This past weekend was the Olustee Festival, which has been celebrated in Lake City over 40 years. The festival was named after the largest Civil War battle fought in Florida on February 20, 1864. Any discussion of the Civil War is fraught with problems as the politics of the history strokes antagonism in the present. It seems that we are caged in system of strife that bars us from escape. I believe escape is possible and necessary for all parties to grow together into a healthy future.

The Civil War happened in a confined time, which had an extremely limited knowledge base. It is important that we apply what we’ve learned since that time to our understanding and not try to go back and relive their ignorance. We know that each race is unlimited in their ability and beauty, just as each race has all the failings found anywhere in humanity. Our modern eyes should look back to celebrate the good that was manifested by courageous people, even in the worst of circumstances. We can recognize the bad and realize that the bad must be overcome, not by accusation, but by growth toward change in maturity.

We can learn from the fundamental issues visible at that time. The war was created because of desire for wealth, power, and prestige. Those same elements are driving corrupt politicians and power brokers to make current life in America so much less that it could be and so much more dangerous than it should be. Slavery has always been an economic and power issue since the beginning of mankind, all the way to the current time. It has never been good. Our Civil War should teach us to fight against slavery wherever we find it. We need to unlock the cage.

The entire process of being a Christian is being freed from slavery to all the failed human attributes of cruelty, selfishness, pride, birthed in making man a god instead of recognizing the God who created all things. God created each race to be a benefit to the others, not a cause of destruction to the others. We need each other. Each race and culture carries gifts and talents God put within them that bring life, beauty, and hope to the others. Recognizing and being truly thankful for the diversity God has created is one of the ways we unlock the cage.

It is best said in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,….” We will open cage doors when we work to accomplish these goals written as the American purpose.