To get beyond our current dysfunctional discourse, all Americans need to honor facts. No matter what we believe or how we spin it, this does not change the reality of a fact. You may believe, in the deepest part of your being, that the earth is flat. Fact: it is not, regardless of what you think.

Fact: the United States is a secular nation, one in which one of its most revered values is that of religious freedom. We are not a Christion nation. The U.S. Constitution is the guiding document on which American citizenship is based. Not the Bible, the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita, or the Tanakh.

Fact: the United States Constitution was based mostly on the principles developed by the Iroquois Confederacy (the combined nations of the Mohawk, Oneida, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga and Tuscarora). Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin recognized the great wisdom found in this alliance, especially when addressing the needs of varying cultures. They applied these principles as the foundation of the evolving Constitution. Embedded in this is the democratic value of honoring free speech, diversity and equality regardless of race, color, creed, or gender.

Fact: Hate speech is not protected by the First Amendment. Neither are slander or libelous speech. Satire is allowed and should be cherished.

Fact: Violence is not permitted. The practice of violence only leads to more violence.

Fact: Both sides of the political spectrum are mired in demonizing the other side via name calling and collective mischaracterization. We need to get beyond this point so that we can truly listen to the views of others. To do this, we must rely on facts as the foundation of addressing our differences. If we truly are the “greatest” nation in the world, we need to prove it to ourselves and others around the world by collectively working together to develop equitable solutions to our many problems and using the American Constitution as our guide. It is the foundation of our Democracy.

Mike Irish

Houghton