What's wrong with America?
What’s wrong with America? We keep hearing that mantra all over the media, all over the web, standing in line at Starbucks and even in the grocery checkout line while waiting for the ever elusive “second checker please.” First I’d like to ask, why do we think something’s wrong? Mostly I hear it is because governments from federal to state to local don’t seem to be able to get anything done. I guess the assumption here is that when government is working, legislation is developed and passed quickly and smoothly. Ah ha! That’s an interesting assumption. As I look back through history, the most momentous achievements in our nation’s history occurred during periods of great strife, where there was agreement that something must be done, but what and how were up for grabs.
So what’s wrong with America? I sat in a meeting last week with a group of very bright, exceptionally successful individuals who had every reason in the world to express their views with calm confidence and yet, even there, when it came to anything in the political realm I heard angst, I heard anger. The tone was so bizarrely in conflict with the rest of their conduct that I was taken aback. Why does this topic engender so much frustration, anger and most of all defensiveness?
So what’s wrong with America? I’m decidedly no sage and as for my level of self-awareness, I’ve learned it is a lot like my golf game; moments of greatness followed by “How in God’s name could I have done that?” But I think I’m on to something here, so please indulge me. I’ll try to keep it brief. I know those of you who know me well are laughing pretty hard right now! I’m working on it people! I’m Irish, we’re talkers.
What’s wrong with America? In a Republic, citizens must be good stewards of their nation. To be good stewards they must deeply understand and appreciate their form of government, why and how it came about. But they must also appreciate just how magical it is to live in such a nation and protect her. In that same meeting I mentioned before I heard one of the most beautiful phrases that I will be using again and again, “The miracle of America.” She really is a miracle. I admit that I have a long standing love affair with this nation. Her history can bring me to tears and make my heart swell with pride. Remember how we acted after 9/11? THAT is my nation! A nation that stood up against evil, not with hatred against the evil doers, but with awe inspiring courage and love towards one another. MY nation is the one that cherishes men and women of such greatness that they ran INTO those buildings to do their duty. MY nation is the one that nurtured the souls, who knowing they were not going to live much longer, called their loved ones to say the most important thing in the world, “I love you. I will see you again. Don’t worry, it will be quick.” They did not rage with hatred against the evil done to them as they placed those calls from falling buildings, they remembered what was important. Their souls had beautiful clarity in those last moments.
What’s wrong with America? We’ve forgotten who we are. We are a nation built solely on ideas. We are not bound to each other through shared ancestry or battle. We are the only nation on earth held together through the beauty of the ideals brought forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. We are a great experiment who is struggling to find her way.
What’s wrong with America? We’ve forgotten that greatness comes not from angry discord and disrespectful debate, from grandstanding and ten second sound bites, but from civility and thoughtful conflict. We’ve gotten so caught up in the 30 minute sitcom, the 60 minute Law and Order with problem, tension and resolution neatly packaged. We’ve turned into teenagers, ogling at the latest nonsense from some starlet desperate for attention, using the most base and sad tricks in the book to get our attention.
What’s wrong with America? We’ve lost our mojo. Yes, as a nation we’ve made some terrible mistakes and will do it again and again. We are but human and bound to screw up royally. But those mistakes are not out of an intention to do evil, but rather our love of freedom and peace and belief that everyone should be as blessed as we are. We send our youth and our hard earned dollars to try and make the world a better place. Hold on, I know the naysayers are jumping on that one and yes, there are plenty among us that had and will always have their own less than honorable agendas, but that isn’t America… at least not my America. I promise, I’m not naïve, I understand the nastiness that permeates international altercations, but the soul of America is not cheapened by those individuals.
The soul of America is in the soldier who gives his rations to a starving child.
The soul of America is in the battleship that serves as a hospital for a nation in crisis.
The soul of America is that when there is a crisis, we’re the first to arrive and the most generous in our aid.
The soul of America RAN INTO those buildings to protect.
The soul of America knows it can solve its problems and rise to any challenge with grace and dignity.
We’ve forgotten why the Founding Father’s established a government that was to protect our natural rights, not to take from one group to provide to another, (look for my next post on unfunded liabilities to see how well that strategy has worked). We’ve forgotten that ours was a nation built on the rule of law. We are now a nation that has given up her natural rights, her liberty in pursuit of the false promise of safety and the ephemeral judgment of leaders whose incentives are rarely in line with the long-term interests of the nation.
