Name: Pierce Hanshew
Age: 17 years old
Grade: 12th
School: Smyrna High School
Address: 519 Brenford Station Road, Smyrna, DE 19977
Cell Phone Number: 302-605-4965
Email Address: pmhshew@gmail.com
Word Count: 988
Temperance in the face of annihilation or; How I learned to stop worrying
and love my neighbor
By the time an American grows old enough to vote, they have already been shaped by
innumerable factors that push and pull them between the parties that have entrenched
themselves in our political landscape. In no other period in American history has the control of
the two majority parties, the Republicans and Democrats, held such an iron grip on the whole
of the American people.
Propaganda spreads at an unprecedented rate, and the truth has grown rarer and more
arduous to find, as anyone with a computer and an internet connection can shape discourse to
their ends, meaning that those with a vested interest in muddying the truth, making issues as
falsely black and white as possible, have never had an easier time doing so. But in these times
of proliferation of information, it has made it possible to look to the past for its lessons, the
failures of our predecessors, and the strengths of their convictions easier to see and learn from
than ever before.
Perhaps it is in this past, not so distant enough to not still be sending pertinent ripples
into our current day. And in one of the great minds of our country, who guided these United
States when the freedom promised by his forefathers being made true ripped the country in
half. Of course, I speak of Abraham Lincoln, whose firm grip on the ideal of America held this
country together when brother set upon brother, and our country was littered with the corpses
of its sons and daughters. War was not his aim, nor proving his martial prowess or loyalty to his
state, but loyalty to the union that he tried so desperately to keep together upon his rise to the
presidency, ultimately to no avail. During this period of rising tensions and mounting danger of
rebellion, he spoke in Springfield, Illinois, just weeks after being elected president. In this
speech, he pleaded, "Let us neither express, nor cherish, any harsh feeling towards any citizen
who, by his vote, has differed with us. Let us at all times remember that all American citizens
are brothers of a common country and should dwell together in the bonds of fraternal feeling."
It is a powerful sentiment that still holds validity to this very day and is perhaps more essential
to heed than at any point other than when it was initially stated.
This quotation, reminiscent of Lincoln's position on the secession of the states, was one
of Unity. He reminds the viewer that, regardless of their held political ties or policy positions,
they should remember that they are an American first, not Democrat or Republican, not
Virginian or Delawarean, but American, first and foremost; That we should not lose sight of this
when our opinions clash and votes tally against one another. But he does not preach this unto
permissiveness, for he knew that it is human nature to disagree with one another, hotly and
often, especially upon such an important and far-reaching subject as politics. Lincoln describes
"harsh feeling" to be avoided, not disagreement itself, and uses language that attempts not to
alienate those among the nation who disagree with this sentiment. He uses male-centered
language, such as "brothers," "fraternal," and "his," as well as "citizen," not just American, to
target his statement to appeal to those with vested political power. He appeals to the
American identity, using familial language to draw upon the loyalty that connection
necessitates and fosters. No matter what, a family remains together, their bond unshakable in
the face of troubles, creating a nigh unbreakable defense against those seeking to break them
apart.
But this defense falters when set upon from within; when the mountain's base falters,
the whole crumbles. This base upon all American ideals is the very acceptance of government,
by which we had more power than ever before to find and create representation within than
most any other nation at that time. But with this power came the raising of the whole citizenry,
facilitating both victory and defeat when public office is run for. In the face of this, the
Southern Planter class, who held enormous power within their veritable fiefdoms, decided that
this commitment to one another, the brotherhood, as Lincoln calls it, was only fit when it
brought about the sole representation of themselves and grew the institution that brought
about their immense wealth, that of chattel slavery.
As for the quote's relevance in the modern day, it cannot be overstated. Americans
have grown wary of one another, even those closest to us we look upon with suspicion, as
crime has become much more violent, chaotically random, and devastatingly common.
Politically, Americans hold less confidence in politician's ability to represent the people's desires
than ever before. The internet has become a haven for individuals of different backgrounds,
separated by any measure of distance, to speak as if they were in the same room. This
connection has led to the resurgence of many different political ideologies and polarization of
our differences. Deep down, we all want to do right by our country, beholden to the schemas
our environments have handed us. Even as many of these strategies differ wildly, and
supporters clash with each other, each believes that they are doing the right thing; that their
opponents are misguided, whether, through ignorance or maliciousness, it matters little when
our better angels falter, and our differences find outlets in screams, vile words, and physical
violence. Each time we fight, we add another brick to the walls separating us from one
another, a separation that only further sends us spiraling deeper into our isolated worlds.
But it is not too late to change our course. We can mend the schisms ravaging America's
best parts through acceptance and vigilance, held in equal measure and application.
Acceptance of those whom we simply disagree with and vigilance against those who would use
our acceptance to push hateful ideologies and selfish legislation.