As we struggle with political issues and divisions today, it is important to remember that it was always complicated.  Compromise and cooperation and mutual respect were required to be united enough even to come up with our United States constitution in the first place.

Here are some images from the Library of Congress of some of George Washington’s marginal changes to a printed copy of the draft of the constitution.  It all had to be worked out, revised, agreed upon.  It was never handed down from above or anywhere else.

Let us remember this, and that our nation is still a work in progress.  Let us be willing to work together to heal all divisions and the causes for those divisions that still exist.  Remembering the spirt of hope and unity that created our constitution, let us respect it and abide by that spirit in our actions.