Our language has been transformed into coded phrases, words captured, contorted, weaponized— oops, I used one without intending to choose a side. I'm now half villified, half lionized. Daunting task to keep track of those I'm supposed to see as enemies. Constant burden to decipher someone's angle by the slant of stolen syllables. There was once a man who spoke in simple words about love deeper than color, the divine outshining red earth and blue sky, a kingdom we could build outside our fractured tribes, and forgiving those that speak in different codes, no matter what. NO MATTER WHAT!!! Finding an endless spring of unrelenting acceptance no matter how divergent our perspectives. If he were born again, would he choose a side? Of course, surely yours, the righteous and justified, he'd fall in line if he wanted to survive, else be crucified in the culture wars without a sword and without his primal pride. Or maybe not.