Parker J. Palmer teaches that America's future lies in what he calls "the tragic gap," the place between "what is" and "what could and should be."

 

 If we stay stuck in what is, even if we justify ourselves by calling this place reality, we will never live up to our national potential.

 

We simply must­­--individually and as a society--push into our zones of discomfort and strive for what society should and could be.

 

We must.