A House divided cannot stand by itself

I have also observed the political atmosphere to be yearning for new governance but the trusties of the constituents have not yet abandoned their personal choices but speak freely of unity. In this context, I share a short letter written by Jose Marti to Antonio Marceo [1882] when Cuba was in turmoil and I thought it may be apt to share his views with empathy to my fellowmen. "The country’s problem deals, rather than a political solution, a social solution, and the latter cannot be achieved except through mutual love and forgiveness between the races." In order for us to achieve harmony, respect, tolerance and a bi-partisan level, we should first attempt to unify the races so that we may work and play as a nation together once more. But if one is incapable to bring together his own house; it will be rather difficult indeed to bring the races together.

A house divided cannot stand by itself, Abraham Lincoln (1860). Today our country is in a similar struggle for unification and this struggle is causing tremendous hardships on the citizens. Hopes are rapidly vanishing, while our leaders wrangle for political clout and eternal supremacy.

We are experiencing massive political and social injustice in an era when the whole episode could have been avoided. Our custodians who are entrusted to protect and serve us with dignity have retreated and resorted to laisser-faire. Our choices are few in number but our courage and our hopes double our desires for a better morrow. And when will they ever learn that we the people are first and that our lives and safety are at stake.

When the Jews were enslaved in Egypt, the unbearable oppression and suffering of the people cause the Almighty God to command Moses as the great leader to free the people from bondage. When America found itself torn between two rivals with a divided country in 1860 (civil war), the great emancipator was elected as the president. He brought with him one of his greatest attributes — empathy. Perhaps the most important of his emotional abilities was empathy — the gift of putting himself in the place of others, to simply experience what they were feeling, to understand their motives and desires.

A man who was almost seven feet tall or more and suffered from Marfan disease but had the interest of the Union and the nation at heart. Abraham Lincoln brought to the congress enormous faith and self confidence to emancipate the slaves and bring the opposing forces to a more perfect union.

One can ascertain the enormity that can be presented to this nation by a formidable leader but the forces of resistance is much greater than support for leadership. Winston Dookeran is surely not Winston Churchill nor is he an Abraham Lincoln but he has an impeccable character and has the immeasurable will and knowledge to unite both Afros and Indians to live in harmony once more and at the same time produce efficient leadership.

Jay Rakhar

New York