GOP factions need to come together

The Cd'A Press reported Sunday on the two Republican Parties. It would have been comical if it had not been so sad.

My birth family and families before and as an adult I have always been a Republican. I have missed voting in very few elections (of all causes). I didn't attend or vote in whatever they thought they were doing where people stood in line forever or...simply left. I resented having to declare my party (as though it was the only party forever). "WE ARE A FREE NATION OF THOUGHT AND DEED." During the past years, when allowed I crossed over to vote for the person, not the Party as I knew their heart was pure American citizen and had our city, county, state or country's best outcomes at heart. As I am an American I can do that. I understand people did cross over for less than heartfelt reasons, but bless the fact I thought we are a nation free to do so.

Perhaps I am a Centrist at heart with Republican leanings. The Republican Party on the national level went too far right in my estimation, causing an impossible situation for elected officials from all parties to sit down and work together for the good of all. It brought our nation's business to a standstill during economic times that called for teamwork, and Congress let us down because they didn't "come together for the good of all." When the political parties stubbornly stand without reaching out we are in trouble, when a political party splits we are really in trouble.

I am currently receiving telephone pleas, mail pleas from all political arenas for monies. Nationally the Republican Party asks "why I haven't sent my monies for this round?" I hesitate until I know "what are their goals." The Young Republicans, and bless their hearts, are getting in the game of "who runs our country." I did support them because youth is our future, they need to be heavily involved. However, if the Republican Party stays split, the people will be busy choosing sides and our levels of government will be thrown into continuing disarray, resulting in "no government" of substance.

Bless the freedom which allows us to all "think and act free." It will cause people to suggest different routes, but surely we can find a middle ground in it all (that is where the most citizens are, I believe). Have we forgotten our history, how we won our freedom, how our forefathers gave up their fortunes, lives and families to win that freedom? Have we forsaken history? As I end this appeal for "unity" I quote John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, May 19, 1821:

"A free government is a complicated piece of machinery, the nice and exact adjustment of whose springs, wheels, and weights, is not yet well comprehended by the artists of the age, and still less by the people."

I can't believe in today's world we are still not comprehending.

Colleen Allison is an 86-year-old Coeur d'Alene resident who has seen great election days and times of unity.