Most of us will acknowledge that last year's festivities celebrated the "turning of the odometer." This year, we really DO begin the new millennium.

But, how should we face it? With tremendous optimism, I would say!

According to the talking heads, the recent election indicates a bitterly divided country. But, is that necessarily a bad thing? Some of the worst enterprises in our history were done under the color of unity.

Before Pearl Harbor, over 80% of Americans were against entering the war, yet overnight this unity was misdirected into supporting one of the most tragic and pointless conflicts in human history. The atrociously misnamed "Greatest Generation" STILL thinks that they saved the world by substituting far worse dictators in Europe and Asia for the ones that were defeated.

On the surface, our War Between the States might indicate a divided population, but ask yourself: What personal stake did a farmer in Massachusetts have in the issue of secession of the Southern states? Absolutely none!

Instead, mindless unity was required--not to mention conscription--to field armies to march into the South.

By the same token, most of those who fought on the Confederate side were dirt poor, never owned slaves, and were either fighting for someone else's way of life, or were trying to prevent the invading Yankees from taking over their land. In other words, they were forced into it.

Vietnam was the very last time that conscripts would be sent off to an ill-fated enterprise. Thank God that we WERE divided, or many more lives would have been lost.

No more will the FDR playbook be used in election strategy. It didn't work this time, even for an eight-year incumbent vice president in a good economy. And no more will the mere action of entering a war rally the public. Clinton tried it, but it was "Wag the Dog." Sorry, Abraham, Franklin, Lyndon, and Bill, but we're not that stupid anymore.

What better news could you ask for?

Besides, a false consensus accomplishes nothing. At the very least, bitter division puts the issues of the day into sharp focus.

As hard as it is for many people to grasp, most issues really are black or white. For example, exactly what is a "moderate" position on abortion, the death penalty, or affirmative action? Any attempt to construct such a stance would be purely a matter of sophistry or word games.

Of course, the information mandarin class has developed sophistry into an art form. Unchallenged for nearly one hundred years, they had their way with us. Then came talk radio and the Internet. The stranglehold is loosening every single day.

CNN's ratings dive won't be solved by new management. Most of us can actually tell the difference between reporting and commentary. Apparently, the left-leaning networks can't or won't--but economics will out, I promise you.

For those of the tribal mentality, who must vote or act in lock-step with what some "leader" tells you, the days are coming when many of you will see the light.

Soon enough, the fruits of our "division" will no longer be more hatred--of race, class, gender, or religion. You tribalists will eventually tire of destroying yourself with hate, only to benefit others, usually those same leaders. Instead, you will leave the tribes, and finally work for your own self-interest. God knows, your leaders do.

So, I enter this new millennium with much confidence. We will still hear from the pernicious forces--you know who you are--but the commotion they cause will be death throes, nothing more.

At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)