By: Zandel A Bowers Jr
The easy road is well traveled. It's paved, clearly marked, and secure. It's tempting to go that way, and for 33 years, I have.
But no longer.
Today I watched Congressman Trey Gowdy deliver a speech to Liberty University. It was an eye opener to be sure. However two parts stood out to me.
Part One. Mr. Gowdy referenced the Melos Dialogue. He asked the assembled students to read it. He then told of how he once made his DA staff read it and afterwards asked them two questions. Question 1, do you prefer Truth or Freedom? He said the entire staff answered Freedom. Question 2, do you prefer Unity or Diversity? All but one said Diversity. And we'll come back to this in a moment.
Part Two. He told the students to not only state what they believe, but why they believe it. He told them to be sincere, to be passionate, to be caring, and to inspire Hope.
Though I am not now and never have been a student at Liberty University, Mr. Gowdy, I accept your challenge.
In his story about his staff he challenged them to make a choice. Freedom was the easy answer. As was Diversity. In a law office, Truth would have been easy. And in the United States, Unity is praised. But I choose the harder answer. I choose both, on both questions.
I refuse to accept that one excludes the other. What good is Truth without Freedom? How dull is Unity without Diversity?
Freedom and Truth. One without the other is meaningless. Without Truth, Freedom becomes Anarchy. Without Freedom, Truth is lost to Tyranny. One is worthless without the other.
Unity and Diversity. Unity without Diversity is boring. Diversity without Unity is cruel and hateful. Where does a society go if it doesn't have both?
I believe that nothing worth doing is easy. Unity with Diversity is a hard row to hoe, but the end reward is worth the struggle. Truth with Freedom is Responsibility, but Freedom to be True to yourself and your neighbors is worth the effort.
The easy way is well traveled. And choosing the easy way makes life simpler. But the end is hollow and without meaning.
Choosing the hard way requires devotion and patience. But the rewards are many and worth the struggle.
I choose the hard road. I will never settle for one or the other. Our founders had Truth, and fought for Freedom. They had Diversity and built Unity. We can do the same.