His 2018 article offered lessons long before January 6, 2021 – a sad day that should be remembered as one of the darkest of our democracy. Although racial inequity has existed for far too many years, recent civil unrest resulting from systemic racism certainly was not widespread then either. We continue to ignore President Lincoln’s words at the peril of our democracy.
Thank you, Mark, for encouraging our community to engage in civil civic discourse that includes constructive disagreement. The echo chamber of social media and news organizations whose reporting has a political – not objective - lens disrupts and distorts these efforts. A house slips from its foundation when government cannot be trusted to tell the truth, or interferes with a free press, which is essential to democracy and not “an enemy of the people.” Democratic decision-making should be based on fairness and equality. An independent judiciary is designed to facilitate that, but there is much room for improvement. Society needs to have honest and courageous conversations while committing to do better to ensure that all citizens experience equal justice under the law in every branch of government. Citizens must choose to stabilize our house instead of fostering the division that tears it down.
Shelley Szambelan, Spokane Superior Court Judge
Prof. Bradford Vivian wrote for The Conversation how:
Lincoln’s ‘House Divided’ speech offers alternative ways to imagine the nation than as a patchwork of “red” and “blue” states.
Americans belong to a union first, parties second. Party machinery and false political prophets divide the house of the people; the people have the power to stabilize that house if they choose to do so. The union was founded on a dedication to equality. It retains a firm moral foundation by preserving commitments to principles of equality over region or party.