A bird needs a left wing and a right wing to fly. Typically, when they work together, the bird’s performance is best. We will start to see a major migration to the south as ducks and geese will form a V and fly thousands of miles. They will accomplish this amazing feat by working together. I think about this phenomenon and then I think of our country.

We have two parties, one on the left and one on the right. Throughout my years, they have always had disagreements, but at times they have come together and worked as one. During those times, I believe we were one of the strongest nations in the world. I’m neither right nor left. I see elements on both sides that I support. However, now I hear terms of woke, dictator and fascist when people express their opinion. It is unfortunate. I believe my father and uncles all served so we could live in a country where we are entitled to our opinions. But now it feels like if we give an opinion we can get labeled. My father used to always argue that he leaned more conservative than liberal, but he voted both sides. In my opinion, he believed people should earn their own way and not be given free passes. I once asked him why he never declared bankruptcy like Trump. He said I don’t do that, I own my debts and pay them.

A few weeks ago, Charlie Kirk was murdered. The person who murdered him disagreed with Charlie Kirk’s beliefs and for that he took his life. In the last few weeks, I’ve heard people cheered his death. I’ve seen people blame all liberals. We’ve seen people go on social media or television and say some very hurtful and abusive comments. He, like all of us, have our opinions, and because he expressed himself he was murdered. This is not why my father and uncles joined the service nor why they fought for this country. I am appalled and embarrassed by several of the comments that I have seen.

What is equally amazing is that many of the people who cheered his death and made comments did not, in my opinion, watch what he was doing. He was debating college students throughout the country on their beliefs. If you watched him, when someone made an intelligent argument, he would say to keep going, I want to hear more… I’m learning something here. I didn’t know the man. I only know what I saw and heard. He appeared to be a spiritual man with beliefs that he wanted to share, and to me he seemed to be open minded.

My opinion as a nation is that we have moved way too far to the left. When we have folks who think it is OK for a child to change their sex without parent approval that is a problem. We won’t let them drink alcohol, but irreversible body mutilation is OK? Then there is the group who thinks the government should make everything free, especially health care. They say other countries provide it. Well, Cuba provides free health care. The doctors make $80 per month and have several side hustles and I don’t want them working on me. Sweden does… Not really, they do for very basic services, but for everything else you pay for it. China has universal health care… Well, I’m dating a woman who lived in China until she was 50 and she is in the United States now. I don’t want their health care either.

I want law and order. I don’t think people should be walking around with bizarre hair colors. I think there is an expected degree of respect we owe one another. I don’t think our college systems should be teaching or allowing degrees that you cannot use to earn a wage. I think there should be vocational schools teaching a skill. I think there are basic elements of respect we owe ourselves and other people. I don’t think I should be told what I can or cannot read.

I hope the divisiveness that exists and the name calling and the bullying can stop and we can once again be a nation where people can have and express opinions.