Put Love First

So here we are again: January 6, the darkly emblematic anniversary of a divided country shifting from verbal disagreement about politics into physical violence — an attack on our nation's Capitol. Debate disappeared, rage and destruction reigned.

Call me nostalgic, but I long for the days of civil discourse, when it was okay to have different opinions and beliefs, and yet still show respect for one another.

Or even love.

Yep, you read that right, love.

Take my in-laws, for example — Buster and Jerry Holsclaw. Buster always voted Republican, and was a conservative to the core. Jerry was a self-described "Yellow Dog Democrat," meaning she would would vote for a literal yellow dog . . . if it ran as a Democrat. And yet, despite these fundamental differences in world view, Buster and Jerry were deeply in love and sustained a meaningful and fun-filled marriage for over 50 years, until Buster passed away from Alzheimers.

Yes, dinner table debate was common. Campfire conversation sometimes got heated. The dark cloud of disagreement hovered at times. But beneath it all, no matter how strong the beliefs, and despite the tendency to label opinions as facts, was respect for each other as human beings and — here it comes again — love.

Buster and Jerry are no longer with us. They didn't live to see January 6, 2021. But I think that if they were here today they'd be nodding in agreement and urge us in a harmonious duet: "It's not a radical notion, y'all. Put love first."