Stay

Life in a divided country today is remarkably different than it was during the last era of division.  Computers, and specifically social media, account for that. Fifty years ago, as this nation fought an unpopular war, it wasn’t as easy as it is today to determine the politics of your friends, family, and neighbors. People didn’t post daily. They didn’t discuss their political leanings as readily, and they certainly didn’t articulate their differences the way they do today.
They did show up (or not) to political demonstrations during a time that the role of the media was quite different. Historians and social scientists of all stripes agree that the images broadcast during some of those demonstrations had a powerful impact on helping to bridge the divide(s) that encompassed the anti-war movement as well as the civil rights movement. Who could easily forget fire hoses turned on people who wanted nothing more than the right to vote and the guarantees of liberty and justice for all.  The same things exists today, but in my view, with far less impact.  After all, we have our hands full with the emotions and politics necessary for dealing with mass shootings.
The Vietnam war drove a wedge into families, friendships and political parties. Day by day the nation seemed to heal itself. The current use of the phrase “love it or leave it,” only serves to show how old attitudes can survive and that it is as difficult as ever to disagree with your beloved country’s foreign policy without having your patriotism questioned.  It's almost amusing how the "red scare" "Commie-pinko" language seems to have endured as well.  One need only look at the critics of FDR to hear what's being hurled at Bernie Sanders today.

One thing those of us who questioned our government's integrity and resultant duplicity learned from those divided times is that we don’t have to give up the flag or patriotic music, or even our expression of love of country.
This country has always demanded tough love.  It is still trying to come to grips with it’s original sin.
I’m hopeful that this period of division we are grappling with right now will shift and ultimately change with the possibility of new, strong, intelligent, and mentally healthy leadership. I trust my country to recognize it when the time comes to mark a ballot. Then we can all love and forget about the leaving.