I think it traces back to my days as a bridge-building Community Organizer in the Peace Corps, but the increasing political divisions we’ve been experiencing in our country over the last two decades have both intrigued and appalled me. Just last week, I had an experience during an event that instilled in me a newfound perspective that the growing contempt each of us holds for our political opponents doubles as a slap in the face to military veterans. After all, the members of our Armed Forces have fought for each citizens’ individual right to speak, think, pray, and assemble however we see fit.
Last Tuesday, I was a participant in a historical designation ceremony that was a small, but fitting event that officially designated my place of residence, The Officers’ Quarters, a Historic Site in downtown Hattiesburg. As part of the program, I represented our Homeowners’ Association by making some remarks both in celebration of the history of our complex and in honor of the lives and legacy of the soldiers that originally inhabited the place we call home. During my remarks, I shared a story about a highly decorated WWII Veteran named Daniel Inouye.
Captain Daniel Inouye was a 2nd Generation Japanese American from Hawaii who ultimately became the 2nd longest serving Senator in the history of the United States Senate. But before Senator Inouye ever even thought of pursuing a political career, he joined the U.S. Army in response to Pearl Harbor. Captain Inouye would go on to fight with the 442nd Regiment in WWII throughout France and Italy, including after the Liberation of Rome. Although he suffered gunshot and grenade wounds off the northern coast of Italy in 1944 that required the amputation of his right arm, Inouye ultimately survived. He was also subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery, selflessness, and leadership in battle.
Prior to his highly decorated military service in WWII combat though, Inouye, along with the rest of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, was dispatched to South Mississippi to receive infantry combat training at Camp Shelby, which brings me back to my recent remarks.
After sharing Inouye’s story as an illustration, I pondered with the audience on how we might be best be able to honor the lives and sacrifices of WWII Veterans like him today. Right after offering that perhaps, in general, our duty is to fight our own battles free of fear or unbridled self-righteousness, I shared my personal belief that the biggest battle we face as a society is the battle to reduce divisions and the contempt we have for our political opponents.
The recent and sad political assassinations of Senator Melissa Hortman and Charlie Kirk have placed this issue front and center. Hopefully, such attention by the media, leaders, and others will offer sources of new constructive dialogue, but whatever transpires across those channels, you and I also have our part to play in this.
We all have a choice every day about how we are going to present ourselves to the world, and each day is also a choice to see things in a new light. Embracing the fact that sowing seeds of division only dishonors the lives and sacrifices of our Veterans is a hard pill to swallow. It is a necessary step, however, if we are going to get serious about overcoming our nation’s political divide.
Let’s make a choice to honor the lives and sacrifices of soldiers like Daniel Inouye in the battle for Unity. And let’s accept that the battle doesn’t start “out there,” but rather within ourselves.
Brett Montague is a Native of Hattiesburg. He is the former CEO of End It For Good Inc. and is a local Social Activist.
