for, and something that has to be addressed and stopped.
With the rise of social media and the 24 hour news networks, politics and opinions are endlessly at our fingertips. We can consume as much or as little of it as we want, and from any perspective we choose. If something angers us, we can immediately let everyone know what we think. Often times not taking the time to actually think through what weâre about say. The media, social media, and our representatives in government are all telling us what to believe or think, and if you donât believe or think the same, then youâre not just wrong, youâre a racist, sexist, a bigot, a homophobe, an Islamiphobe, an everything else-iphobe, hate kids, hate old people, hate middle aged people, or you just want those âother peopleâ to die. We have lost our ability to disagree with respect. Weâve lost the idea that the person on the other side of the argument is just that, a person. To a degree, weâve lost a sense of morality, and weâre starting to see the effects.
Now, donât misunderstand what Iâm saying. I donât think weâre heading for another Civil War. What I am saying, is that we are at turning point, a fork in the road if you will. What happened in Alexandria was horrific and frightening, both during the Civil War and just last week. If we continue down the road weâre on, I fear attacks like this will continue to increase. First from one side, then retaliation from the other. The despise and hate will continue to grow and fester. In fact, weâve just witnessed it happen in London when a man tried to run over Muslims with a van who had been worshipping during Ramadan. His flawed view and hatred of Muslims drove him to act in the same way as the radical Islamists who pervert their own faith. We must choose differently. We must take the other road. Return to having debate and even arguments, but remember that we are all people. We both want to make our country a better place. Tone down the rhetoric, vitriol, and hate. Think before we speak or post. Bring back a sense of morality. That my ideas matter, and your ideas matter. Because America is the land of ideas. We must allow Alexandria to be our wake up call. If we donât, we will once again fall victim to more tragedy, and once again allow President Lincolnâs words to come true. âA house divided cannot stand.â