While the world is, and always has been, in constant change, it’s the pace of the change that makes our current reality so unique. Never before in history has the experience of one generation been so dramatically different from the one previous. To combat this gap, both the sunrise and the sunset generations have to learn each other’s ways. And nowhere is this gap more prevalent than in the most basic of human interactions: communication. 

King Herod, who ruled Judea when Jesus was born, was a brutal man who killed his father-in-law, several of his ten wives, and two of his sons. He ruthlessly suppressed any challenge to his rule. Herod’s heavy taxes, used to pay for lavish projects, forced an unfair burden on the Jewish citizens who were in a state of groaning over the oppressive Roman rule

These last few weeks have found me sifting through the aftermath of the U.S. election in the hope of finding some salvageable life lessons with which to move forward. One thing I have learned is that I no longer desire to be a brick in any wall that serves to further alienate me from others.

I am an American by birth and was always very proud to be a citizen of both Canada and the United States—that is, until I began watching the presidential debates. My focus quickly shifted from the election platforms to the personal shortcomings of each candidate. I began feeding off the constant negative barrage both seen and heard on TV and social media. This left me feeling unsure about America’s future and unsure about my ongoing allegiance to her.

As Canadians, we have enjoyed the unusual amount of entertainment presented by the political arm wrestle taking place south of the 49th. The current contest borders on a gong show. In most presidential contests, the complexity of the system, combined with the uniquely American ability to viciously attack opponents on all levels (personally and ideologically), produces the show. The American Empire has been likened to the historical Roman Empire, with New York as the new Rome, and perhaps our U.S. friends have embraced more than just empirical aspirations; they seem to lust for blood sport as well, with Washington D.C. as the new colosseum.

A recent United Nations report states that one of every 113 persons on our planet is a refugee, is seeking asylum, or has been displaced. Over 65 million people find themselves in one of these categories. The evening news brings the reality into our homes with images of kids in tattered clothes, adults carrying worn suitcases, and families living in the kind of emergency shelters we might use for a weekend campout.