Gold Stars and Red Lines

I just finished reading an opinion piece by CNN anchor Brianna Keilar. Her story incorporated her anchoring CNN’s panel on General Kelly’s recent Gold Star remarks, her SF officer husband’s service, and her own experience watching “Taking Chance” which was recommended by both Keilar’s husband and Gen. Kelly. It was an interesting opinion.

In full transparency, I voted for President Trump and I support many of his initiatives. I voted for him because I don’t support either the Republican or Democrat platform and I find it unfathomable that a veteran would vote for the former Secretary of State responsible for Benghazi. Sure, you can argue every Secretary and every President has a tragedy he/she must own, but we don’t often get the choice to make them own that tragedy. My vote was my choice.

So, back to Ms. Keilar’s opinion piece. It was well written, as one would expect from CNN’s senior Washington Correspondent, but it was also surprisingly non-accusatory. I say surprisingly because CNN isn’t known for straight-laced journalism anymore. Call them the Communist News Network or the Clinton News Network, CNN tends to lean to the left in support of DNC values. However, Ms. Keilar’s opinion was straightforward and spin free. It was a nice change of pace.

What makes Ms. Keilar’s opinion noteworthy is, unfortunately, the devolution of discussion surrounding President Trump’s call to Gold Star wife Ms. Johnson. Yes, a week later we’re still talking about it, not because the call or the conversation was particularly impactful, but because President Trump has failed to be presidential, Representative Wilson has failed to responsibly represent, and the mainstream media has failed to find a more important story to fill the airwaves. The story remains on the front page, albeit under the fold, because everyone involved failed – it’s a celebration of failure!

And here I am, giving it one more blog entry when my preference is to let it die.

So back to Ms. Keilar. Her story culminated with a Twitter exchange in which she was accused of being out of touch, she pushed back referencing her husband’s sixth deployment, and she and her accuser found a common, middle ground.

“This is the big one! I’m comin’ Elizabeth!” (Fred Sanford)

In today’s America where Kevin Sorbo’s forthcoming film about faith is buried on page five in deference to race baiting articles about politics, it’s refreshing to see the media post an article where two people of differing opinions and backgrounds can find respect in one another’s circumstances. Shouldn’t that be what we’re all about? Understanding each other and, while we may disagree, respecting our differing backgrounds and experiences.

I mean, Christ was very clear. He said to “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34, NIV) He didn’t say ‘I’d like you to get along’ or 'gee, it would be nice if you didn't fight,' no – “You must love one another.”

Must is a command. Must is a directive. Must is an order. Jesus said it, we must live it.

So love one another. Step back from our own prejudices and look at it from someone else’s perspective – we might be surprised at what red lines we crossed in forming our own opinion in the first place.