My mind turns back to the image of the cute family, holding their hands over their hearts and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The year is 1960 and I am a little girl again at McMeen Elementary School standing in front of the flag on the front lawn reciting the words:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which is stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I am reminded that when we recite The Pledge of Allegiance, we are promising to be indivisible!! Not divisive. Not divided. Thinking back in time, with each generation, this pledge of indivisibility has taken on a different meaning.
Post WWII, it surely referred to patriotism. We were united as one and our country was indivisible in our quest to preserve the freedoms we had fought and sacrificed so hard for. I remember during the 1950's it was the patriotic duty of every American family to report to the neighborhood polio vaccination center for the virus laden sugar cube.
With great seriousness and resoluteness my father, a flight engineer in the Pacific theater who had previously been stationed at Lowry Air Force Base, drove all six of us, the three blocks to McMeen Elementary to do our part for our country and take the vaccine. We all took this very seriously.
Post WWII, it surely referred to patriotism. We were united as one and our country was indivisible in our quest to preserve the freedoms we had fought and sacrificed so hard for. I remember during the 1950's it was the patriotic duty of every American family to report to the neighborhood polio vaccination center for the virus laden sugar cube.
With great seriousness and resoluteness my father, a flight engineer in the Pacific theater who had previously been stationed at Lowry Air Force Base, drove all six of us, the three blocks to McMeen Elementary to do our part for our country and take the vaccine. We all took this very seriously.
Fast forward 60 years and the word divisiveness has taken on a new meaning as we watch history in the making. Political divisiveness has been normalized to include ridicule, deception and vindictiveness. One result of this is the pandemic of divisiveness in human relationships; the one-on-one interactions we have with each other that make up the fabric of our society, our composition, the constitution of who we are. Are we, as individuals, weavers and connectors? Or are we toxic rippers? What does each one of us contribute to the fabric of our family?
During this period of forced physical divisiveness to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infection, each of us makes a personal decision as to whether we want to face this pandemic as a weaver or ripper. Do we choose to weave our relationships to strengthen, appreciate and express gratitude to those that know us and love us? Or do we choose to be rippers, flame throwers, or destroyers? Do we reach out to others by phone or video call and stay in touch? Do we send a card or leave a little surprise on a doorstep? Do we have the individual fortitude to make an effort to mend relationships that may have been frayed?
The Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam is defined by acts of kindness performed to perfect or repair the world. Our world needs repairing. We have each been presented with this challenge. In doing so, we demonstrate who we are and reveal the best (or worst) parts of ourselves.
During this period of forced physical divisiveness to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infection, each of us makes a personal decision as to whether we want to face this pandemic as a weaver or ripper. Do we choose to weave our relationships to strengthen, appreciate and express gratitude to those that know us and love us? Or do we choose to be rippers, flame throwers, or destroyers? Do we reach out to others by phone or video call and stay in touch? Do we send a card or leave a little surprise on a doorstep? Do we have the individual fortitude to make an effort to mend relationships that may have been frayed?
The Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam is defined by acts of kindness performed to perfect or repair the world. Our world needs repairing. We have each been presented with this challenge. In doing so, we demonstrate who we are and reveal the best (or worst) parts of ourselves.
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