I firmly believe that the 2016 election will move our nation forward or guarantee the destruction of the United States of America which was created by the great and courageous men of our past. Terrorists are succeeding. Their goal is to destroy America. Rhetoric by individuals such as Trump, Cruz, and Huckabee are insuring their success. Ignorant men such as these are inviting young men and women all over the world to join the cause of those who hate us.

ISIS is not the greatest danger to America, but they are winning their war against our nation. The greatest danger to the American people is the destruction of our values and principals. We have ambitious politicians who are intentionally spreading fear and hatred. They have no ideas to advance the ideals of our founding fathers, their goal is to destroy everything which once made the United States of America the greatest country in the world.

The goal of ISIS is world domination. They cannot accomplish this by accumulating real estate; but they can change the way people think. They want us to hate not only them, but all followers of Islam. Much has been said about the way they recruit young men and women. Our politicians are providing assistance in that process.

2016 will prove to be the most important election in the history of our nation. Will the voting public cast their ballots intelligently, or believe the negative attacks of politicians who use emotional weaponry in an attempt to win elections?

The Christian religious right is a lobby. They don’t believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. He told his followers to love everyone, and live with compassion. He is ashamed of the rhetoric espoused by those who want to lead our country. When we were a great country, we lived by the golden rule; ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ Today our nation is divided in a manner not experienced since the Civil War. Many of our people have ‘lost their way.’ They have forgotten what it felt like to proudly recite the Pledge of Allegiance, or sing the Star Spangled Banner, believing in the meaning of the words. Thanks to post 9/11 tactics by politicians, we have been led to believe that we are the only nation of importance in the world.

A great nation would not ignore thousands of refugees fleeing war zones partially created by our nation’s leaders. Some of our ambitious presidential wannabees use the cowardly attacks in Paris and San Bernardino to fuel the fire of their hateful rhetoric. This is not America. Americans don’t live in fear; we live when we keep hope alive.

One entire political party exists under a single philosophy; attack, attack, attack. They refuse to offer ideas and work across party lines for the betterment of all Americans. Led by an openly racist and bigoted man, they are ignoring the Constitution. They are in the process of destroying our nation’s foundation created by our forefathers.

I encourage every American to cast their ballot in 2016 for the men and women who still believe in the America which nurtured me. We must never forget 9/11, or San Bernardino, but we must move on and not allow ourselves to be brainwashed by ambitious men and women who seek public office for a single purpose; their individual success.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/By-James-turnage/e/B00LOCJ2Z2