Whose Side Are You On?

Whose side are you on?

We live in tumultuous times. This is undeniable, we all bear witness to events of the last few months and weeks, some of which have been traumatic, others tragic.

Perhaps you are one of those who are confused, angry, uncertain or fearful. All the points of stability we had just 13 months ago all seem to have been tossed into a high speed blender.

Everything that was normal has been dashed to pieces. Your life may be one of those which has been shattered, your business shuttered, your job now at home or lost, you or children’s school closed, your church stands empty.

Perhaps you are one of those who have missed one of those precious once-in-a-lifetime events that once lost, you can never get back; weddings, graduation, prom, sports awards, scholarships.

Whose side are you on?

We have lived through traumatic elections and tragic events; not just over the last few weeks, but over the last year.

People have died, sometimes at the cause of another. Lives have been lost unjustly, families are shattered. Hearts are broken.

Whose side are you on?

I am so happy.

Not at these and many more tragic events; not at the pandering nor the enflaming.

I am happy that the lines have been so clearly marked and the sides so clearly drawn.

Whose side are you on?

We are engaged in a battle. You don’t need me to tell you that.

You are fully aware of the battle that you see raging about you and perhaps you or a loved one or someone you know has been directly affected by this battle.

The sides have never been so clear.

The sides have been clearly indicated and each American has already chosen a side. It is true that there may be some who are still wavering and there are some who don’t care. But for millions and millions of Americans, especially those who have recently voted, they have chosen a side.

Whose side are you on?

The sides are not only clearly marked, they are also easily demonstrated.

Are you on the side of less or the side of more?

Are you on the side of restriction or the side of expansion?

Are you on the side of hate or the side of caring?

Are you on the side of anger or the side of understanding?

Are you on the side of serving self or on the side of serving others?

Are you on the side of closing down or the side of opening up?

Are you on the side of fear or on the side of courage?

Are you on the side of demanding from others or on the side of being yourself?

Are you on the side of confiscation or on the side of leaving well enough alone?

Are you on the side of serving self or of serving others?

Are you on the side of taking from others or giving of yourself?

Are you on the side of control or on the side of liberty?

Are you on the side of shouting or on the side of singing?

Are you on the side of government or on the side of individuality?

Are you on the side of discord or on the side of harmony?

Are you on the side of opaqueness or on the side of transparency?

Are you on the side of cheating or on the side of fairness?

Are you on the side of stealing or on the side of honesty?

Are you on the side of lies or on the side of truth?

Are you on the side of darkness or on the side of light?

Never in human history has there been such a clear divide. Never before have the sides been so clearly marked. Never before have there been no shades of gray, just black and white.

Whose side are you on?

We have passed through a tumultuous election which has only ripped this nation farther apart and the tragic aftermath which has sealed the deal.

Yet, not one year but four years of events have led to this point. These years also have been tumultuous and tragic. The sides are clearly drawn and everyone has picked a side.

Some feel offended at offensive words. Others feel offensive words are just part of the discussion. Are you on the side of censorship or the side of allowing others to speak their mind?

There are some who claim certain words are “hate speech.” There are others who say that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Are you on the side of forcing everyone to live by your opinion or of allowing others to express their opinion?

Some people are incensed when certain words are displayed on clothing or written on signs. Others are proud to display these words. Are you on the side of restriction or on the side of free expression?

Some say nascent life is immaterial and must serve the needs of the individual. Others say all life is sacred and special and full of potential. Are you on the side of choosing death or on the side of choosing life — whatever the cost?

Some people say that certain property of others is dangerous simply by being and must be registered, restricted, controlled and confiscated. Others say the person in use of their property is solely responsible for the consequences of that use. Are you on the side of confiscation and control or on the side of individual responsibility and accountability?

Some say that those who have more must give to those who have less. Others say that this is all well and good, to a point. But too much of a good thing makes it bad. And that those who have more hold themselves responsible for their success while many of those who have less hold others responsible for their failure.

They say that to take from one who is responsible to give to another who is not is itself, irresponsible.

And that feeding another forever makes them dependent upon you serving your needs, feeding your greed, which forces them to give up their power of self and give it to you, to the system. This makes them slaves of the system, slaves of those who feed them, perpetuating a life of less, of irresponsibility and unaccountability, of merely existing without hope, living in fear until the day of their dying. It forces those who feed them to take more and keep more while giving less and less. You make them your slaves. Whose side are you on?

Our nation is clearly divided. The sides are clearly marked.

Do you oppose the one who promised to drain the swamp, to make every American great again, to level the playing field making it open and available equally to all? Is he the one you oppose, he who promised to make fair international trade agreements, to restore prosperity, to shine a light upon the darkness, to uphold God’s children and then did all of it?

Or do you support the one who promises to steal your money and income through greater taxation, to endorse the killing of babies, who assures you he will be the one to enforce confiscation, restriction and control, who has promised to be fair to nations who view fairness as weakness, to suspend your rights so he can close your business, your school, your church, to close your favorite shopping outlet or to close the preferred watering hole of you and your friends, who promises not hope but fear, who speaks unity but endorses discord, who offers hate instead of forgiveness and cooperation and sees an enemy in your fellow American living next door?

When evil becomes right, good becomes bad, laughter turns to tears, lives are dismantled, jobs are lost, confidence becomes fear, success becomes failure, free speech is hate speech, friends are dangerous and news becomes propaganda, whose side have you been on?