On this Veterans Day week we must not only honor all of those living in Sun City West and all across the country who served in our Armed Forces, we must also remember what they fought for and who they have fought for — the United States of America, with emphasis on United.
With Election Day behind us, we must come back to each other in Sun City West and all across our great country. We have become far too divided. Our allies overseas depend on us to continue to be a beacon of light in times of darkness and several of our closest allies have voiced their concerns about what they have seen and heard happening in our “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.”
We have also seen and heard from people in our own community here who are concerned about the defacing of political posters and the confrontations between people over their political viewpoints. Our First Amendment right to freedom of speech is very important, but the level of anger in discussions must tone down for the sake of our present and our future. There is a profound difference between hearing and listening. We need to listen to each other instead of shouting over one another, and let’s use those discussions to help find solutions to issues that are before us.
As a proud son of a U.S. Army World War II veteran who went overseas with his four brothers in defense of our freedoms, I say we truly honor all our brave heroes’ sacrifices by being united once again. Enough with red states and blue states — we are the United States of America and we need to overcome whatever comes our way together as one.
We all found a way to come together as one after the 9/11 attacks and history shows that somehow, some way, our great nation found a way to get back together after the Civil War.
I thank all of our Veterans and their loved ones for their service. I feel honored to live among the many veterans living here in Sun City West. I also thank anyone in our community who has loved ones currently in the Armed Forces serving stateside or over seas.
Editor’s Note: Gary Cohen is the host of the Rec Center Show on 103.1 KSCW that airs 8 a.m. Tuesdays.
