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Saturday, May 31, 2008
Dialogue of Change
Kim
Louise Rentschler, Manheim Township
We must not lose
ourselves to find each other. We must not vacate our past to own our
future. We must not lower our voices to raise our hopes, and we must
not close our minds to open our hearts.
For, it is our
individuality that makes us unique, our diversity that gives us
strength and our differences that make us whole.
As our nation
embraces a dialogue of change, we must harness this individuality. We
cannot allow our national discourse to retreat into the dynamics of
yesterday, jeopardized by the politics of fear, clouded by the specter
of partisanship. For there is nothing bold about repeating history,
there is no audacity in inertia, and there is no progress in rancor.
Emboldening the
rhetoric of division will not portend the promise of change. Instead,
it will merely fractionalize our value and diminish our purpose. We
can allow no room for intolerance, no margin for hate. Invoking the
politics of race and gender simply discolors our world,
disenfranchising a new generation just beginning to join the
conversation and find its voice.
I was born into an
era of change. The civil rights movement was in its infancy. My
neighborhood knew little of diversity. My history text bore no mention
of the Holocaust. Yet I am able to put pen to paper, express my
beliefs, and engage my community through the courage of a generation
past, a generation willing to challenge boundaries, overcome obstacles
and move our conversation forward.
As a nation, we are
at a crossroads. We can choose to remain silent, harbor doubt and take
comfort in the familiar. We can encourage homogeneity and distill our
value. Or, we can hear competing voices, respect each other's
differences and arrive at something good.
This is our chance
to be heard, our debate to begin, and our country to lead. Saying
nothing will make us unremarkable. Doing nothing will make us
obsolete, but taking action will bring us hope.
For, indeed, we are
not a perfect union. As individuals, we have our faults. As a society,
we have our shortcomings. But as a country, we have our voice. We are
a people, we are America and, together, we are tomorrow.
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